Foreign phone shipments in China jumped 128.4% in November from a year earlier, reaching 6.93 million units, according to new data from the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology. Overall smartphone shipments rose by just 1.9% to 30.16 million units, indicating that most of the growth came from foreign brands, primarily the new iPhone 17 series.
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iPhone 17 Demand Lifts the Market
As noted above, Apple (AAPL) led the rebound, as its new iPhone 17 series drew strong demand following its September launch. Pre-orders set records on major Chinese platforms such as JD.com (JD), and sales surged during the Singles’ Day shopping festival in early November. The iPhone 17 Pro Max model was the top seller, helped by trade-in deals and online discounts. By early November, Apple had activated more than 8 million iPhone 17 units in China, with nearly half of them high-end models.
At the same time, domestic brands like Huawei and Xiaomi (XIACF) saw slower momentum as they delayed some new product launches. That gave Apple a wider sales window and helped foreign brands capture about 23% of the market, compared with roughly 10% in past months.
Implications for Investors
This surge signals that Apple’s position in China remains strong even as local rivals gain ground. The November sales boost could lift Apple’s results for its December quarter, which is the first of its 2026 fiscal year. Investors will be watching the next report from the Chinese research agency in January to see if the trend continues.
Is AAPL Stock a Buy or Sell?
Overall, Apple holds a generally positive view among the Street’s analysts. It boasts a Moderate Buy consensus, with an average AAPL stock price target of $299.49. This implies a 9.38% upside from the current price.
