Apple’s iPhone 16 series launch has failed to impress Chinese consumers, mainly due to the absence of AI features. This comes amidst intensifying competition from Huawei Technologies, a major player in the world’s largest smartphone market.
At the “Glowtime” event on Monday, Apple unveiled the iPhone 16, touting its AI enhancements as a way to stimulate consumer upgrades amidst a sluggish smartphone sales environment. However, the lack of an AI partner in China for the iPhone 16 and the delayed availability of Apple Intelligence (its AI software) in Chinese language until next year have sparked disappointment among Chinese consumers.
The iPhone 16 launch quickly became a trending topic on Chinese social media, with AI features dominating conversations. The hashtag “iPhone 16 Chinese version doesn’t support AI yet” garnered over 11.33 million views and more than 1,500 comments on Weibo, China’s social media platform.
One Weibo user expressed their preference for Huawei’s tri-fold phone, stating, “Whether iPhone 16 has AI or not doesn’t affect me, because I’m going to buy Huawei’s tri-fold phone.”
Despite the criticism, some analysts believe the lack of AI features in the iPhone 16 won’t significantly affect near-term sales. However, they emphasize the importance of Apple establishing a comprehensive AI application and service ecosystem in China to remain competitive.
Anisha Bhatia, senior technology analyst at GlobalData, pointed out that while Apple intends to gradually roll out its AI integration, Google is poised to take the lead by deploying Gemini AI to 200 million Android devices by the end of 2024.
Apple’s struggle in the Chinese market is not a recent phenomenon. The company’s market share in China has been declining, slipping from third to sixth place, while Huawei has witnessed a remarkable surge in smartphone shipments, increasing by 41% in the second quarter.
Earlier this year, Apple was forced to lower iPhone 15 prices by $70 in China for a limited time, indicating weakening demand for its flagship product. In contrast, Huawei has intensified its efforts in the smartphone arena, launching its new tri-fold smartphone, the Mate XT, which garnered 1.3 million orders within seven hours of opening reservations just two days before the iPhone 16 launch.
Apple’s failure to integrate AI features in the iPhone 16 for the Chinese market highlights the increasing importance of AI in the smartphone industry. With competitors like Huawei rapidly advancing in AI capabilities, Apple faces a critical challenge in maintaining its position in the Chinese market, where AI integration is becoming increasingly essential.
