Last year, Huawei made a significant return to the Chinese market with its Kirin 9000S and the Mate 60 series, posing a strong challenge to Apple’s iPhone 15 lineup. This competition pressured Apple to offer discounts on various models to maintain sales momentum. However, with the recent launch of the iPhone 16 series, Apple has successfully regained its footing, as recent data indicates that the new lineup has outsold the previous generation by an impressive 20% during its initial three weeks on the market.
As usual, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max have stolen the spotlight in China, outselling their predecessors, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, by a whopping 44%. Despite Huawei unveiling the Mate XT—the world’s first commercially available tri-fold smartphone—alongside the iPhone 16 series, Apple’s strong start is evident through significantly higher shipments compared to last year.
Huawei is anticipated to reveal its Mate 70 series in November, but the high cost of the tri-fold Mate XT, starting at $2,800, has deterred many consumers from upgrading. The upcoming Mate series may provide a more accessible option for those looking to switch. Meanwhile, one of the key attractions of the iPhone 16 models has been the inclusion of Apple Intelligence, although the extensive suite of generative AI features is still limited to the U.S. and Canada.
For many Chinese consumers, the decision to purchase wasn’t swayed by a major design overhaul. Instead, Apple’s attention to addressing previous models’ complaints seemed to resonate well. While this means that current iPhone 15 users might not feel compelled to upgrade, those with older iPhone models likely see the new series as a worthwhile leap forward.
