Apple defies slowdown with higher iPhone shipments in China thanks to iPhone 17

Apple’s shipments in China rose slightly in the third quarter, boosted by strong demand for its new iPhone 17 series, according to data released by research firm IDC. Shipments grew 0.6% year-on-year to 10.8 million units, giving Apple a 15.8% share of China’s smartphone market and securing its position as the country’s second-largest vendor.

Overall, China’s smartphone market continued to face weak demand, with total shipments falling 0.6% to 68.4 million units in the third quarter, following a 4% drop in the previous quarter. Despite the sluggish environment, Apple outperformed rivals, becoming the only brand among China’s top three vendors to post growth during the period.

IDC analyst Will Wong credited the success to Apple’s “value-for-money” iPhone 17 base model, which appealed to cost-conscious consumers while maintaining premium quality. By contrast, Huawei’s shipments slipped 1% to 10.4 million units, placing it third, and Xiaomi’s fell 1.7% to 10 million units, ranking fourth. Market leader Vivo saw a sharper decline of 7.8%, down to 11.8 million units.

IDC expects the Chinese smartphone market to recover modestly in early Q4, driven by the release of new flagship models launched in recent months.