Apple lost its status as the best selling smartphone brand in the crucial Chinese market last year, new data showed Thursday, with a pair of local rivals surpassing it with surging shipments.

Apple was dethroned as China's biggest smartphone seller in 2024, with local rivals Vivo and Huawei overtaking the iPhone maker after its annual shipments in the country declined 17%, data from research firm Canalys showed on Thursday.

Apple’s descent from the top of China’s smartphone market in 2024 signals a seismic shift in the competitive landscape of one of the world’s largest smartphone markets. Data from Canalys highlights a 17% decline in Apple’s shipments across the country, marking its worst annual performance ever.