New analysis claims that gross sales of Apple’s iPhone in China grew over the last quarter, giving it progress for the primary time in years — though nonetheless not sufficient to beat native producers.
In late June 2024, Apple revealed {that a} Chinese language authorities subsidy designed to stimulate the economic system was possible to present it a gross sales enhance. However now it seems that gross sales of the iPhone had been already rising earlier than the subsidy might have impact.
In keeping with analysis from Canalys Apple shipped 10.1 million iPhones within the quarter ending June 2025. That is a rise of 4% 12 months over 12 months, and is the primary time the iPhone has seen any progress in China for the reason that fourth quarter of 2023.
This newest enchancment is all of the extra important as a result of within the quarter ending March 2025, shipments of all non-Chinese language smartphones had been dramatically down. Together with Apple, Samsung and others not made by Chinese language companies, gross sales had been down virtually 50% 12 months over 12 months.
This isn’t evaluating like with like, as these March quarter figures are from a unique supply, the China Academy of Data and Communications Expertise (CAICT). Its figures additionally confirmed for that quarter that native manufacturers had grown the smartphone market by 6.5% 12 months over 12 months.
How Apple gross sales evaluate to its rivals in China — picture credit score: Canalys
There’s additionally the truth that March isn’t often a big one for Apple, because it earns its most gross sales between September and the vacation season. Nevertheless, in February 2025, Apple launched the lower-cost iPhone 16e.
Canalys, although, claims that total Apple “strategically adjusted its pricing for the brand new iPhone 16 sequence,” on this quarter. It did so to be able to capitalize on demand throughout China’s “618” buying season.
This helped with Apple’s progress, nevertheless it was not sufficient to boost the corporate above fifth place. The highest spot was taken by Huawei with shipments of 12.2 million, adopted by vivo on 11.8 million models shipped.
That is a drop for Apple since a report from Counterpoint in January 2025, which put it at simply third. In market share at the moment, Huawei was first on 18.1%, however Apple’s 17.1% was solely simply crushed to second place by Xiaomi’s 17.2%.
