Apple’s Fortunes in China Worsen, Research Firms Say [Video]

Apple (AAPL) is suffering in China as local rivals overtake it, three new reports by research firms monitoring shipments in the world’s largest smartphones market showed.

The declines in Chinese iPhone sales come even as Apple retail partners have implemented heavy discounts to attract customers. The country’s slowing economy is also putting a damper on consumption.

Apple China iPhone Shipments Fall 3.1% in Q2, IDC Says

Apple’s China iPhone shipments fell 3.1% year-over-year in the second quarter, according to preliminary data from IDC, while overall Android phone sales rose 11.1%.

China’s Huawei was the top smartphone seller in China in the first half of the year, although local rival vivo took the top spot in the second quarter, according to IDC China senior research analyst Arthur Guo.

The two, along with another domestic player, Xiaomi, all registered “large double-digit growth” in the quarter, leading Apple to drop into sixth place in IDC’s rankings …