Beijing, January 21, 2026, 19:33 GMT+8
- According to Counterpoint data, Apple topped China’s smartphone market in the fourth quarter, capturing roughly 22% of the share
- China’s smartphone shipments slipped 1.6% this quarter, dragged down by rising memory prices that hit demand hard
- The data also revealed that Huawei maintained its lead in full-year shipments for 2025.
Apple reclaimed the lead in China’s smartphone market in Q4 2025, capturing a 21.8% share as iPhone shipments jumped 28% year-over-year, according to Counterpoint Research.
The ranking is crucial since China stands as the industry’s largest market by volume and ranks as one of Apple’s key battlegrounds. Local brands are closing in fast, while cost-conscious consumers are shifting to cheaper options amid rising prices.
Phone makers are also preparing for rising component costs. According to Counterpoint’s data, China smartphone shipments dropped 1.6% last quarter and declined 0.6% in 2025, signaling softer demand as memory prices climbed.
Counterpointreleased its report on January 19, highlighting a market grappling with a memory-chip shortage — a shortage affecting storage and working memory chips that drives up handset prices and disrupts production.
The boost for Apple came thanks to strong demand for its… and a quicker supply ramp-up — pushing devices into stores faster ahead of the holiday quarter. Counterpoint senior analyst Ivan Lam pointed out that the iPhone Air’s “late launch and trade-offs between thinness and the feature set led to a slow start.” He also highlighted how it reflects China’s broader move toward eSIM phones, which ditch physical SIM cards in favor of built-in digital ones.
Apple’s growth coincided with sharp drops in shipments from Huawei and Xiaomi, both seeing double-digit declines this quarter, Bloomberg reported.
Counterpoint data for the full year revealed Huawei at the top in China, with Apple and vivo nipping closely behind in a crowded lead pack. Xiaomi stayed solidly among the key players as well.
Counterpoint noted Apple saw a boost from speeding up production late in the year, allowing it to meet holiday demand even as some competitors dealt with tighter component supplies. Demand also leaned heavily toward high-end models.
But the recovery isn’t guaranteed. If memory prices continue to climb, phone manufacturers might shift those costs onto consumers with steeper prices, potentially slowing upgrades in a market already facing weaker demand. Meanwhile, local brands could regain ground fast by rolling out aggressive launches and discounts.
Apple shares fell roughly 3.4% during Wednesday’s premarket session in the United States.
This quarter’s numbers signal a turnaround from early 2025, when Apple lagged behind local rivals in China. Despite reclaiming the top spot over the holidays, Counterpoint’s data revealed the overall market continued to contract.
