① A Counterpoint report states that iPhones accounted for a quarter of smartphone sales in China in October, a year-on-year increase of 37%. ② The iPhone 17 series accounted for a significant portion of Apple's sales. With over 80% of its total sales in China, investors are optimistic about this trend; ③ According to reports, Apple may change its new product launch schedule from September to twice a year to increase the flexibility of product launches.
Apple 's iPhone 17 series smartphones achieved impressive sales figures. According to data released Tuesday by research firm Counterpoint, iPhones accounted for a quarter of smartphone sales in China in October, with sales increasing by 37% year-on-year.
Data shows that overall smartphone sales in China increased by 8% year-on-year in October, mainly driven by Apple and Chinese brand phones. Counterpoint stated that all three iPhone 17 models achieved double-digit mid-to-high-end sales growth, with the base model showing the most significant increase.
This marks the first time Apple has achieved such a high market share in China since 2022. Prior to 2022, Apple had consistently led other smartphone brands due to relatively weak competition in the high-end smartphone market.
Counterpoint senior analyst Ivan Lam told the media that the new iPhone accounts for more than 80% of Apple's total sales. With the increase in average selling price, Apple's revenue is expected to grow further.
The company expects Apple to achieve record sales in the final quarter of this year, but Lam also warned that the Huawei Mate 80 series, launching on November 25, could pose a challenge to the iPhone. Nevertheless, he believes Apple's momentum is strong and a significant decline is unlikely.
Bigger Changes
Apple's iPhone 17 series has been a huge success not only in the Chinese market but also in the US market. A Counterpoint Research report indicated that sales of the iPhone 17 series in the first ten days after its launch in both China and the US increased by 14% compared to the previous generation of smartphones.
The success of the iPhone 17 has fueled Apple's and its investors' optimism for the company's future. Apple CEO Tim Cook stated during the earnings call at the end of October that he expects revenue for the quarter ending in December to be the company's best ever and the best since the iPhone's launch.
Meanwhile, Apple is reportedly planning to capitalize on its success. According to renowned tech journalist Gurman, Apple plans to release three new models within three consecutive years.
Apple may unveil its first foldable iPhone next fall, followed by a brand-new high-end model in 2027. This device will feature a curved glass screen and hide the camera beneath it.
However, in addition to upgrades to the product itself, the timing of Apple's new iPhone releases may change. Gurman claims that Apple's new product release schedule will change from the previous September to twice a year: once in the traditional fall to release the main models, including two Pro models and two mid-range models; and another at the beginning of the year to release the lower-priced SE or "e" models.
The new release schedule is a major attempt by Apple to maintain stable revenue throughout the year, alleviate pressure on employees and manufacturing partners, and prevent its high-end and entry-level models from cannibalizing each other's market share. Furthermore, this release model also gives Apple more flexibility in responding to competitors' products.
(Article source: CLS)
