Apple Captures 25% of China’s Smartphone Market as iPhone 17 Dominates

Cupertino's latest flagship eats Huawei's lunch in world's largest mobile arena.

How the iPhone 17 rewrote China's smartphone playbook

Analysts gasp as Apple's market share hits quarter-century high—just as local rivals' supply chains sputter. The 'premiumization' strategy pays off despite Beijing's nationalist tech push. Meanwhile, Wall Street still can't decide if this is 'proof of ecosystem moat' or 'peak China exposure.'

Meet Your ETF AI Analyst

• Discover how TipRanks' ETF AI Analyst can help you make smarter investment decisions
• Explore ETFs TipRanks' users love and see what insights the ETF AI Analyst reveals about the ones you follow.

iPhone 17 Drives a Turnaround

According to data from Counterpoint Research, one in four phones sold in China last month was an iPhone, giving Apple a 25% market share, its highest since 2022. Every iPhone 17 model, from the base version to the Pro Max, outsold the iPhone 16 versions they replaced, with double-digit sales growth across the lineup. This shows strong consumer demand for the new upgrades and fuels Optimism about Apple’s growth prospects in the key Chinese market.

IIvan Lam, senior analyst at Counterpoint, noted that more than 80% of Apple’s phone sales now come from the new iPhone 17 lineup. He added that the higher average selling price (ASP) of the new models could help Apple report stronger revenue in the coming quarters. These results support Apple CEO Tim Cook’s recent comments that sales in China are on track to return to growth this quarter.

Adding to that momentum, earlier data also showed that iPhone sales in China jumped 22% year-over-year in the month following the launch, despite the overall smartphone market shrinking. This contrasts sharply with last year’s iPhone 16 release, which experienced a decline in its first month.

With momentum returning in China, Apple appears well-positioned to maintain its lead in the premium smartphone segment, even as domestic rivals prepare new launches and competition intensifies.

Is AAPL a Good Stock to Buy?

Analysts remain divided about Apple’s long-term prospects. On TipRanks, AAPL stock has a Moderate Buy consensus rating based on 21 Buys, 12 Holds, and two Sell ratings. The average Apple price target of $291.14 implies 6.2% upside potential from current levels. Year-to-date, AAPL stock has gained 9.5%.