iPhone 18 Pro helps Apple rise to number one in China
A new report from market research firm Counterpoint Research shows that Apple rose to the top of the Chinese smartphone market in the week of September 14-20, with 33% market share, even though the new iPhone 18 Pro duo officially went on sale from September 18. According to PhoneArena, this means it only took Apple three days to gain the number one position, significantly higher than the 19% in the second quarter of 2026.
Sales in the first days of sales of iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max were also 12% higher than iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max in the same period last year. This is a positive sign beyond analysts' expectations, although the increase is not enough to completely compensate for the shortfall in sales due to the standard iPhone 18's launch being delayed until next spring.
In the list of the 10 best-selling smartphones in China shared by Ice Universe, the iPhone occupies 5 positions, with the 18 Pro Max and 18 Pro taking the lead, respectively, above previous generation models such as the 17 Pro Max and 17.
Huawei ranked second overall in the market, thanks to Pura Twitter View and Pura Twitter Max. In particular, Twitter View appeared in the top 10 best-selling phones of the week.
In contrast to the rising momentum of Apple and Huawei, Samsung continues to fade in the Chinese market with no models in the top 30 smartphones, including newly released high-end products such as the Galaxy S26 Ultra or Galaxy Z Fold8.
The appearance of iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max is expected to help the Chinese phone market recover after a period of decline. Data from Counterpoint shows that total smartphone sales here decreased by 17% in the period 33-38 this year compared to the same period in 2025.
Besides the new iPhone, the trend of Chinese users willing to spend more on high-end smartphones also creates momentum for the market, with the presence of domestic models such as Xiaomi 18 Fold and Redmi Note 17 Pro.
Huy Duc