Smartphone sales in China fell 13% year-on-year during the month-long 618 shopping festival, as brands raised prices to offset higher memory costs, according to data from Counterpoint Research.

Higher Memory Costs Limit Discounts

Higher memory prices amid a rapid build-out of AI infrastructure have pushed up handset costs this year, leaving brands with less room to offer steep discounts during the 618 festival.

Huawei Technologies led the market with a 21% share, and was the only major brand to record year-on-year growth during the 618 period, with sales rising 19%.

Apple’s sales fell 9% from a year earlier, although the U.S. tech giant climbed to the No. 2 spot after rolling out incentives about a month ahead of June 18.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.