As reported by Bloomberg, in the run-up to the highly anticipated launch of the iPhone 17, Apple's smartphone sales in the Chinese market have taken a hit, experiencing a 6% year-on-year decline. This downturn is more pronounced than the typical sales dips seen ahead of new flagship model releases. According to a report from the market research firm Counterpoint Research, Apple was not alone in facing this sales slump during the initial eight weeks of the third quarter this year. Other major players, including Xiaomi, vivo, and Honor, also witnessed varying degrees of sales decreases. Specifically, in the months of July and August this year, the overall smartphone market sales in China witnessed a 2% year-on-year decline, reflecting a broader industry trend.