iPhone 18 Pro Sales Rise 23.5% in China in First Three Weeks
Key Facts
Sales of the iPhone 18 Pro series in China rose 23.5% in the first three weeks after launch compared with the iPhone 17 Pro series over the same period, according to Counterpoint Research. The figure offers a more precise picture than the initial draft, which applied the comparison to global sales. Counterpoint had previously recorded 12% growth in China in the first three days, a shorter time frame than the latest comparison. Sales began in China on September 18, 2026, and launch week 38 covered only three days of availability. The start helped Apple rank first in smartphone sales in China that week, with a 33% market share, the company said.
The two high-end models performed in a market facing a broad contraction: global smartphone shipments fell 20% year over year in the third quarter of 2026, according to Counterpoint’s preliminary estimates. That was the lowest third-quarter shipment level since 2012. Despite a year-over-year decline in Apple’s shipments, its share of global shipments exceeded 20% for the first time in any third quarter, reaching 22%. Demand for premium phones remained more resilient than demand in price-sensitive segments, Counterpoint said. It added that higher device prices had weighed on affordability, widening the gap between the premium and lower-priced segments.
In China, Counterpoint analyst Ivan Lam linked part of the performance to the timing of the base model’s launch, saying the delayed release of the standard iPhone 18 may have prompted some consumers to upgrade to a Pro. He added that price increases of more than $200 across several leading Chinese models may have improved the iPhone Pro’s relative value. Lam said: "The delayed launch of the standard iPhone 18 may have prompted some consumers to upgrade to the Pro series, while price increases of more than $200 on many leading Chinese models..." The available quote did not include the rest of the sentence. These factors come as Counterpoint said weekly smartphone sales in China had declined by double-digit percentages year over year since July, amid weak demand and rising memory costs. The Pro series’ growth in China therefore stood out against the broader market trend, without signaling a recovery in overall phone sales.
Apple announced the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max on September 9, 2026, and they became available on September 18. The company set starting prices of $1,199 for the Pro model and $1,299 for the Pro Max in the United States. Cumulative shipments of panels for the two models through October were 2% higher than shipments of iPhone 17 Pro panels over the comparable period in 2025, according to Counterpoint. This figure measures component shipments, not direct sales to consumers. Counterpoint also expected shipments of panels for the base iPhone 18 models to begin in January 2027, consistent with the phased launch strategy for the 2026–2027 cycle. Apple had said the iPhone Duo would reach its stores worldwide on October 23, 2026, adding a new model to the company’s lineup during its launch cycle.
Attention is turning to Apple’s call to discuss fourth-quarter fiscal results and business updates, scheduled for November 2, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Pacific time. The call is expected to provide an update from the company on its business and quarterly results, weeks after the new models became available. Apple shares closed at $343.91 on October 26, according to EL7 data. The closing data provided do not include the stock’s daily trading range. The results date follows Counterpoint’s preliminary readings on market performance and shipments, while Chinese sales figures from the initial launch period remain an indicator of the two high-end models’ performance in one of the company’s key markets.