Overview
- Counterpoint’s sell-out tracker shows iPhone sales in China rose about 22% year over year in the first month after the Sept. 19 launch, an early snapshot rather than a long-term trend.
- The iPhone 17 lineup accounted for nearly 80% of Apple’s smartphone units sold to Chinese consumers during the period.
- China’s overall smartphone market fell roughly 2.7% in the third quarter of 2025, underscoring Apple’s relative outperformance during the iPhone 17 debut window.
- Competition stayed intense, with Xiaomi posting a similar first‑month gain of about 21% and Huawei remaining a strong rival in the premium tier.
- JP Morgan’s Samik Chatterjee reported that high-end models capture about 72% of intended iPhone purchases, signaling a robust premium upgrade cycle.