Apple In China: iPhone Sales Surge In Early Shipments Compared To 2018

Apple is experiencing promising growth in iPhone sales in one of its most important markets: China. Early calculations based on device shipment data found that the company shipped 10 million iPhones to the country in September and October. This represents a 6% increase in sales from the same time last year, based on information gathered by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology.

This success sees Apple reversing its fortunes in its second-biggest market after years of falling behind local competitors like Xiaomi and Huawei Technologies. Apple credits improved iPhone 11 sales in China to adjustments in the company's economic model. In particular, CEO Tim Cook attributed the latest smartphone model’s success in the country to its decreased price, monthly payment plan and trade-in programs.

The improvement in the phone’s design is also likely to be helping sweeten the deal for Chinese tech consumers. Increases in battery life and camera quality for the iPhone 11 have helped bring the brand closer in step with its biggest competitors in the field.

“Chinese customers seem to be receiving the iPhone 11 series better than last year’s models because of the lowered retail price,” said Nicole Peng, an analyst with Canalys. “We see weaker shipments for old models but the latest products are going strong.”

Apple’s success comes despite an overall drop in Chinese smartphone sales during that two-month period. Data shows that sales dropped to 69.3 million units, a 5% decrease.