Some in the Western media are sensationalizing the tepid response of Chinese consumers to new iPhone products, and some previously went so far as to suggest that China was imposing a ban on iPhones.
This doesn’t make sense. As a market economy, Chinese consumers have the right to choose from a competitive phone market.
At an event held on Wednesday, Apple Inc introduced its new series of iPhones, which come with new chips and new titanium shells and a USB-C charging cable. The iPhone 15 series comes after Huawei started selling its Mate 60 series and the Mate X5.
The launch of the two brands’ new phones generated different reactions from Chinese netizens. For example, the iPhone 15’s launch event was not on the most-searched lists of many popular Chinese online platforms such as Sina Weibo. In contrast, Huawei’s Mate 60 series was trending on Chinese social media platforms during its launch in late August.
Some researchers point out that there is absence of groundbreaking technological features in the new iPhone series; instead, they have been relying on brand loyalty to sell its smartphones. They also say that Huawei’s strong comeback gives users more choice, and will force Apple out of its comfort zone to improve its technology, although it has been the most purchased smartphone in China for years. According to market research company Counterpoint, Apple dominated the Chinese smartphone market with a share of 19.9 percent in the first quarter of 2023, followed by Chinese phone brands such as Oppo (18.3 percent), Vivo (17.7 percent), Honor (14.6 percent), Xiaomi(13.6 percent) and Huawei (9.2 percent).
This shows that the market share of Chinese brands is growing quickly. Among China’s more than 1 billion smartphone users, more than half are using middle-range handsets. They already have reasonable expectations for the money they will invest in electronic devices. They also attach great importance to innovative functions of smart phones that can cater to their individual needs. So the fact that a number of Chinese smartphone makers are rapidly catching up and even surpassing iPhone in certain features is really a good news for them. Plus most domestic-brand smartphones are within their reach.
The market share of smartphone brands in China clearly shows that smartphone sales are decided by market factors and not political factors. A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry told a news conference on Wednesday that there are no laws, regulations or policy documents prohibiting the purchase and use of mobile phones of foreign brands such as Apple.
China is now the third-largest market for Apple, and has also been a growth engine and manufacturing hub for Apple for years now. It brings in roughly 20 percent of the US tech giant’s total revenue and is a key part of the supply chain for iPhones, MacBooks and other devices.
It’s time the Western media stopped churning out these “ban” stories.
【小题1】Which of the following words is closest in meaning with the underlined word in paragraph 1?| A．tense | B．unenthusiastic | C．passionate | D．indifferent |
| A．China is a major competitor to Apple in the smartphone market, affecting its global operations. |
| B．Huawei’s performance in smartphone market will prompt Apple to focus on expanding its market presence in China. |
| C．Apple may have to prioritize technological innovation in its future smartphone release. |
| D．The Chinese government discourages but does not prohibit the purchase and use of mobile phones of foreign brands. |
| A．Chinese government subsidies (补贴) and support for local smartphone brands. |
| B．The aggressive marketing strategies employed by Chinese smartphone companies. |
| C．The innovative functions and superior technology of Chinese smartphone brands. |
| D．The affordability and tailored features of Chinese smartphone brands. |
| A．Chinese ban on iPhones? Think twice. |
| B．Apple’s iPhone 15 series: facing a ban in China. |
| C．Huawei’s Mate 60 series: outcompeting Apple’s iPhone 15. |
| D．Chinese smartphone market: growing rapidly. |
