Apple $AAPL ( ▼ 2.27% ) is off to a strong start in China in 2026. After regaining momentum last year with the iPhone 17 lineup, the company is continuing to expand its footprint in one of its most important markets.
January data shows Apple steadily closing the gap with local leader Huawei.
Market Share Hits Five Year High
Apple’s iPhones accounted for 19% of smartphone sales in China in January, up from 14% a year earlier, according to Counterpoint Research. That marks the company’s highest January market share in five years.
The gain puts Apple just a fraction of a percentage point behind Huawei, signaling a notable rebound after periods of intensified domestic competition.
China Still Matters
Greater China represented about 18% of Apple $AAPL’s total revenue last quarter, underscoring how critical the region remains to overall performance.
Sustained gains in market share could help offset broader global smartphone headwinds and reinforce Apple’s premium positioning in the world’s largest consumer electronics market.
For now, the comeback in China suggests the iPhone 17 cycle is doing exactly what Apple needed it to do.