Apple Sales in China Plunge 50%, Huawei Back on Top – Fortune
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ChineseTiger1986
Trusted Member
If Apple dares to not use China supply chain, then China may issue a full ban on Apple just like what the US did to Huawei.
Hamartia Antidote
Elite Member
iPhone 18 Pro first-week sales in China reportedly near 1.3 million units; Apple's weekly market share surges to 33% — BigGo Finance
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro lineup is off to a strong start in the Chinese market, with Counterpoint Research data showing first-three-day sales up 12%…
iPhone 18 Pro first-week sales in China reportedly near 1.3 million units; Apple's weekly market share surges to 33%
Apple's latest flagship iPhone 18 Pro lineup is off to a strong start in the Chinese market. According to the latest data from market research firm Counterpoint Research, sales in the first three days of availability grew 12% compared to the same period for the previous-generation iPhone 17 Pro series, propelling Apple's weekly market share in China to 33% and vaulting it to the top of the weekly sales rankings. Market chatter further suggests that actual sell-through across all channels has already approached 1.3 million units.
Counterpoint Research's China Smartphone Weekly Sales Tracker shows that since July, weekly smartphone sales in China have posted double-digit year-over-year declines, primarily because rising storage costs have dampened consumer demand. However, Apple bucked the trend with a strong surge once its September new-product launch cycle kicked in.
The iPhone 18 Pro series officially went on sale in Week 38. Based on just three days of sales data, volume already exceeded the iPhone 17 Pro series' first-week launch performance by 12%. Counterpoint senior analyst Ivan Lam noted that this generation marks the first time the Pro models launched without a simultaneous standard-model refresh, forcing upgraders toward the higher-priced Pro versions — a key factor behind the strong initial sales.
"RD Observation," a digital blogger who has long tracked the Chinese handset market, reported that seven days after launch, actual sell-through of the iPhone 18 Pro series across all channels reached nearly 1.3 million units, equivalent to 115% of the previous-generation iPhone 17 Pro series' total sales and 90% of the iPhone 17 full lineup's first-week volume. The same blogger previously disclosed that first-day sales of the iPhone 18 Pro series totaled roughly 322,800 units, approximately 130% of the iPhone 17 Pro series' first-day figure.
Notably, Apple grew against a weakening overall market. During the same period, China's smartphone shipments fell 17% year-over-year, with domestic brands broadly under pressure, yet Apple captured a 33% weekly market share on the strength of the Pro lineup's explosive start.
Pricing advantage amid an industry-wide price hike wave
Industry insiders attribute Apple's standout performance in China to sector-wide price increases. Driven by rising component costs, handset makers across the board have raised flagship pricing in an attempt to offset declining shipment volumes with higher per-unit revenue — a move that has inadvertently eroded the price advantage that Chinese competitors have long relied on."Several Chinese flagship models have raised prices by more than $200 (approximately NT$6,400), lifting the market's price anchor and further highlighting the iPhone's value proposition," Lam said.
Apple adopted a "premium in the fall, mainstream in the spring" launch strategy this year, unveiling only the iPhone 18 Pro series and its first foldable, the iPhone Duo, while the more affordable iPhone 18 has been pushed to next spring. The China mainland version of the iPhone 18 Pro starts at CNY 9,999 (approximately $1,500), while the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at CNY 10,999 (approximately $1,600).
Foldable drives expansion of the niche segment
Counterpoint Research also issued the industry's first sales forecast for Apple's debut foldable, the iPhone Duo, projecting approximately 6 million units sold this year. Priced at $1,999 (approximately NT$64,000), the device sits at the very top of Apple's product lineup and is scheduled to go on sale in October.Lam noted that the 6 million-unit figure is more consistent with the characteristics of the niche foldable market rather than Apple's typical flagship shipment levels, and final sales will depend on the company's progress in ramping up production capacity for the new hardware.
Market research firm IDC estimates that, driven by Apple's entry, global foldable smartphone shipments will grow 13% this year to 22.9 million units. IDC said that without the iPhone Duo's launch, the segment would have posted a decline.
Apple's opening performance in the Chinese market reflects that its premiumization strategy is delivering tangible results. Against a backdrop of soft overall demand, Apple has successfully steered users toward higher-priced Pro models through product-line adjustments and pricing strategy, while using the foldable to open up new growth avenues. For investors, the strong initial sales data from China, combined with expectations for foldable segment expansion, provides a positive signal for Apple's revenue momentum in the second half of 2026.
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