Huawei has retaken the top spot in China’s smartphone market for the first time in over four years, surpassing domestic rival Xiaomi and international competitor Apple, according to data from the International Data Corporation (IDC) released Tuesday.
With 12.5 million units shipped in the second quarter of 2024, the Shenzhen-based tech behemoth took an 18.1 per cent market share in China for smartphones.
This represents a major comeback for Huawei, which has encountered many challenges, such as export restrictions from the United States, prohibitions from the West, and a Belgian corruption probe.
In Q2, the total number of smartphones sold in China fell 4 per cent year over year to 69 million units, breaking a six-quarter growth streak.
“Despite the recent US-China trade truce, the broader economic environment presents ongoing challenges, with consumer confidence remaining subdued,” said Arthur Guo, senior research analyst at IDC. “This suggests that a significant uplift in smartphone demand is unlikely in the immediate term, and the market will navigate a more complex landscape in the second half of the year.”
Rising U.S.-China tensions over Huawei
The return of Huawei coincides with rising tensions between the United States and China, as Washington continues to worry that the company’s equipment may be used for espionage, a claim Huawei refutes.
Since the United States imposed sanctions on Huawei in 2019, the company has concentrated on creating its own parts in order to continue manufacturing.
After shipping 9.6 million units, Apple dropped to fifth place with a 13.9 per cent market share. After losing to regional rivals as the leading smartphone brand in China last year, the iPhone manufacturer is still facing a decline in sales there.
Although trade tensions resulting from U.S. tariff policies persist, the market shift takes place against the backdrop of China’s economy expanding by more than 5 per cent in Q2.
Huawei’s recovery shows how resilient it is and how it can adjust to changing geopolitical conditions while leveraging robust domestic demand.
Huawei’s latest product
On June 11, 2025, Huawei formally released its latest product – the Pura 80 Ultra. This flagship device boasts a powerful Kirin 9020 chipset, 16GB of RAM, a 6.80-inch OLED display, and a triple rear camera setup that includes a 40MP ultrawide lens and two 50MP sensors.
It is a performance and endurance powerhouse, running HarmonyOS 5.1 and containing a large 5700 mAh battery. Huawei’s pursuit of high-end innovation is undoubtedly a daring move.