Apple has climbed back to the top of China's smartphone market, thanks to the success of the iPhone 16. The company now holds 15. 6% of the market, just ahead of Huawei, which has 15. 3%. This is a significant turnaround for Apple, which fell to sixth place in the second quarter.

Huawei has also made impressive gains, growing its market share by 42% from the previous year. The Chinese tech giant's comeback is largely due to the launch of its Mate 60 Pro series last August.

Apple's return to the top spot was driven by strong initial sales of the iPhone 16. These sales were on par with the iPhone 15 and even surpassed it in some areas. For instance, sales of the more expensive Pro and Pro Max models rose by 44% compared to the previous year.

China's overall smartphone market is also thriving. It grew by 3. 2% in the third quarter, reaching 68. 8 million units shipped. This is the fourth consecutive quarter of growth, indicating a strong demand for new devices.

Despite economic challenges, consumers are motivated to upgrade their smartphones. Arthur Guo, a senior research analyst at IDC China, noted that a significant wave of device upgrades is driving the market's recovery.

Vivo, a homegrown smartphone maker, currently leads the market, followed by Xiaomi and Honor. However, Apple's comeback shows that international brands can still compete effectively in China.

iPhone 16 Helps Apple Regain Lead in China's Smartphone Market

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