Apple’s smartphone sales in China grew 23% year-over-year during the first nine weeks of 2026. This performance outpaced the broader Chinese market, which saw overall sales decline by 4%.
Data from Counterpoint Research shows Apple succeeded despite sluggish consumer demand that government subsidies failed to revive. E-commerce discounts and state subsidy eligibility for the base iPhone 17 model fueled the growth.
In contrast, Android rivals such as OPPO and vivo are raising prices due to higher memory chip costs. Analysts suggest Apple’s robust supply chain allows it to absorb these costs and potentially expand its market share.