Apple Inc.'s (NASDAQ:AAPL) struggles in China are proving a little difficult for Cupertino to overcome, with a noted analyst reporting that iPhone sales in the country have declined year-on-year.

What Happened: Noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has revealed that based on his checks, iPhone sales in China are off to a bad start in 2024.

"iPhone shipments in the Chinese market continued to decline year-on-year. The price cuts at the beginning of the year have limited help to shipments," Kuo said.

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Interestingly, Apple quietly unveiled discounts of up to $70 on iPhones in China – this translates to nearly 5% knocked off from the iPhone 15 series' sticker price.

Why It Matters: Apple's rare iPhone discount seems to have failed to enthuse buyers, but that might not be as surprising considering the fact that Chinese government officials have been banned from using iPhones and other foreign-made devices at work.

News of the alleged ban has since led analysts at Jeffries to estimate a decline of up to 30% in iPhone sales in China during 2023.

While Apple has been caught in the crossfire, Huawei's resurgence has added to its headaches.

The Chinese government has since expanded the iPhone ban to include additional state firms and provinces. The list includes the Hebei province, which houses the largest iPhone factory in the world.

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