Skip to main content

Apple’s perfectly executed iPhone 6 launch in China sees it smash the competition

Apple iPhone 6 iPhone 6 Plus
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Apple’s big push into China with its larger iPhone models seems to be working. Despite stiff competition from growing Chinese smartphone powerhouses like Xiaomi, Meizu, and Huawei; Apple came in first place for smartphone sales in the country during the last three months of 2014, according to analyst firm Canalys.

Analysts believe the success of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus in China is due to several key factors, most of which Apple were under Apple’s control. The first, and perhaps main reason why the new iPhones sold so well in China is down to their larger screen sizes. Asian buyers tend to prefer phablets, so the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus, which was called too big by some in the U.S., is considered just right for many Chinese users. The 4.7-inch iPhone 6 is the perfect alternative for buyers who prefer slightly smaller screens, or have grown tired of the many phablet options.

Related: Apple’s iPhone 6 and 6 Plus trounce Samsung in the U.S. and Korea

The new iPhones also support China’s LTE networks correctly, removing one of the major selling points leading Chinese brands had over Apple in the past. Additionally, the launch was well executed, allowing Apple to neutralize gray market import sales before they overtook legitimate, in-store purchases. All of these factors combined resulted in a huge win for Apple, as the company led device shipments in China for the first time.

Meanwhile, Xiaomi came in second place to Apple, despite its growing influence over the Chinese smartphone market, and Samsung slipped to third place. Huawei also had a good showing, coming in fourth on the list. Apple will announce its earnings later today, when we could learn more about its progress in China.

Editors' Recommendations

Malarie Gokey
Former Digital Trends Contributor
As DT's Mobile Editor, Malarie runs the Mobile and Wearables sections, which cover smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and…
iPhone SE 4: news, rumored price, release date, and more
The Apple iPhone SE (2022) and Apple iPhone SE (2020) together.

While the spotlight always seems to be on Apple’s mainline iPhones, the iPhone SE is a great pick for those who are on a budget. If you want an iPhone that doesn't break the bank, the SE is the way to go.

The original iPhone SE came out in 2016, and then Apple revamped it in 2020 and 2022 by giving it some more modern hardware. The iPhone SE tends to get updated every two or so years rather than annually like the traditional iPhone. This means  that we should see a new iPhone SE 4 this year, but it’s not so cut-and-dried with this particular model.

Read more
3 reasons why I’ll actually use Anker’s new iPhone power bank
A person holding the Anker MagGo Power Bank.

Power banks are a necessary evil, and even if you don’t consider yourself a “power user” who's likely to drain a phone’s battery in less than a day, there will be times when one comes in handy. And when I am forced to carry one, I want it to be as helpful and versatile as possible.

I’ve been trying Anker’s MagGo Power Bank 10K -- meaning it has a 10,000mAh cell inside it -- and there are three reasons why I'm OK with it taking up valuable space in my bag.
It has a screen on it

Read more
Here’s how Apple could change your iPhone forever
An iPhone 15 Pro Max laying on its back, showing its home screen.

Over the past few months, Apple has released a steady stream of research papers detailing its work with generative AI. So far, Apple has been tight-lipped about what exactly is cooking in its research labs, while rumors circulate that Apple is in talks with Google to license its Gemini AI for iPhones.

But there have been a couple of teasers of what we can expect. In February, an Apple research paper detailed an open-source model called MLLM-Guided Image Editing (MGIE) that is capable of media editing using natural language instructions from users. Now, another research paper on Ferret UI has sent the AI community into a frenzy.

Read more