Trump's day-one tariffs on China haven't been implemented yet, but he's still maintaining the fiction that it isn't American consumers who will pay the price.Tim Cook (right) and TrumpThere is no gray area here: tariffs are not a tax on other countries, they result solely in higher prices for Americans. Nonetheless, as he did during his first term, President Trump is again imposing tariffs, just not yet on China.During the campaign, he committed to introduce tariffs on his first day in office, and specifically that he would levy a 60% tariff on imports from China, plus a further 10% duty on Chinese goods. None of that happened, and instead newly announced tariffs will instead start from February 1, 2025, for Mexico and Canada. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Czech Republic firm BYR architekti has offered an insight into its 215-square-foot pavilion in Prague. Completed in 2023 at a cost of $40,000, the Garden Pavilion is designed for clients who own a large, mature garden within a ten-minute walk of their apartment.Image credit: Alex Shoots BuildingsImage credit: Alex Shoots BuildingsThe clients sought a structure to replace an old, dilapidated cottage while maintaining a close connection with their garden. The pavilion provides shelter during adverse weather and serves as a space for occasional overnight stays in the summer, while also functioning as a winter storage area for plants.Image credit: Alex Shoots BuildingsImage credit: Alex Shoots BuildingsA defining feature of the pavilion is its folding polycarbonate panel, which allows one side of the building to fully open. This design integrates the indoor space with the surrounding garden, inspired by the concept of a garden loggia. When open, the panel acts as an outdoor roof, pro...

Architizer's 13th A+Awards features a suite of sustainability-focused categories recognizing designers that are building a greener industry and a better future. Start your entry to receive global recognition for your work!From a design perspective, one could say that the past decade was all about the bars with the rise of the speakeasy came a heightened interest in bar interiors. Now, one can argue that weve entered the golden age of the coffee shop. From the smell of freshly ground beans to the slow pour of black coffee and the amazing latte art found in every cup, coffee shops have become a new place of gathering.Apart from social spaces, cafes act as workstations for remote workers or digital nomads, cozy lounge rooms for reading books and listening to podcasts and even event spaces that host pouring workshops or book club assemblies. Coffee shops straddle the intersection of public and private space, challenging architects to compose flexible designs and explore the qualities that make a successful cafe.SlabtitudeBy Vaslab Architecture, Bangkok, ThailandPopular Choice Winner, Restaurants (S < 1000 sq ft), 12th Annual A+Awards The slabtitude concept is translated into a place for gathering made of exposed concrete surfaces and accompanied by a long wooden table as the key centerpiece. The offices storage space was transformed into a caf for casual meetings, work sessions and social connections. A series of custom made furniture complement the design, providing different moments of interaction as well as privacy throughout the space.FSW CoffeeBy Phoebe Says Wow Architects Ltd. / PSW, Taipei City, Taiwan The project is located in a former office space at the corner ground floor of a mixed-use building close to nearby trails from the CBD area of Taipei. Contrary to most coffee shops, this proposal turned the space into a high quality espresso bar with an on-site roasters and space event, carefully concealing the interior from the bustling cityscape. The shop is divided into a semi-open street pocket space, inviting customers to enjoy a quick sip, and a sideways sit-and-drink area for a more casual experience. Polycarbonate panels act as dividers that offer an incredible illuminating effect throughout the day.NANA Coffee Roasters BangnaBy TROP : terrains + open space, Bangkok, Thailand Nana Coffee Roasters Bangna investigates how eco-conscious design can inform a new caf proposal along the Bangna-Trad motorway. Through the use of man-made structures and natural resources, the project blurs the boundaries between interior design, landscaping, and architecture and uses the three existing structures on site (the house; the road; and the parking) as a starting point for the design. The caf layout is comprised of a Slow Bar, a service zone as well as a Speed Bar and indoor seating zone. Finally, lush plant species act as sound buffers and construct peaceful green pockets around the structure.The Caff by Mr EspressoBy jones | haydu, Oakland, CaliforniaThe Caff reflects the second generation of Bay Area icon Mr. Espresso, serving as an example of how a diverse cultural landscape operates within a dense urban fabric. Heavily inspired by Italian culture and the ritual of a pausa or a pause, the design features elements of minimalism and contrast. The central bar sits as an island within the space, accentuated by an overhead wooden sculpture made of 272 slats of birch plywood.Blue Bottle Los GatosBy Lincoln Lighthill Architect, California The design for this cafe focused on the idea of how people move through confined spaces and the architectural language that can be derived from these conditions. Using the concept of super quadrics math equations that yield rounded forms the caf was designed free of sharp corners, ensuring a smooth flow throughout the space. Respectively, the material palette echoes this smoothness, where key furniture pieces such the bar are made of a single solid piece of acrylic polymer (Corian) to reinforce its seamless, continuous form.