What's going on?

China�s upsetting Apple�s best-laid plans, just as the firm gears up for a fresh iPhone launch.

What does this mean?

You�d think the imminent release of Apple�s newest iPhone would be the talk of the tech world right now � but Apple�s facing a different kind of buzz thanks to China. There�s been some less-than-hushed chatter that government agencies and state-backed firms are giving iPhones the cold shoulder. And a wave of Chinese nationalism is on the rise too � which might see everyday citizens swapping their iPhones for local brands. It gets worse, though: let�s not forget that Huawei, China�s tech darling, is about to drop a new phone that�s both wallet-friendly and more high-tech by many measures. All in all, then, Apple�s sales could take a dent, and lead the firm to miss holiday forecasts just like it did during its last big Chinese slowdown in 2019.

Why should I care?

For markets: One bad Apple�
Apple�s shares have been on a rollercoaster since the news broke, and not the fun kind: in just two days, the tech giant�s value has shrunk by a whopping $200 billion. And it�s not just Apple feeling the heat. Investors are getting cold feet with other tech stocks too (from chip companies to firms with a big footprint in China), while US-listed Chinese stocks are also on the chopping block.

The bigger picture: Don�t trade off the orchard for an Apple.
While Beijing�s been tight-lipped so far, some think this is China�s way of saying, �Two can play at that game� � hinting at US tech restrictions on chips and brands like Huawei. But let�s not jump the gun. Some Wall Street whizzes believe the Apple panic is a tad overblown. After all, Apple�s not just any old tech titan: it supports millions of workers across the country � and that’s a bridge that China�s probably very wary of burning.