No AI, Better Foldables: How Chinese Brands Plan To Make Buyers Ditch iPhones

Last Updated:December 10, 2025, 10:08 IST

Apple's AI delay is giving other brands a strong chance to lure buyers with their features and foldables but will it work?

Chinese brands have the better hardware and AI but can they upstage Apple?

Apple’s delayed AI could become the ideal marketing push for other brands to tempt buyers into ditching the new iPhones. A new report claims Chinese brands feel that they have AI and other factors like foldables that can be more than enough to lure iPhone users to switch to the other side. 

Brands like Honor, Huawei and Xiaomi are looking to play this card and they are convinced enough to have their switch from iOS to Android apps heavily promoted among the consumers. 

The report from Financial Times cites the delay in Apple’s AI launch in China, where it needs local partners to make AI tools work on iPhones for the users. It is reportedly going to work with Alibaba for Apple AI in the country but that has yet to materialise, paving the way for other brands to try their luck and push hard.

This is a big development for Apple which has a strong footing in the country but now it could lose out to other local players like Vivo, Xiaomi and Oppo among others. 

The AI Delay Hurting Big Time 

AI assistants are available across devices, but Apple is lagging behind in the market and faces further delays because of the slower Siri AI release. These Chinese brands have every right to feel convinced about getting buyers on their side, not only because of their hardware but much improved software which now even has AI on board.

Apple is not completely out of the picture but its AI tools have not been well received so far, which explains the need to overhaul its workforce and enter the AI race in a big way next year. Until Apple comes out with reliable and powerful AI features, the window is truly open for a new contender to take its place. 

The Foldable Battle 

Not just AI, there is another category where Apple is yet to enter and that is foldable. This segment is highly popular in China and local brands have tapped into that demand in a big way. Apple is heavily tipped to bring its iPhone Fold in 2026 but at least till then brands like Vivo, Honor and Oppo will have the interest from buyers. 

iPhone Still Rules 

Having said that, Apple’s premium dominance in other regions is undeniable, especially in emerging markets like India where even the older iPhones sell in large numbers. The company will be hoping that its slow approach towards their products and technology doesn’t come back to haunt them in the next few years. And it delivers the right product with its quality intact.

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