% Arabica West Jianguo RoadBy B.L.U.E. Architecture Studio, Shanghai, ChinaPopular Winner, Restaurants, 8th Annual A+Awards The coffee shops design focused on both its faade and interior renovation, creating an interplay between interior and exterior space. The shop becomes completely open through a small courtyard that expands around a U-shaped glass box. The transparent design allows part of the commercial space to blend with the wider urban context, while incorporating, in turn, the surrounding scenery into the store through the integration of parasol trees around the faade.Option Coffee BarBy TOUCH Architect, Udon Thani, ThailandPopular Choice Winner, Bars & Nightclubs, 8th Annual A+Awards Option Coffee Bar hosts three primary functions within the space: a caf, a restaurant and a bar and occasionally an event space. The design objective was to create interchangeable zones, where these contrasting functions can occur both separately and simultaneously. Careful attention is given to the faade, which is comprised of a double layer of clear polycarbonate, which creates variation of light throughout the day as well as acts as a sign for the caf.Architizer's 13th A+Awards features a suite of sustainability-focused categories recognizing designers that are building a greener industry and a better future. Start your entry to receive global recognition for your work!Featured Image: FSW Coffee, Taipei City, Taiwan by Phoebe Says Wow Architects Ltd. / PSW. Finalist, Bars & Wineries, 10th Annual A+ AwardsThe post Baristas Canvas: Exploring the Art of Coffee Shop Architecture in the Golden Era of Cafs appeared first on Journal.

Developer Slipgate Ironworks and publisher 3D Realms have announced that upcoming real-time strategy game Tempest Rising is now available for pre-order on PC through Steam. Along with kicking off pre-orders, the game also has a demo that players can play to see if they like the game. Theres also a pre-order trailer, which you can check out below.The demo for Tempest Rising, which will be available until February 3 as part of the currently-ongoing Real-Time Strategy Fest on Steam, features a number of game modes, including multiplayer, with 3 maps: The Alps (2v2), Oasis (1v1), and Altitude (1v1). While fans of single-player campaigns will have to wait for a bit, they can still check out the gameplay through skirmishes against AI opponents in these maps.Tempest Rising takes place in an alternate timeline in the year 1997, where conflict rose due to the Cuban Missile Crisis going nuclear. At launch, the game will feature single-player campaigns, complete with unique factions that will allow players to experience the story.On the gameplay front, Tempest Rising is looking to classic RTS titles of the past, with a focus on fast and fluid base building as well as plenty of customisation and battles to take part in. The multiplayer will feature two factions, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, as well as entirely different rosters.The game is available for pre-order at 39.99 for the standard edition, and 49.99 for the deluxe edition, which includes a digital artbook, the full 43-track soundtrack, and a weeks advanced access to the game. Pre-ordering Tempest Rising will also get players access to the Commander Pack DLC, which includes in-game cosmetics like player icons, cursors and skins.Tempest Rising is coming to PC on April 24.

While rumours from 2022 indicated that an MMORPG based on PlayStations Horizon franchise was in the works, a new report indicates that the title may have been cancelled. As spotted by ResetEra user R, members of NCSofts development team working on a host of projects codenamed Pantera, H and J were told to stop development of these titles, according to MTN.The reports indicate that development the three games was halted at the end of 2024, with the development teams being told at the start of this year to prepare for transfers to other teams. Of these now-cancelled titles, Project H is speculated to be the Horizon MMORPG.R was also able to point out that some of the recent departures from NCSofts development teams match up with the timeline from the MTN report, lending further credence to the idea that these projects might have been cancelled. Neither NCSoft nor PlayStation have made any announcement about a Horizon MMO, much less its cancellation.Of these games, while Project J is still an unknown title, Pantera is expected to be a new game in the Lineage franchise, known internally as Raise Lineage M.The cancellation might have been a part of the larger trend at PlayStation of shutting down development of live-service titles. More recently, the PlayStation has reportedly cancelled development of unnamed titles at Bend Studio and Bluepoint Games. The move was likely made in the fallout of the failure of Concord, which was shut down less than a month after its release.NCSoft has a long history in developing MMORPGs, with one of its more popular ones in the west being Guild Wars 2. When rumours about the Horizon MMO first came about, NCSoft itself was relatively cagey about the game, instead stating: It is difficult to confirm information about unpublished projects that are currently under development.While the Horizon franchise may ultimately end up not getting an MMO, players can instead check out the single-player offerings, including the recent remaster of the original Horizon Zero Dawn. Read our review for the remaster here.

