iPhone 17 and Xiaomi 17 Series Help Drive Brands’ China Sell-Out in First Month of Availability
- First-month sell-out numbers for the iPhone 17 and Xiaomi 17 series smartphones indicate they were key drivers for both OEMs’ growth during their respective first months of availability.
- Similar to previous years, the newer iPhone series drove the bulk of Apple’s smartphone sales in China during the period, with the series accounting for nearly four out of five iPhones sold. iPhone sell-out was up 22% YoY during the period.
- The earlier-than-expected launch of Xiaomi’s 17 series helped support its smartphone sales too, with the OEM’s YoY growth coming in at 21%
- Post-Mid-Autumn Festival sales figures suggest continued momentum for Apple moving through the fourth quarter, with the base and Pro variants key drivers.
Beijing, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Fort Collins, Hong Kong, London, New Delhi, Seoul, Taipei, Tokyo – November 14, 2025
First-month sell-out numbers for the iPhone 17 and Xiaomi 17 series smartphones indicate they were key drivers for both OEMs’ growth during their respective first months of availability, according to Counterpoint Research’s latest China Weekly Smartphone Sell-Out Tracker. Apple and Xiaomi’s overall sell-out numbers saw similar growth profiles, with YoY sell-out improving 22% and 21%, respectively.
Apple, Xiaomi China Smartphone Sell-Out in First Month* of Respective 17 Series Availability
Source: Counterpoint Research China Weekly Smartphone Sell-Out Tracker
*First month period: iPhone 16: Sep 20 – Oct 20, 2024. iPhone 17: Sep 19 – Oct 19, 2025.
“This year’s new device launches for both OEMs preceded an October Mid-Autumn Festival, which helped bump sales up further from last year,” said Senior Analyst Ivan Lam. “Shoppers this season are looking for good value and, as always, great innovation, and both Apple and Xiaomi are delivering with their latest devices.”
iPhone 17, iPhone 16 Series China First-Month Sell-Out Comparison*
Source: China Weekly Smartphone Sell-Out Tracker
*iPhone 16: September 20 – October 20, 2024; iPhone 17: September 19 – October 19, 2025
Covid-era iPhone buyers have been upgrading devices, keeping momentum strong, especially for the iPhone 17 base and Pro variants, with growth steady even after the Mid-Autumn Festival. “We have yet to see any tapering past the shopping season in terms of the iPhone 17 and I am attributing this to the upgrade cycle coinciding with Apple delivering a new device that brings great value,” observed Lam. “It was important for Apple to deliver on it this year to ride the big upgrade cycle from Covid-era buyers, and it has done so in spades.”
Xiaomi’s earlier-than-expected Xiaomi 17 flagship series launch hit the right design note with Chinese consumers. Its bold rear display was well received, helping it become a hot seller through the holiday shopping period and into the second half of October. Lam added, “Last year, the base model was the big seller, but that dynamic has been reversed this season with the Xiaomi Pro and Pro Max accounting for the bulk of sales. This will have positive implications for Xiaomi’s ASP and highlights the brand’s positioning strength in higher-price segments.”
Related research: ‘China Smartphone Market off to Strong Q4 on Stellar iPhone Sales’
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Counterpoint Research is a global industry and market research firm providing market data, intelligence, thought leadership and consulting across the technology ecosystem. We advise a diverse range of global clients spanning the supply chain – from chipmakers, component suppliers, manufacturers and software and application developers to service providers, channel players and investors. Our veteran team of analysts serve these clients through our offices located across the key innovation hubs, manufacturing clusters and commercial centers globally. Our analysts consistently engage with C-suite through to strategy, market intelligence, supply chain, R&D, product management, marketing, sales and others across the organization. Counterpoint’s key coverage areas: AI, Automotive, Cloud, Connectivity, Consumer Electronics, Displays, eSIM, IoT, Location Platforms, Macroeconomics, Manufacturing, Networks & Infra, Semiconductors, Smartphones and Wearables.