Apple’s iPhone 17 line-up has delivered a major sales boost in China, driving a 37 per cent rise in the company’s monthly smartphone sales and signalling renewed strength in one of its most important markets. According to data from Counterpoint Research, iPhones accounted for one in every four smartphones sold in the country during October. This is the first time Apple has reached that level since 2022 and supports Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook’s prediction that Apple will return to growth in China this quarter.

Counterpoint reports that every iPhone 17 model outperformed its iPhone 16 predecessor by double digit percentages. Apple’s strong performance helped lift China’s broader smartphone market, which had been struggling even in the face of government subsidies, to 8 per cent growth in October.

Ivan Lam, analyst at Counterpoint, noted that more than 80 per cent of Apple’s unit sales came from the new models. He added that rising average selling prices are likely to amplify the company’s growth in the coming months.

Competitors See Mixed Results

Oppo also recorded progress in October with a 19 per cent increase in smartphone sales compared with the previous year. The company benefited from strong demand for its Find X9 device, which features a larger battery. Huawei, on the other hand, saw its sales decline by 19 per cent. The drop was attributed in part to the absence of a new model release that month. Despite the slowdown, Huawei remains Apple’s strongest competitor in China and is preparing to launch a new flagship device next week.

“There is always some risk, especially with the much anticipated Huawei Mate 80 series launching on November 25,” Lam said. “But there is a lot of momentum behind Apple and at this point not much tapering to indicate a steep drop-off.”