Apple’s new iPhone models have seen a strong start in China, with sales in the first three weeks since their release increasing by a significant 20% compared to the models from the previous year, according to data from research company Counterpoint.
As reported by Reuters on Friday, amidst the strong performance of the new iPhones, Apple is facing increasingly fierce competition in China. Apple launched its new iPhones on September 20 in China, while local competitor Huawei also released its new smartphones on the same day.
Counterpoint stated, “We have seen the strong sales performance of the iPhone 16 series in China,” highlighting that the high-end models, iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, have been particularly popular. The combined sales of these two models have seen a 44% increase compared to the previous generation from 2023. A similar trend has been observed in the US market, with the Pro models performing even better.
Counterpoint analyst Ivan Lam attributed this growth to several factors, including Apple’s pricing strategy, efficient production, and the acceptance of the new generation of products by existing users.
“Steady production growth, consistent pricing strategies, and the initial wave of upgrades by existing iPhone users have led to a significant growth of the iPhone 16 series in the domestic market in China,” he stated.
The successful launch of the iPhone 16 stands in contrast to the challenges faced by the iPhone 15 series during its release last year. Lam mentioned that production issues at the start hindered the development of the iPhone 15 series, potentially limiting initial sales, with the impact from Huawei Mate 60 also being a factor.
Moreover, Counterpoint noted that during this three-week period, overall iPhone sales in China dropped by 2% year-on-year, primarily due to declining sales of older models and competition from the Huawei Mate and Pura series.
The decline in sales of older models is likely due to users seeking to upgrade to newer Apple Intelligence models, specifically the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, or the iPhone 16 series.
When the iPhone 16 was launched globally on September 20, scenes of Apple fans lining up overnight were witnessed in countries like the US, China, and Taiwan, eager to be among the first to get their hands on the latest generation of Apple’s smartphones.
The iPhone remains a core part of Apple’s revenue strategy, accounting for about half of the company’s total sales.