Apple Leads Top Brands for China Smartphone Growth as Market Declines

China's smartphone shipments fell 4% twelvemonth implicit twelvemonth successful the archetypal 4th of 2026, according to information from Counterpoint Research, with Apple delivering the strongest maturation among the apical six brands.



Counterpoint's Market Monitor Tracker attributed the diminution chiefly to a precocious basal effect from past year's authorities subsidy programme and rising constituent costs. Counterpoint noted that February's Lunar New Year promotions provided a flimsy boost, but said the "magnitude of these discounts was hampered by a crisp summation successful representation costs." Rising costs are already driving up retail prices connected some caller and utilized devices, and the unit is expected to proceed done the 2nd quarter.

Apple roseate to 2nd spot successful the marketplace with shipments up 20% twelvemonth implicit year, driven by beardown iPhone 17 bid demand, promotional terms cuts, and authorities subsidies. Counterpoint says Apple is champion positioned among manufacturers to navigate the ongoing planetary representation crunch, supported by its premium merchandise portfolio and proviso concatenation management. The steadfast expects Apple to sorb rising costs internally successful the near-to-medium word and grow its marketplace stock arsenic a result. The archetypal 4th effect extends a beardown tally for Apple successful China; the institution reclaimed the apical spot successful the state successful the 4th fourth of 2025 with shipments up 28% twelvemonth implicit year, and recorded a 23% income increase successful the archetypal 9 weeks of 2026.

Huawei led with a 20% marketplace share, its highest since the 4th fourth of 2020, with shipments up 2% twelvemonth implicit year, aided by home supplier relationships that cushion the interaction of rising representation costs. OPPO ranked 3rd pursuing the reintegration of realme, with OnePlus rising 53% twelvemonth implicit twelvemonth connected the Ace 6 and Turbo 6 series, though OPPO's determination to rise prices connected older models successful March has weighed connected demand. vivo grew 2% twelvemonth implicit twelvemonth connected mid-to-low-end strength, portion Xiaomi was the sharpest decliner, falling 35% twelvemonth implicit twelvemonth arsenic its halfway models underperformed the erstwhile generation.

Counterpoint warned that manufacturers broadly look a "double hit" of shrinking shipments and thinning margins, and forecast that China smartphone shipments volition diminution 9% for the afloat year. Apple, by contrast, is expected to usage the outgo unit to its advantage, absorbing representation terms increases internally portion rivals are forced to rise prices and cede ground.
This article, "Apple Leads Top Brands for China Smartphone Growth arsenic Market Declines" archetypal appeared connected MacRumors.com

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