Chris Kerr, News EditorJanuary 21, 20251 Min ReadImage via EAEA will shut down its Origin storefront on April 17, 2025.In a brief note on the EA Help website, the company said the PC platform is being scrapped because Microsoft has stopped supporting 32-bit software."If you use Origin, you need to upgrade to the EA app, which requires a 64-bit version of Windows," added the company.Origin had already been supplanted by the EA app, which the company describes as an "enhanced platform for PC Games [...] optimized for the best user experience."In an FAQ, EA states that accounts and games associated with Origin will transfer over to the EA app. Mods, however, might not survive the switch."When you log in, any games you had on Origin will be ready to play. Games that list in-game hours in Origin will list the same hours in the EA app. Anything you've saved through Origins cloud will also transfer," explained EA."We can't promise that mods will transfer to the EA app. Check with mod creators to see if your content can be transferred."Origin users with cloud saves enabled will be able to bring over existing save game data "without any action," although EA acknowledged that some titles don't have cloud save capabilities. Players will need to manually transfer those saves.It's also worth reiterating that the EA app doesn't support 32-bit versions of Windows. That means users will either need to upgrade to a 64-bit operating system or switch to newer hardware to access their games.It's a requirement that could leave some out in the cold.Read more about:EAAbout the AuthorChris KerrNews Editor, GameDeveloper.comGame Developer news editor Chris Kerr is an award-winning journalist and reporter with over a decade of experience in the game industry. His byline has appeared in notable print and digital publications including Edge, Stuff, Wireframe, International Business Times, andPocketGamer.biz. Throughout his career, Chris has covered major industry events including GDC, PAX Australia, Gamescom, Paris Games Week, and Develop Brighton. He has featured on the judging panel at The Develop Star Awards on multiple occasions and appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live to discuss breaking news.See more from Chris KerrDaily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inboxStay UpdatedYou May Also Like

The people behind the controversial Grand Theft Auto 6 parody game Grand Taking Ages are back with a Steam page after Sony pulled it from the PlayStation Store.Grand Taking Ages is, according to its creators, a parody management simulator where players run a game development studio.Last month, despite using what looked like AI-generated art to satirize the ongoing wait for Rockstars GTA 6, the inclusion of a list of unlikely gameplay features, as well as fake awards from video game websites, Grand Taking Ages VI appeared on the PlayStation Store with a May 2025 release date. Users were even able to wishlist the game on PlayStation.Inevitably, Sony pulled Grand Taking Ages VI from the PlayStation Store, but now its back on Steam after what its creators said were key adjustments made to convince Valve of the project's validity.Grand Taking Ages is back, this time on Steam.Developer Violarte told IGN that Grand Taking Ages had been through a thorough review process, and was now approved for publishing on Steam. On the Steam page are a brand new trailer and updated screenshots, all leaning on the parody angle its developer is using as justification for the project.So whats changed? As well as ditching the VI in the game title, Violarte changed the games logo, descriptions, and overall presentation to clearly differentiate Grand Taking Ages from the original inspiration, GTA 6, and to emphasize its unique direction. Gone is the art that looked a lot like Rockstars iconic GTA imagery, in its place art that looks a bit like Rockstars iconic GTA imagery.But Grand Taking Ages is still riddled with generative AI. As per Steams AI rules, Violarte disclosed on the Grand Taking Ages Steam page that it used "AI services" for voice overs and a cursory glance at the trailer will demonstrate how well this worked out.And heres the new description on the Grand Taking Ages Steam page:Coming Soon Since