KEY TAKEAWAYS
  • Apple’s iPhone 17 briefly dominated China’s sales charts, but its launch-driven momentum faded within weeks.
  • Huawei didn’t win by topping every model ranking, but by driving broad Mate 80 demand that pushed the brand back to number one.
  • Early estimates suggest the Mate 80 has shipped more than 750,000 units, and demand is already outpacing supply.

About a month after Apple launched the iPhone 17 series, the devices surged to the top of China’s weekly sales charts. For several weeks, Apple occupied most of the best-selling slots, briefly reclaiming the title of the country’s top smartphone brand. The early momentum even spilled into markets, giving Apple’s stock a modest lift as investors reacted to the strong launch.

That dominance, however, proved short-lived. As the initial excitement faded, a familiar pattern returned to China’s smartphone market. In November, Huawei introduced the Mate 80 series, and its arrival quickly reshaped weekly sales rankings.

Analysts point to timing as much as product. Huawei launched just as Apple’s post-release surge cooled, positioning the Mate 80 as a fresh alternative when consumers shifted from launch-driven purchases to more deliberate buying decisions. Combined with competitive pricing and incremental upgrades, the series helped push Huawei back into the number-one spot in recent weekly data.

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