Jakarta –
The gloomy predictions regarding Apple’s prospects in the Chinese market have finally been shattered. The iPhone 17 series actually appeared dominant and recorded sales that exceeded all flagship smartphones made by local brands combined, right in its own domestic market. This achievement is a strong signal of Apple’s revival amidst fierce competition in the Chinese smartphone industry.
This information was revealed by well-known technology leaker Ice Universe. As of December 31, 2025, Apple is said to have sold and activated around 15.57 million iPhone 17 units in China. This figure is astonishing because it not only outperforms one or two competitors, but even exceeds the total sales of all local flagships combined.
The data shared by Ice Universe shows a very wide gap. Sales of the iPhone 17 are said to be around 5.5 times higher than the Xiaomi 17, which was the second best-selling local flagship during that period. This comparison only includes flagship models and does not include mid-range or entry-level cellphone lines.
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This dominance gives the iPhone 17 a landslide advantage over its main rivals, including Huawei, Oppo and Vivo, which are known to be very strong in China’s domestic market. The fact that one iPhone series is able to beat the combined local flagships confirms Apple’s position which is being taken into account again.
Previously, many analysts believed that Apple would have difficulty maintaining its performance in China due to regulatory pressure, nationalist sentiment and the aggressiveness of local brands. However, the Counterpoint Research report actually shows the opposite trend.
In November 2025, Counterpoint projects iPhone sales growth of around 10 percent annually (YoY) until the end of 2025. Apple’s global market share is also predicted to increase to 19.4 percent, the highest among all smartphone manufacturers in the world. Another report said the iPhone would account for 25 percent of total smartphone sales in China by October 2025, an achievement that had previously only occurred in 2022.
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iPhone 17 sales in China Photo: IceUniverse
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Global iPhone Sales Continue to Soar
Optimism about the iPhone 17 is also strengthened by data from Increv. Throughout 2024, Apple is recorded as selling around 231.8 million iPhone units globally. If the projected 10 percent growth is realized, total iPhone shipments in 2025 are estimated to reach around 254.98 million units.
These figures confirm that the strong performance of the iPhone 17 in China is not a momentary phenomenon, but rather part of Apple’s global growth trend, even though the world smartphone market is experiencing pressure due to economic conditions that are not yet completely stable.
Apple’s confidence is also reflected in CEO Tim Cook’s statement in the company’s latest financial report. He said Apple estimates that revenue for the quarter ending December 2025 will be the highest in the company’s history.
Cook also emphasized that the quarter had the potential to be the best period in iPhone sales history, driven by the strong performance of the iPhone 17 series in various key markets, including China. This statement further strengthens the signal that Apple has succeeded in turning things around in a market that was previously considered the most challenging.
With this achievement, the iPhone 17 is not only a commercially successful product, but also a symbol of Apple’s rise in China, the largest and most competitive smartphone market in the world.
(afr/afr)
