China lifts iPhone 18 Pro sales as US and Japan record declines
Counterpoint Research reported 3.1% global growth during the models’ opening three weeks, with sales in China rising 29%.
Global sales of Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro series increased 3.1% in its initial three weeks on sale compared with the equivalent launch period for the iPhone 17 Pro series, according to Counterpoint Research. China led the gains, while US sales declined 4% and Japan recorded a 27% drop.
Counterpoint attributed China’s 29% sales increase to improved early supply and higher prices for rival flagship phones from Chinese Android manufacturers. The research firm said global growth would have been much weaker without China’s contribution. It did not provide unit sales figures.
Higher prices than those of the preceding models weighed on demand in both the US and Japan, Counterpoint said. It found that US consumers generally saw little improvement in features or design, while exchange-rate effects compounded price increases for Japanese buyers.
The larger iPhone 18 Pro Max represented 56% of Pro-series sales, compared with 57% for its predecessor a year earlier. Counterpoint linked the smaller share to higher prices and a greater tilt toward the smaller Pro model in growing markets such as India and Southeast Asia. The data did not cover the iPhone Duo, which launched after the period measured.
