This application discloses a positive electrode active material, including secondary particles and a coating layer applied on an exterior surface of each of the secondary particles, where the secondary particle includes a lithium transition metal oxide that contains a doping element M1, the coating layer includes an oxide of element M2, M1 is selected from one or more of Si, Ti, Cr, Mo, V, Ge, Se, Zr, Nb, Ru, Rh, Pd, Sb, Te, Ce, and W, and M2 is selected from one or more of Mg, Al, Ca, Ce, Ti, Zr, Zn, Y, and B; a relative deviation of local mass concentration of element M1 in the secondary particle is less than 20%; and the secondary particle from the core to the exterior surface of the particle includes a plurality of layers of primary particles arranged along radial direction of the secondary particle.