Apple recorded a growth in iPhone shipments in China during the first quarter of 2026, even as the general smartphone market declined.
New figures from Counterpoint Research showed Apple’s shipments grew 20% year-on-year between January and March. That was the strongest performance among the country’s major phone makers.
The overall Chinese smartphone market, however, fell 4% during the same period. High memory chip prices and supply chain pressure weighed on sales across the sector.
Huawei kept its lead in the market with a 20% share after posting 2% shipment growth. Apple followed closely with 19%.
Counterpoint senior analyst Ivan Lam said Apple stood out while rivals raised prices.
“As most rivals raise prices, Apple stands out for value, with Chinese consumers knowing its products last at least three years,” he said.
That view appears to be helping Apple hold demand in a market where buyers have become more careful with spending.
Huawei also benefited from strong demand across both premium and lower-priced devices. Lam said sales of models such as the Enjoy 90 series helped lift its numbers.
Several other brands lost ground.
Xiaomi’s shipments dropped 35%, pushing it down to sixth place. Lam linked the fall to a strong performance in the same period last year, when the company benefited from aggressive discounts and government subsidies.
Oppo and Honor also posted declines of 5% and 3% respectively.
Vivo was one of the few brands to grow, recording a 2% rise, helped by strong Lunar New Year sales.
With these, Counterpoint expects more pressure in the second quarter as Chinese brands keep raising prices.
Lam said Apple and Huawei may cope better than others, with Huawei likely to gain further support from demand for cheaper handsets.
