Apple saw a sharp rise in iPhone sales in China after the iPhone 17 launch. The new series lifted demand at a time when the overall smartphone market in the country continued to weaken. A new private survey shows that iPhone sales rose 22 percent in the first month after launch, a strong rebound compared to last year.
Most of Apple’s sales in that period came from the iPhone 17 lineup. Counterpoint Research found that nearly four-fifths of units sold to Chinese buyers after September 19 came from the new models.
Reuters reported the same trend yesterday and noted that the broader Chinese smartphone market slipped 2.7 percent year over year in the third quarter. Last year told a different story. Sales fell 5 percent in the month after the iPhone 16 launch.
Strong early momentum btw
Crowds lined up outside Apple’s Beijing flagship store on release day, showing that interest in the new models stayed strong despite pressure from Huawei and Xiaomi. This early response set the tone for Apple’s renewed confidence. During the latest earnings call, Tim Cook said, “The iPhone 17 family has been very well received there. We do believe that we will return to growth in Q1.” He also pointed out rising store traffic across China.
When asked again about performance in the region, Cook explained that supply constraints held back results in the previous quarter, not weak interest. “We are thrilled with what we’re seeing right now with traffic being up significantly year over year, and the reception of the 17 family. We expect to return to growth this quarter,” he said. Cook added that government subsidies played only a limited role because several Apple products were not eligible, which suggests that buyers embraced the new models on their own.
The 22 percent jump marks a meaningful turnaround for Apple in its most competitive market. With the wider market shrinking and rivals pushing harder, the early success of the iPhone 17 gives Apple a clearer path forward in China.
