Apple stock tumbles amid China sales slowdown and AI concerns

Apple shares dropped 4% in their steepest single-day decline since August, driven by concerns over iPhone sales in China and questions about the company’s artificial intelligence strategy.

Market performance and immediate triggers: The significant stock decline reflects mounting pressures on Apple’s core business and competitive position in key markets.

• Apple’s stock has fallen nearly 12% from its December peak, making it the worst performer among major tech stocks in 2025
• The 4% drop on Thursday marked the company’s largest single-day decline since August 5
• The sell-off was triggered by multiple reports highlighting challenges in the Chinese market and AI development

Chinese market challenges: New data reveals Apple’s weakening position in one of its most crucial markets.

• Market research firm Canalys reported Apple has slipped to third place in Chinese smartphone sales, behind local manufacturers Vivo and Huawei
• Apple’s shipments in China dropped 17% year-over-year, while capturing 15% of the 284 million phones sold in the market
• Domestic competitors Vivo and Huawei demonstrated strong growth, intensifying competitive pressures

Supply chain indicators: Key supplier data suggests broader weakness in Apple’s smartphone business.

• TSMC, Apple’s crucial chip supplier, forecasted a nearly 6% sequential drop in smartphone-related sales for the first quarter
• The semiconductor manufacturer noted that AI chips now represent over half of its revenue, surpassing smartphones as its largest business segment
• These supply chain signals point to potential ongoing challenges in Apple’s hardware business

AI concerns and future outlook: Industry analysts express skepticism about Apple’s artificial intelligence strategy.

• Respected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo projects iPhone shipments to decline 6% in the first half of 2025
• Kuo specifically noted that Apple Intelligence, the company’s AI system, has not demonstrated an ability to drive hardware upgrades or service revenue
• The AI system’s unavailability in China further compounds the company’s challenges in that market

Looking ahead to earnings: With Apple’s upcoming financial results on January 30, investors will be closely watching for signs of how these challenges are impacting the company’s bottom line and whether management has a clear strategy to address mounting competitive pressures in both hardware and AI development.