Apple’s new iPhone 15 series gets mixed reaction from some Chinese consumers amid hype over Huawei’s latest 5G handsets and government use ban

Apple’s launch of its iPhone 15 series of 5G handsets drew mixed reactions from some mainland Chinese consumers on Wednesday amid the recent hype over Huawei Technologies’ new Mate 60 Pro, while analysts expected the US tech giant to still lead the high-end segment of the world’s largest smartphone market.

On Chinese social media, a number of consumers commented on the lack of compelling new advances in the latest iteration of Apple’s flagship product line, which was unveiled on Tuesday at the company’s headquarters in Cupertino, California.

Some netizens indicated on their online posts that the new iPhones, which will be widely available on September 22, did not compare favourably with Huawei’s 5G Mate 60 Pro and Mate 60 Pro+ handsets, which had low-key presales campaigns on the mainland weeks ago and triggered plenty of industry speculation about the “breakthrough” made-in-China processor used on the devices.

The initial reactions gathered from Chinese social media ahead of the iPhone 15’s wide domestic release reflect how Huawei’s return to the 5G smartphone market, along with Beijing’s recent ban on the use of Apple’s iPhone at government agencies and state-owned enterprises, may have influenced the perception of some consumers.