China Drives Growth in iPhone 18 Pro Sales
Initial sales of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max increased by 3.1% compared to their predecessors
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max slightly outperformed the previous generation in global sales during the first three weeks after launch. According to Counterpoint Research, the overall growth amounted to 3.1%, though results varied significantly between countries.
The primary driver of growth was China, where sales rose by 29% compared to the same initial period for the iPhone 17 Pro. Analysts attribute this result to better availability of the new smartphones at launch and the rising prices of competing Android flagship models from Chinese brands.
Outside China, the overall trend would have been considerably weaker. In the U.S., sales declined by 4%, while in Japan, they dropped by 27%.
According to Counterpoint, American consumers did not perceive sufficient significant changes in features or design to justify the price increase. In Japan, an additional factor was currency exchange rates, which exacerbated the price increase of the devices.
Within the new Pro lineup, the higher-end model remained the most in demand. The iPhone 18 Pro Max accounted for 56% of sales, compared to 57% for its predecessor the previous year.
These figures cover only the first three weeks and do not reflect the final performance of the entire generation. However, they already demonstrate how much Apple’s global results depend on differences between regional markets.
