China Chooses iPhone 17 Pro Max as Its Favorite Smartphone

Apple has unexpectedly become the best‑selling smartphone brand in China in Q2 2026, despite Huawei maintaining dominance in overall market share. The iPhone 17 Pro Max leads sales with 6 percent, followed by the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro, showing strong demand for the lineup. Chinese consumers appear particularly drawn to the Cosmic Orange colorway of the Pro models, contributing to Apple’s renewed momentum. Huawei, however, continues to grow its broader market share, rising from 14 percent to 23 percent between late 2025 and mid‑2026, while Apple’s share has declined from 22 percent to 18 percent. The wider smartphone market in China is under pressure due to rising component prices and RAM shortages caused by AI data center demand. Major brands like Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, and Honor have cut shipment targets, with Xiaomi dropping from an expected 135 million units to 90 million. Although some Chinese manufacturers have increased RAM production, prices remain extremely high and shortages are expected to persist for years.

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