Forever! Start your game dev journey in mom's garage! Battle angry fans, dodge ruthless journalists, and perfect the art of "creative" deadlines. Survive on pizza and energy drinks while building your dream studio into... a slightly better garage!Violarte said it took a different approach with Valve to get the game on Steam than it did with Sony to get the game on the PlayStation Store. We approached Steam differently by engaging with their team about the concept of our game before officially submitting it, a representative told IGN. This allowed us to get their perspective early on, ensuring alignment with their guidelines.The company pointed to other projects such as Grand Theft Hamlet, a documentary about two out of work actors who attempt to put on a production of Hamlet inside GTA Online, as evidence that parodies of GTA should be protected from takedowns. These examples showcase how parody can celebrate and entertain within existing genres while remaining creative and engaging, Violarte said.Grand Taking Ages uses generative AI for its trailer voice over.Violarte now wants Grand Taking Ages back on the PlayStation Store. We genuinely believe that, with the recent updates, Grand Taking Ages is now ready to be relisted on the PlayStation Store, it said. To that end, Violarte said it had sent a request to Sony that points out that the changes its made to the game have convinced Valve to approve it for release on Steam. We strongly believe that there will be no issues with Sony this time, given the adjustments we've implemented, Violarte said.Grand Taking Ages's appearance on the PlayStation Store called Sonys curation process into question, but Valves open-door policy on Steam is well-documented. The likes of Steam, the various app stores, and even the Nintendo eShop are packed with slop, and, increasingly, generative-AI is being used to make it.GTA 6, meanwhile, launches on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S in the fall of 2025.Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

AMD announced its next-generation graphics cards, the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT, at CES 2025, but curiously, neither of the two RDNA 4 graphics cards was present during AMDs keynote, despite vendors showing off their new cards on the show floor with redacted specifications.Now, David McAfee, VP & GM of Radeon Graphics and Ryzen CPUs, has posted on Twitter / X to reveal a release month for both: March 2025.Radeon 9000 series hardware and software are looking great and we are planning to have a wide assortment of cards available globally," McAfee said. "Cant wait for gamers to get their hands on the cards when they go on sale in March!The AMD RX 9070 and 9070 XT are set to debut in March 2025, then, but the company has still not announced specific details such as specifications or pricing. Its widely believed that the GPU will operate in the same price and performance brackets as Nvidias upcoming RTX 5070, and RTX 5070 Ti, which launch in February.Despite this, reports indicate that stock of the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT have already landed at retailers and are already in the hands of reviewers and critics, with outlet eTeknix confirming it has received review samples of the upcoming graphics cards.PlayThe entire scenario raises more than a few eyebrows, sparking speculation that AMD delayed the official launch to directly respond to competition from Nvidias RTX 5070 and 5070 Ti and allowing the company to directly compare Team Greens new GPUs to its new products. Its also speculated that pricing pressure from Nvidia has caused AMD to delay the official release of the RX 9070 lineup.With details of the new AMD graphics cards as scarce as they are, the RX 9070 lineup launch messaging has been messy and confusing. A report from June 2024 indicates that Nvidia currently holds 88% of the total discrete GPU market, with AMD sitting at just 12%.With no other company challenging Nvidia at the mid-range or high-end of the consumer graphics card market, AMD needs to play its cards right to chip away at Nvidias staggering market dominance.Sayem is a freelancer based in the UK, covering tech & hardware. You can get in touch with him at @sayem.zone on Bluesky.

