Apple CEO Tim Cook has made a visit to China, as reports roll in saying that sales of Apple’s iPhone 15 lineup are down when compared to last year’s iPhone 14 lineup. (Via Bloomberg).
Cook waved and made brief remarks to shoppers and staff during a surprise visit to Apple’s Taikoo Li store in the southwestern metropolis of Chengdu to watch a local gaming tournament for the major Tencent game “Honor of Kings.” In a post about the event on Weibo which included a short video, Cook said that “the energy tonight was off the charts!” Cook then visited a Yucheng elementary school to see how students use the iPad to support local culture.
Cook’s itinerary is unclear. Global executives and heads of state are slated to convene in Beijing this week for the annual Belt and Road forum, a signature initiative of Xi Jinping’s that is regarded as key to the Chinese economy and diplomacy.
Cook’s visit to China comes on the heels of two Counterpoint Research studies claiming iPhone 15 sales are down 4.5% versus last year’s iPhone 14 lineup in China, causing Apple’s share price to fall. Cook’s visit is widely believed to be associated with concern about iPhone 15 sales in China across various mainstream media outlets.