Thanks to trade-in programs and other promotions, Apple saw significant improvement in iPhone sales in China, Apple CEO Tim Cook said today during today's earnings call covering the third fiscal quarter of 2019.

Cook said that Apple saw "great improvement" in China, returning to growth in constant currency in Greater China with improvements in year-over-year ‌iPhone‌ performance compared to the last two quarters.

iphonexr

We're happy with our performance across the board, including a return to growth in mainland China. We accomplished this despite strong headwinds from foreign exchange, which impacted the top-line growth rate by 300 points compared to a year ago, equivalent to $1.5 billion of revenue. In constant currency, our revenue grew in all five of our geographic segments.

Cook went on to say that Apple is "encouraged" by the results of the initiatives it launched earlier this year, with the company seeing a strong customer response to in-store trade-in and financing programs. ‌iPhone‌ in retail and online stores returned to growth on a year-over-year basis in June, said Cook, and the active installed base of ‌iPhone‌ users reached a new all-time high.

Despite the improvements, ‌iPhone‌ revenue was down during the quarter. The ‌iPhone‌ brought in $26 billion, down from $29.5 billion in the third quarter of 2018. For the first time, the ‌iPhone‌ was responsible for less than half of Apple's revenue, with services and wearables making up for the decline in sales.

Cook said that later this year, Apple has "several new products" that it can't wait to share with customers, without going into details. Apple also has multiple services on the horizon, including Apple Card (coming in August), Apple Arcade, and Apple TV+.

Tags: China, Earnings

Top Rated Comments

Bawstun Avatar
Bawstun
62 months ago
“Great improvement” is codespeak for only a -4.X% decline instead of the double digits in the -20%’s of the last two quarters, lol.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Bawstun Avatar
Bawstun
62 months ago
Good news for investors.

It’s hard for me as a consumer to care. So I don’t. I think I’m a bit on China overload where Apple is concerned. Tim seems enamored of their market in a way that seems almost personal. Maybe it’s my imagination but I think I see more animation and enthusiasm when he is talking about China related topics than I detect in his speech about other aspects of Apple’s business.

But it’s an interesting tidbit of business news after so many news articles highlighting their struggles in China. I really hadn’t expected any of their initiatives to work because I thought their problems in China went beyond price sensitivity.
Sales declined over 4% in China. It hasn’t worked, it’s just media spin. I mean, compared to the 20%+ decline of the past two quarters, I guess a 4.% loss is an improvement, technically, but it’s still a loss and hasn’t been reversed into a gain. I doubt they ever will.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
now i see it Avatar
now i see it
62 months ago
Cook said that later this year, Apple has "several new products" that it can't wait to share with customers, without going into details.
did someone leave a broken record spinning on the turntable?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mactendo Avatar
Mactendo
62 months ago
as it ships from China to its local stores or direct from factory, I am surprised Apple does not sell these cheaper as there is no shipping by sea or air to contribute to the overhead.
If Apple sold iPhones there cheaper on purpose, then the gray market would export them to other countries.
There is already an issue with phones from Hong Kong being resold to China, because in Hong Kong iPhones are cheaper due to lower local taxes.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
masotime Avatar
masotime
62 months ago
Despite the improvements, iPhone revenue was down during the quarter. The iPhone brought in $26 million, down from $29.5 billion in the third quarter of 2018.
I'm guessing that should be $26 billion
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
code-m Avatar
code-m
62 months ago
Good news for investors.

It’s hard for me as a consumer to care. So I don’t. I think I’m a bit on China overload where Apple is concerned. Tim seems enamored of their market in a way that seems almost personal. Maybe it’s my imagination but I think I see more animation and enthusiasm when he is talking about China related topics than I detect in his speech about other aspects of Apple’s business.

But it’s an interesting tidbit of business news after so many news articles highlighting their struggles in China. I really hadn’t expected any of their initiatives to work because I thought their problems in China went beyond price sensitivity.
iPhones are manufactured in China, as there are no tariffs (I don’t believe) as it ships from China to its local stores or direct from factory, I am surprised Apple does not sell these cheaper as there is no shipping by sea or air to contribute to the overhead.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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