According to the latest data from Counterpoint Research, Apple has regained the number one position in China’s smartphone market during the fourth quarter of 2025. This comeback was fueled by massive demand for the iPhone 17 lineup, which saw shipments jump an impressive 28% year-over-year.
The holiday quarter is always a critical period for Apple, but this year’s performance stands out because it happened while the broader Chinese market was actually shrinking. Total smartphone shipments in the region fell by 1.6% during the same period. While local competitors like Huawei and Xiaomi saw double-digit declines, Apple managed to capture 22% of the total market share.
The driving force behind this growth was the successful launch and supply ramp of the iPhone 17 series. Specifically, the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models captured the attention of high-end buyers with a fresh camera design and significant internal upgrades.
Interestingly, the base iPhone 17 also played a massive role in this “China record.” Apple made a strategic move this year by doubling the base storage of the standard model while keeping the starting price the same. In a market where consumers are becoming increasingly price-conscious but still want premium specs, this “more for less” approach clearly paid off.
However, not every new release was a home run. The much-discussed “iPhone Air”—Apple’s ultra-thin experiment—had a slower start in China. Analysts point to its later launch date and certain feature trade-offs made to achieve its slim profile as reasons for its low single-digit market share.
One of the most impressive parts of this report is that Apple achieved these numbers in the face of a worsening semiconductor shortage. A global deficit in memory chips has been driving up component prices, but high-end devices like the iPhone have remained largely unaffected.
While Apple won the “Q4 championship,” the battle for 2026 is already heating up. Memory prices are expected to rise by as much as 50% in the first half of this year. This will likely force many manufacturers to cut back on their cheaper models.
For Apple, the goal will be to maintain this momentum as rumors of the iPhone 18 and a potential foldable iPhone begin to circulate.
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