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During Apple’s Q4 2025 earnings call, CEO Tim Cook expressed strong confidence in the response to the iPhone 17 lineup in China, stating the company is “more pleased than ever.” Recent data from Counterpoint Research supports this optimism.
Following September 19, nearly 80% of iPhones sold to Chinese consumers were from the new iPhone 17 series. While Apple usually keeps details about regional sales under wraps, Cook highlighted the positive momentum, noting that the iPhone 17 family has been exceptionally well received in China. He mentioned that Apple expects a return to growth in the country during the upcoming quarter, attributing recent sluggish sales to supply shortages rather than a lack of interest. Cook added that traffic and demand are significantly up compared to the previous year and expressed satisfaction with the early sales figures.
Additionally, he pointed out that recent government subsidies helped boost Apple’s sales in China. However, since some products don’t qualify for these subsidies due to price restrictions, the demand for the new iPhones has proven resilient on their own merits.
Supporting Cook’s optimistic outlook, Counterpoint Research released figures indicating a 22% increase in iPhone sales in China during the first month after the launch of the iPhone 17 series, even amid a generally weakened smartphone market. The data shows that nearly 80% of units sold locally post-launch were from this new lineup. In contrast, sales of iPhones following the release of the iPhone 16 last year dropped by 5%, with the overall Chinese smartphone market declining by 2.7% year over year during the same period. This stark difference highlights the strong market performance of the iPhone 17 series in China.





