A recent market intelligence report indicates that the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are experiencing robust sales in China, positioning Apple as the leading brand in the country during its launch week. Counterpoint Research attributes the success of Apple’s latest iPhone to three key factors.
Overall sales of new smartphones in China have dropped by 17% year-on-year since July due to rising costs, as reported by Counterpoint Research’s China Weekly Smartphone Sell-Out Tracker. Nevertheless, the launch of the iPhone 18 Pro has counteracted this downward trend.
In the initial three days of sales, which fell within Week 38, the iPhone 18 Pro series achieved a 12% year-over-year growth compared to previous iPhone sales. This strong start enabled Apple to secure the top position in sales for Week 38, capturing a 33% share of the Chinese smartphone market.
Counterpoint Research outlines three reasons for the new model’s popularity. First, the base iPhone 18 model’s launch was delayed. As Apple released the Pro models earlier than the standard version, some consumers opted to upgrade to the premium model instead of waiting. Second, increasing prices for premium smartphones have made consumers more willing to pay higher amounts than before. Apple has mitigated some of the component cost increases, resulting in the iPhone 18 Pro offering better value relative to its price. Third, Counterpoint points to ‘aggressive channel support,’ which involves significant advertising and promotional efforts from retailers and carriers.