Apple’s decision to turn the base iPhone 17 into a near-flagship device is paying off in China, where the model is closing in on 30 million activations and steadily taking market share from domestic brands. The strong demand also explains why Apple reportedly plans to keep the iPhone 17 lineup around longer, pushing the iPhone 18 launch further into 2027 instead of rushing a replacement that risks higher prices and weaker value.
The base iPhone 17 launched at the same $799 price as its predecessor, but Apple added several upgrades that buyers normally expected from Pro models, including an LTPO OLED display, the A19 chip built on TSMC’s 3nm process, and double the storage.
That combination appears to have resonated strongly with Chinese consumers at a time when several local smartphone makers continue raising flagship prices because of the ongoing DRAM shortage.
MyDrivers cited data shared by Weibo tipster “RD Observation,” which claims the base iPhone 17 is approaching 30 million activations in China alone.
“The sales of the iPhone 17 series were about 25.9822 million units in the 12th week of 2026 and reached about 27.2157 million units in the 14th week, showing a stable growth trajectory.”
The report also noted that the iPhone 17 series sold nearly one million units within its first three days of availability, marking roughly 30% growth compared to the previous generation.
“After entering 2026, its sales exceeded 20 million units in the sixth week and continued to climb in the following time.”
Another important detail is that the iPhone 18 reportedly offers very few standout upgrades beyond Apple’s first 2nm A20 chipset. At the same time, rising memory costs continue pressuring smartphone prices across the industry, which creates a difficult situation for Apple if it wants to keep the next model at $799.
That is why the iPhone 17’s “stable growth trajectory” matters so much. Apple already has a proven model that consumers view as strong value, and if the company lowers its price after the iPhone 18 arrives, the device could become even more dominant in China’s premium smartphone market.
