Apple managed to grow its smartphone shipments in China in the third quarter, defying the market downturn thanks to the popularity of its iPhone 17 lineup. According to IDC data, Apple shipped 10.8 million iPhones in the quarter, up 0.6% from a year earlier, giving it a 15.8% market share and the second-highest ranking among vendors.
While total smartphone shipments in China fell 0.6% to 68.4 million units, Apple was the only top-three brand to post growth. IDC analyst Will Wong said the company’s “value-for-money” base model iPhone 17 attracted price-conscious consumers, helping Apple outperform domestic competitors.
Huawei’s shipments declined 1% to 10.4 million units, Xiaomi fell 1.7% to 10 million units, and top seller Vivo saw a 7.8% drop to 11.8 million units. Despite the overall slowdown, IDC expects the Chinese smartphone market to show signs of recovery in early Q4, supported by new product launches.
Apple’s performance in China underscores the resilience of its brand appeal even in a challenging economic environment and signals cautious optimism heading into the next quarter.
