Key Takeaways
- China iPhone 18 Pro launch week saw 12% year-over-year sales increase
- Apple captured leading 33% weekly smartphone market share in Chinese market
- AAPL shares declined 3% despite encouraging demand indicators
- Domestic competitors increased flagship pricing by over $200, closing gap with Apple
- Anticipated iPhone Duo foldable projected to move 6 million units in 2025
Apple shares experienced a 3% decline, settling around $329, despite emerging data indicating robust iPhone 18 Pro performance in the Chinese market. The stock’s downward movement came even as sales news painted an optimistic picture, illustrating the disconnect that can exist between market sentiment and positive developments.
According to Counterpoint Research, iPhone 18 Pro units moved in China showed a 12% increase versus the previous year’s Pro model debut. The measurement covers merely three days of transactions, as the device became available only toward the conclusion of the monitoring period.
During that same week, Apple secured 33% of China’s smartphone market. This achievement positioned the company ahead of all Chinese competitors.
Additional projections from Chinese technology commentator “RD Observation” suggest even stronger performance. The source indicates sell-through volumes reached approximately 1.3 million devices during the initial seven-day period.
Launch strategy influenced these numbers. Apple departed from its typical approach by delaying the standard iPhone 18 release, channeling interested buyers toward the higher-margin Pro variants instead.
Competitor Pricing Strategies Shifted Landscape
Domestic smartphone manufacturers in China elevated their flagship device pricing by upward of $200 during this cycle. Escalating costs for memory components and processors drove these increases.
This pricing adjustment compressed the cost differential between Chinese-made devices and iPhones. According to analyst Ivan Lam, this development made Apple’s premium positioning appear more competitive in the marketplace.
In China, the iPhone 18 Pro carries a starting price of CNY 9,999, equivalent to approximately $1,500. The Pro Max variant begins at CNY 10,999, translating to around $1,600.
Apple’s product rollout approach diverged from historical patterns this generation. The company introduced its Pro series alongside its inaugural foldable device in autumn, while reserving the standard iPhone 18 for a spring release.
Foldable Device Strategy
The foldable model, designated iPhone Duo, won’t reach retail channels until October. Despite this, Counterpoint Research has already projected roughly 6 million unit sales for the current year.
Carrying a $1,999 price tag, the Duo represents Apple’s premium offering. Counterpoint characterizes this sales volume as appropriate for a specialized product rather than a mass-market device.
Market analysis firm IDC anticipates the Duo will contribute to a 13% expansion in worldwide foldable smartphone shipments this year, reaching 22.9 million units total. IDC observed that the category would have likely contracted without Apple’s participation.
These developments unfolded against challenging market conditions. China’s broader smartphone market contracted 17% year-over-year during the corresponding week, extending a pattern of significant declines attributed to weakened consumer demand and elevated component pricing.
Huawei simultaneously introduced a competing device during this timeframe. Its Pura X View represents a large-format traditional smartphone targeting consumers seeking expanded screen real estate without adopting foldable technology.
Counterpoint forecasts that the current generation of Chinese flagship devices will deliver softer fourth-quarter performance compared to their predecessors. Increased costs stemming from 2-nanometer chip technology and pricier memory components are identified as primary headwinds.
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