By Roger Fingas Monday, March 20, 2017, 10:41 am PT (01:41 pm ET) Please enable JavaScript to view comments
Shipments of iPhones to China fell last year because of a failure to adjust pricing for the local market, according to the founder of Oppo and Vivo, Duan Yongping. Apple historically insists on high profit margins for the iPhone and, while that strategy has succeeded overall, it has hindered the iPhone's entry into markets such as China and India where high prices can put it out of reach for the average person. The company is also struggling with its own supply chain problems, which have been exacerbated by an ongoing dispute between suppliers in China, who are demanding higher wages from suppliers, and Apple, which wants lower prices. Last year Apple sank to fifth place among smartphone brands in China.