Business market share

Apple iPhone Shipments Surge in China Q1

Analysis based on 15 articles · First reported Apr 17, 2026 · Last updated Apr 17, 2026

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Market Impact

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Market Impact

The Chinese smartphone market experienced an overall decline, but Apple Inc. and Huawei showed strong growth, indicating a shift in market dynamics. Rising memory chip costs are driving up retail prices, which is expected to keep the market under pressure, but the premium segment remains resilient.

Consumer Electronics Semiconductors

Event Summary

Apple Inc.'s iPhone shipments in China surged 20% in the first quarter, marking the strongest growth among major vendors despite an overall 4% decline in the market. This performance allowed Apple Inc. to secure a 19% market share, placing it second to Huawei, which retained the top spot with 20% market share and 2% growth. The overall market decline was attributed to supply chain disruptions and soaring memory chip prices, which led many vendors to raise prices. Xiaomi experienced a significant 35% drop in shipments, while Oppo and Honor (company) also saw declines. Vivo (technology company) bucked the trend with a 2% rise in shipments. Analysts from Counterpoint Research expect continued headwinds in the second quarter due to further price increases by Chinese brands, but anticipate Apple Inc. and Huawei to perform relatively better.

Key Actions

100 Apple Inc. increased iPhone shipments

90 Huawei increased smartphone shipments

70 Xiaomi decreased smartphone shipments

60 Vivo (technology company) increased smartphone shipments

50 Oppo decreased smartphone shipments

50 Honor (company) decreased smartphone shipments

Entities Involved

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Apple Inc.

Apple Inc.'s iPhone shipments in China surged 20% in the first quarter, making it the strongest growth among major vendors. This performance allowed Apple Inc. to secure a 19% market share, placing it second only to Huawei. The company is seen as well-positioned to manage rising memory chip costs due to its premium product lineup and supply chain management.

Importance 100 Sentiment 70

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Huawei

Huawei retained the top spot in the Chinese smartphone market with a 20% market share, experiencing a 2% growth in shipments. This growth was driven by strong demand across both its high-end and budget ranges, including the Enjoy 90 series. Huawei is expected to fare relatively better in the second quarter, potentially seeing further shipment growth.

Importance 90 Sentiment 50

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China

China is the world's largest smartphone market, experiencing an overall 4% drop in smartphone shipments in the first quarter. The market is affected by supply chain disruptions and soaring chip prices, leading to price increases by vendors.

Importance 80 Sentiment 0

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Xiaomi

Xiaomi slipped to sixth place in the Chinese smartphone market, experiencing a significant plunge of 35% in shipments. This decline is attributed to a high base effect from aggressive price cuts and government subsidies in the previous year.

Importance 70 Sentiment -40

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Counterpoint Research

Counterpoint Research provided the data and analysis for this report, highlighting the trends in the Chinese smartphone market. Their analysts, like Ivan Lam, offered insights into the performance of various vendors and the market outlook.

Importance 60 Sentiment 0

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Vivo (technology company)

Vivo (technology company) saw a rise of 2% in shipments, buoyed by strong sales during the Lunar New Year holiday and demand for its mid-to-low-end models. This performance bucked the broader market decline.

Importance 60 Sentiment 20

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Oppo

Oppo's shipments fell by 5% in the first quarter, contributing to the overall market decline. Like other vendors, Oppo is facing challenges from rising memory chip costs.

Importance 50 Sentiment -20

+ 2 more entities View on Dashboard

Relationships

Apple Inc. related ↔ Huawei

Apple Inc. related ↔ Xiaomi

Apple Inc. related ↔ Oppo

Apple Inc. related ↔ Honor (company)

Apple Inc. related ↔ Vivo (technology company)

Huawei related ↔ Xiaomi

Huawei related ↔ Oppo

Huawei related ↔ Honor (company)

Huawei related ↔ Vivo (technology company)

Ivan Lam related ↔ Counterpoint Research

+ 3 more relationships View on Dashboard

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