Were back with the next wave of Game Pass reveals for January and I hope youve cleared your schedule! If youre looking for day one releases, some fan favorites, or ready to discover your next favorite game, I come prepared. And while were making room on schedules, I hope to see you all on January 23 for our Developer Direct for an inside look at a few upcoming games (not to mention those coming day one with Game Pass!). Now lets get to the news!Available TodayLonely Mountain: Snow Riders (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S)Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game PassAvailable on day one! Crash over and over until you master the mountain in the snowy follow up to Lonely Mountains: Downhill. Now supporting up to 8 players via cross platform multiplayer work your way down the slopes as a group sharing a small number of checkpoints, or risk it all in a breakneck race to the base!Coming SoonFlock (Console) January 22Now with Game Pass StandardFlock is a multiplayer co-op game about the joy of flight and collecting adorable flying creatures with your friends. Soar through beautiful landscapes, seeking out rare and elusive creatures to add to your flock.Gigantic: Rampage Edition (Cloud, Console, and PC) January 22Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass StandardGigantic: Rampage Edition is a premium and definitive release of the original 5v5 MOBA hero shooter that provides a dynamic and exciting team-based multiplayer experience for fans of both genres. Choose from a diverse roster of unique heroes, each with a set of upgradeable abilities, and team up with four other players to control objectives and take down the opposing teams mighty Guardian, all while protecting your own.Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess (Console) January 22Now with Game Pass StandardA unique Japanese-inspired, single player Kagura action strategy game. It takes place on a mountain covered by defilement. During the day, purify the villages and prepare yourself for sundown. During the night, protect the Maiden against the hordes of the Seethe. Repeat the day and night cycle until you cleanse the mountain of defilement and return peace to the land.Magical Delicacy (Console) January 22Now with Game Pass StandardA wholesome pixel art platformer. Cook magical delicacies from a vast collection of ingredients in your own shop. Explore an unfamiliar town and deliver tasty treats to the townsfolk. Learn new ways to traverse, discover secrets, and experience a unique witchy world.Tchia (Xbox Series X|S) January 22Now with Game Pass StandardJoin Tchia on her tropical open-world adventure as she sets off to rescue her father from the cruel tyrant, Meavora, ruler of the archipelago. Climb, glide, swim, and sail your boat around beautiful islands as you explore a physics-driven sandbox.The Case of the Golden Idol (Console) January 22Now with Game Pass StandardMayhem, magic, and murder most foul! Examine clues and use your powers of deduction to solve the twisted mystery of a familys cursed inheritance and a series of grisly deaths in this point-and-click detective adventure gameStarbound (Cloud and Console) January 22Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass StandardCurrently available with PC Game Pass and now coming to Xbox consoles and Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta)! In Starbound, you create your own story theres no wrong way to play! You may choose to save the universe from the forces that destroyed your home, uncovering greater galactic mysteries in the process, or you may wish to forego a heroic journey entirely in favor of colonizing uncharted planets.Eternal Strands (Cloud, Console, and PC) January 28Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game PassAvailable on day one! Eternal Strands is the debut fantasy title from Yellow Brick Games, a new independent studio founded by industry veterans from franchises including Dragon Age, Mass Effect, Watch Dogs, and Assassins Creed. Fight epic, towering creatures while blending magical abilities with an arsenal of powerful weapons to keep the world from crumbling in this third-person, action-adventure game.Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) January 28Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game PassAvailable on day one! Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap is an action-packed, third-person shooter and trap defense game. Evolve as an orc-slaying War Mage through rogue-lite choices and obliterate, eviscerate, and incinerate massive hordes with up to four players.Shady Part of Me (Cloud, Console, and PC) January 29Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass StandardShady Part of Me sends you on an emotional and dream-like journey, with breathtaking artistic direction and the enthralling voice of Hannah Murray from Game of Thrones and Skins. As a little girl and her shadow, overcome emotional struggles through surreal dreamscapes across a touching narrative filled with twists and surprises. Both must learn, cooperate, and evolve to progress in a poetic journey.Sniper Elite: Resistance (Cloud, Console, and PC) January 30Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game PassAvailable on day one! Offering unparalleled sniping mechanics, stealth and tactical third-person combat, Sniper Elite: Resistance turns the attention of the award-winning series towards a hidden war, far from the front lines, deep within the heart of occupied France. Bring a friend the full campaign can be experienced in co-op.Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) January 31Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game PassAvailable on day one! The highly anticipated sequel to one of 2022s most acclaimed RPGs, Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector is a dice-driven RPG in a human and heartfelt sci-fi world. You are an escaped android, with a malfunctioning body, a price on your head and no memory of your past. Get a ship, find a crew, and take on contracts while you navigate across the Starward Belt.Far Cry New Dawn (Cloud, Console, and PC) February 4Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass StandardDive into a transformed, vibrant, post-apocalyptic Hope County, Montana, 17 years after a global nuclear catastrophe. Lead the fight against the Highwaymen as they seek to take over the last remaining resources.DLC / Game UpdatesDiablo IV: Season of Witchcraft Available nowDiablo IV: Season of Witchcraft has begun! Unravel the mystery of the Tree of Whispers stolen Heads by harnessing Witchcraft Powers to hunt the rogue Heads as they spread madness across Sanctuary. Complete the Season Journey to earn a new Raven Pet. Learn more on Xbox Wire.Valorant: New Agent Tejo Available nowGame Pass members now have access to Valorants newest Agent, Tejo, whos joining the roster from Colombia. As part of the Initiator class, Tejo specializes in flushing out enemies with a unique kit consisting of information gathering, explosions, and a concuss. Learn more about Tejos abilities on Xbox Wire.Xbox Game Pass Ultimate PerksCheck the Game Pass section on your console, Xbox mobile app, or Xbox app on PC to find new in-game content, consumables, and offers included with your Game Pass Ultimate membership. Number and content of Perks vary by region, platform, and over time. Perks must be redeemed by stated timeframe.Throne and Liberty: Lottie and Percy Bundle Available nowJoin the Resistance in this Xbox exclusive colored Lottie Outfit and get a Fuzzy Percy Amitoi to tag along on your adventures in this free-to-play, guild-focused combat experience.EA Sports UFC 5: Bruce Lee Bundle Available nowUnlock new alter egos for the father of mixed martial arts, available with your EA Play membership. EA Play membership is included with Game Pass Ultimate.War Thunder: Year of the Snake Bundle Available nowCelebrate the Lunar New Year of the Snake with a mighty tank Sherman Jumbo Cobra King and versatile fighter plane P-63C-5 King Cobra.Enlisted: Ultimate US Starter Pack Available nowGet a great start in Enlisted with the premium US Assaulters squad armed with M3A1 Grease Guns!Leaving January 31The following games are leaving the Game Pass library soon, but theres still time to jump back in to wrap up where you left off or even jump in fresh. You can also use your membership discount to save up to 20% to keep them in your library.Anuchard (Cloud, Console, and PC)Broforce Forever (Cloud, Console, and PC)Darkest Dungeon (Cloud, Console, and PC)Deaths Door (Cloud, Console, and PC)Maquette (Cloud, Console, and PC)Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem (Cloud, Console, and PC)Were adding more games over time to the Stream your own game collection for Game Pass Ultimate members. Go here to see the list of available cloud playable games to stream on supported devices if you own them.Thats a big list of games, and well be back before too long with even more of them. Stay tuned to Game Pass, PC Game Pass, and Xbox on social for reminders of when this list of Coming Soon magically turns into Available Today! Cheers!

Two of the worlds leading market intelligence firms report that the iPhone has lost its place as the best-selling phone in China, dropping from 1st to 3rd place in the final quarter of last year.Increased competition from local brands is cited as one factor, the second being Apples inability to offer AI features in the country Canalys report last weekCanalys was first to report on Apples changing fortunes in China.Canalysreports that iPhone shipments in China fell by 25% year-on-year in the final quarter of the year.That means Apples market share fell from a chart-topping 19% in 2023 to joint-third with Oppo and Honor in 2024, each with a 15% share.Counterpoint corroboratesWhile the exact estimates differ, Counterpoint Research now reaches the same conclusion.Huawei took the top spot, followed by Xiaomi and Apple [] In Q4 2024, Huawei climbed to the top spot with an 18.1% share. This is the first time since the US ban that Huawei regained the leading position []Xiaomi secured the second spot in Q4 2024 with a 17.2% market share, driven by strong growth from Q3 into Q4. This growth was fueled by the popularity of its flagship Mi 15 series, launched in October. Xiaomi has made significant progress in premiumization this year []Amid intensifying market competition from Huawei and other Chinese OEMs expanding into the premium market, Apple ranked third during the quarter, capturing a 17.1% market share.AI features a significant factorWhile smartphones from Chinese brands now have AI features, Apple Intelligence is not yet available in the country. Apple wanted to be able to use its own generative AI model there, but the Chinese government essentially said that wouldnt be permitted.The government last month said that launching Apple Intelligence in China would bea difficult and long processunless the iPhone maker partners with a local AI company. Working with a Chinese company would instead be simple and straightforward.Apple is believed to be negotiating with Tencent and ByteDance, but with nothing to show for it as yet.Photo byChristian LueonUnsplashAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel