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.

It was Apple's largest-ever annual sales decline in China and involved contraction in all four quarters, including a 25 per cent drop in the final quarter, according to the data.

Apple Inc.’s iPhone sales declined about 5% globally in the final quarter of last year, hurt by underwhelming upgrades and competitors making inroads in China.

Multiple research firms say Apple Inc. saw its iPhone sales fall by about 5% globally in the final quarter of last year. Apple’s artificial intelligence software, called Apple Intelligence, failed to stir up strong demand,