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Apple's China Comeback: iPhone Sales Surge 38%
5 Feb
Summary
- Apple's China revenue jumped 38 percent in the last quarter.
- The rebound was driven by strong demand for the iPhone 17.
- A Chinese government subsidy program helped lower iPhone prices.
Apple's business in China is experiencing a notable resurgence, with revenue climbing 38 percent year-over-year in the most recent quarter. This positive trend is primarily attributed to a significant surge in iPhone sales.
The company's comeback follows a challenging period of 18 consecutive months of declining sales between 2024 and early 2025. CEO Tim Cook expressed satisfaction with the quarter's performance, noting record iPhone upgrades and double-digit growth in users switching to iOS.
Experts suggest Apple's success stemmed from releasing a powerful and competitively priced iPhone 17, rather than focusing on more advanced technologies. The baseline iPhone 17 model proved especially popular, offering features traditionally found in higher-end devices.
Crucially, the iPhone 17's pricing aligned with a massive Chinese government electronics subsidy program launched in 2025. This initiative offered discounts of up to 15 percent on smartphones priced below 6,000 RMB, with Apple strategically listing the iPhone 17 at 5,999 RMB.
This government support coincided with a natural upgrade cycle for many existing iPhone users, whose last peak sales period was with the iPhone 13 series. Despite strong competition from domestic brands like Huawei and Xiaomi, Apple's brand power and strategic pricing have been key to its renewed success in China.
