Apple takes 19.5% of China phone market as shipments hit 14-year low

Apple captured 19.5% of smartphone shipments in China during the third quarter of 2026, according to Counterpoint Research. The company’s market share rose by 4.8 percentage points compared to the same period last year. This gain moved Apple from sixth place to second, positioning it directly behind Huawei.

The overall market contracted 10% year over year, marking the weakest level in 14 years. Rising memory prices weighed on the industry, forcing many manufacturers to cut volumes. Huawei retained the top spot with a 21.3% share, an increase of 5.3 percentage points from a year earlier. Huawei and Apple were the only two leading brands to increase their share during the quarter.

Competitors lost ground across the board. Vivo’s share fell 2.8 percentage points to 15.2%, while OPPO slipped 1.3 points to 15.1%. Xiaomi dropped 1.6 points to 13.5%, and HONOR declined 2.2 points to 12.7%. Other manufacturers combined lost 2 points, ending the quarter with a 2.8% share.

Counterpoint attributed Apple’s improvement to the iPhone 18 Pro series. The firm noted that the lineup saw a strong launch in China. Sales for the first three weeks were up 23.5% year over year compared to the iPhone 17 Pro series. The report suggested that the delayed arrival of the base iPhone 18 model may have pushed consumers toward the Pro options.

These figures diverge from a separate report by IDC released earlier this month. IDC estimated that China’s smartphone shipments fell 15.4% year over year in the third quarter. The firm calculated Apple’s share at 17.8%, noting that iPhone shipments declined 4.3% despite the increased market share.

IDC also reported a global decline, estimating that worldwide smartphone shipments fell a record 22% year over year. Apple recorded the smallest drop among the top five manufacturers, with a 4% decrease. The differing estimates from the two research firms highlight the volatility in current market calculations.

Counterpoint warned that conditions may remain challenging in the coming months. Higher device prices are prompting consumers to delay upgrades or wait for promotions. The firm noted that some buyers are opting for refurbished devices instead of new units. This behavior could place additional pressure on demand during the fourth quarter.