“Apple was the only foreign brand to have a smartphone model in the top 10 best-selling handsets in China in 2017,” Arjun Kharpal reports for CNBC. “The iPhone 7 Plus managed 2.8 percent of all sales in the world’s largest smartphone market, according to data from Counterpoint Research released Monday. Apple’s large-screen device trailed the Oppo R9s which gained 3 percent market share.”
“The smaller-screen iPhone 7 was the fifth best-selling device in China with 2.4 percent market share,” Kharpal reports. “‘iPhone 7 Plus performed better than iPhone 7, demonstrating that currently in China market price may not be the only concern among consumers. Apple users may value more on better specs … than extra budget,’ [Counterpoint analyst James] Yan said.”
“China is an incredibly competitive smartphone market, and one where Samsung used to dominate. But it is now controlled by local Chinese players,” Kharpal reports. “Huawei accounted for 19.4 percent market share in the third quarter of 2017, followed by Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi and then Apple, according to IDC data.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Good showing for Apple iPhones!
The best-selling smartphones in China in 2017, according to Counterpoint Research:
1. Oppo R9s
2. iPhone 7 Plus
3. Vivo X9
4. Oppo A57
5. iPhone 7
6. Oppo R11
7. Vivo Y66
8. Honor 8 Lite
9. Xiaomi RedMI Note 4X
10. Honor Enjoy 6XTwo real iPhones and eight iPhone wannabes.
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With the iPhone X, 2018 may show Apple as #1 for the year. The 8 and 8 Plus will likely make the top 10 as well.
A year from now iPhone X Plus may make that list, or in the 2020 list for sure. That’s the model I’m waiting for with a second year iPhone 7 Plus. I find the X just too small for me.
I am not surprised – I have just returned from business in China and iPhone Plus seem to be preferred by the management class on China, while the less affluent workers are likely to have some Chinese smartphone. The Chinese are huge smartphone users and paying with phone is the norm, while they all communicate using We hat both socially and for business. I only saw one iPhone X being used during 3 weeks in China. A many wear face masks I can’t see Face ID being a big hit in China
WeChat
The extent to which China has embraced paying by phone is in stark contrast to the low adoption of pay by phone in America.
The last time I was in China, mobile payments were just taking off, but were still very noticeable and were noticed in quite small business. It’s no surprise to see how rapidly it’s use has expanded to become the norm.
You saw for yourself how smartphone adoption is massive in China, it’s much the same in India, but it’s also worth bearing in mind that India has a young population with almost 700 million under 25s, so it’s a massive market opportunity for Apple and I’m glad that Tim Cook is taking it seriously. Young Indians are very conscious of status and Apple is a highly aspirational brand for them. I think that India might become a bigger market for Apple than China.