Apple’s iPhone has once again proved its enduring appeal in the world’s largest smartphone market.
China’s overall smartphone shipments declined 4% year-over-year in the first quarter (January to March), hammered by supply chain disruptions and sharply higher memory chip prices that forced vendors to raise prices across budget and mid-range models to protect margins.
Yet Apple and, to a much lesser extent, Huawei — the Chinese market’s two dominant players — bucked the downturn in impressive fashion. Apple’s iPhone shipments jumped a robust 20%, delivering the strongest growth of any major vendor. Huawei managed to eke out just a modest 2% increase.
Counterpoint Research senior analyst Ivan Lam explained Apple’s standout performance: “As most rivals raise prices, Apple stands out for value, with Chinese consumers knowing its products last at least three years.”
Huawei retained the top spot in China with a 20% market share, driven by solid demand for both its high-end flagships and more affordable Enjoy 90 series devices. Apple followed closely in second place with 19% share.
Xiaomi suffered a steep 35% drop in shipments, slipping to sixth place — largely due to a tough comparison against last year’s aggressive price cuts and government subsidies that created an inflated base. Oppo and Honor also posted declines of 5% and 3%, respectively, while Vivo eked out a 2% gain thanks to strong Lunar New Year holiday sales.
Vendors across the board have been hiking prices on entry-level handsets to offset the elevated cost of memory components, shifting the market toward premium segments where margins are healthier.
Looking ahead, Lam anticipates continued headwinds in Q2 as Chinese brands push prices even higher. However, he expects Apple and Huawei to fare better than most.
“Apple and Huawei should continue to outperform,” Lam noted, “with Huawei potentially seeing further shipment growth driven by solid demand for its lower-end devices.”
Apple iPhone surges 20% in China in Q1 as rivals stumble, strongest growth among major vendors
Apple's iPhone has once again proved its enduring appeal in the world's largest smartphone market.China's overall smartphone shipments…
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