Apple took first place in the Q4 2025 China smartphone sales rankings, according to Counterpoint Research. It captured 21.8% of the market. Strong demand for the iPhone 17 series and the slim iPhone Air fueled this success.
Meanwhile, Huawei dropped to fourth place. Its market share fell to 14.6%, down from 16.7% in Q4 2024. This marks a 13.7% year-over-year decline.
Counterpoint noted that Huawei’s delayed Mate 80 launch hurt its Q4 performance. Competing brands had already released their flagships by then. However, the company saw a strong rebound in early 2026. Government subsidies and the Mate 80’s features drove this recovery.
“The delayed launch weighed on Q4 results,” the report stated. “But we observed a strong rebound at the start of 2026.”
OPPO ranked second with 15.8% market share. It posted 14.9% annual growth. Vivo came third with 15.7% share but declined 12.9% year-over-year.
Xiaomi placed fifth with 14.6% share. Its shipments dropped 18% compared to 2024. Honor also slipped, ending the quarter with 13.7% share—a nearly 3% decrease. Its yearly growth fell by 6.7%.
Overall, Q4 2025 was tough for Chinese brands. Rising costs and Apple’s aggressive pricing squeezed mid-tier players. Yet most are preparing for a stronger 2026.
Apple’s success highlights its growing appeal in China’s premium segment. The iPhone Air became a top seller thanks to its design and performance. It helped Apple achieve 28.0% year-over-year growth—the highest among the top five vendors.
In conclusion, the Q4 2025 China smartphone sales favored Apple. But Huawei’s early 2026 momentum shows the competition remains fierce. With innovation and support, it may soon challenge Apple again.
