Q4 Saw Worst Quarterly iPhone Sell-Through Decline Since Q1 2016, Says Gartner 

Global smartphone sell-through to end users “stalled” in Q4, rising just 0.1 percent to 408.4 million units, reported Gartner Thursday. Apple recorded its worst quarterly decline since Q1 2016, it said. IPhone sales fell 11.8 percent to 64.5 million units, it said. Apple saw iPhone demand weaken in most regions, except North America; the biggest decline was in China, where iPhone’s market share dropped to 8.8 percent in Q4 from 14.6 percent in year-earlier quarter, it said. The weak iPhone demand prompted Apple CEO Tim Cook to issue his rare earnings warning early January, sending shares plummeting to a 52-week low (see 1901030036).