China smartphone market sees 8% growth in October, iPhone 17 leads surge

Investing.com -- China’s smartphone market grew 8% year-over-year in October, with Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) capturing 25% of all sales as the iPhone 17 series continues its strong performance.

Apple’s smartphone sales in China surged 37% compared to the same period last year, according to preliminary data from Counterpoint Research’s Market Pulse Monthly Smartphone Sell-Through Tracker.

All three iPhone 17 variants experienced mid-to-high double-digit growth rates compared to the iPhone 16 series, with the base model showing the strongest performance.

"The iPhone 17 series continues to deliver for Apple, with the base and Pro models growing fastest," said Ivan Lam, Senior Analyst at Counterpoint Research. "Share of new iPhone models is extremely high, at over 80% of unit sales, so we are likely to see growth amplified as rising ASPs (average selling prices) push the top line higher."

This marks the best-ever start to a December quarter for Apple, with total sell-through significantly exceeding its previous peak in October 2021. The milestone of one in four smartphones sold in China being an iPhone has only been achieved once before, in 2022.

Chinese manufacturers also showed strong performance. Xiaomi secured the second position in the Chinese market for the first time in over a decade, benefiting from the early launch of its Xiaomi 17 series and strong portfolio that capitalized on the Mid-Autumn Festival sales period.

OPPO emerged as the second-biggest driver of domestic smartphone growth, leveraging the success of its flagship Find X9 series, which features advanced camera technology and extended battery life.

Apple’s momentum is expected to continue through November, putting the company on track for its best-ever December quarter. However, Lam noted potential competition from Huawei’s upcoming release: "There is always some risk, especially with the much-expected Huawei Mate 80 series launching on November 25, but there’s a lot of momentum behind Apple at this point."