Apple’s China iPhone sales surge amid price cuts and gradual consumer recovery

The US tech giant recorded a sales volume of 13 million iPhones in China in the June quarter, up from 4 million units in the first three months of this year

The iPhone’s strong showing in China during the past three months augurs well for Apple, which will report its latest quarterly financial results on July 30

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Shoppers check out the latest iPhone models at the newly opened Apple Store in Sanlitun, Beijing, on July 17. Photo: Simon Song

Published: 6:30pm, 29 Jul 2020Updated: 11:00pm, 29 Jul 2020

Demand for Apple’s iPhone in China surged in the second quarter, recording a 225 per cent quarterly growth in sales volume, amid price cuts as the world’s biggest smartphone market slowly recovers from the disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Apple had a sales volume of 13 million iPhones in China in the June quarter, up from 4 million units in the first three months of this year, according to data from Shanghai-based research firm CINNO.

That data aligned with a recent report from Counterpoint Research, which said Apple was the fastest-growing major smartphone brand last quarter in China, where Android device maker Huawei Technologies remained the market’s overall leader.

“Apple grew an impressive 32 per cent year on year due to the continued popularity of the iPhone 11 series and price cuts,” the Counterpoint report said. Apple devices typically sell for a hefty premium in China, compared with the US. The company’s latest iPhone SE model also quickly became one of the three bestselling iPhones in China the past quarter, according to Counterpoint.

The iPhone’s strong showing in China during the past three months augurs well for Cupertino, California-based Apple, which will report its latest quarterly financial results on July 30. The iPhone accounted for about 49 per cent of Apple’s global sales in the March quarter.