Apple Stays on Top for Phone Sales in China

Its nearest rival, Vivo, had a 17.8% market share in November, according to the data.

Apple’s move to keep prices of this year’s iPhone 13 series in line with iPhone 12 models has been a hit with Chinese consumers, who account for about a fifth of total iPhone sales.

Sales promotions during China’s Black Friday-like shopping season in November, known as “Singles Day,” helped major Chinese e-commerce platforms report record sales. Several new and old iPhone models made it into a daily sales top 10 ranking on one of China’s largest e-commerce platforms, JD.com Inc. on Nov. 11, when the Singles Day event kicked off.

Apple’s sales grew 15.5% in November from a month earlier, according to the Counterpoint data.

Apple is also benefiting from the troubles of its former biggest local rival in China for the high-end smartphone market, Huawei Technologies Co. Shipments and sales of Huawei’s premium phone models have plummeted since the company was hit by U.S. sanctions last year.

However, Apple’s top spot in China may be short-lived.

Counterpoint analyst Ethan Qi estimated December or January would be a turning point after Chinese iPhone owners finish upgrading their older devices. Mr. Qi said Apple may drop back behind domestic brands like Oppo, Vivo and Honor—a budget brand previously owned by Huawei—early in the new year.

Apple has kept prices on hold in China despite repeated warnings from Chief Executive Tim Cook of losses caused by supply constraints for semiconductors and other materials. In September, Mr. Cook said prices were set region by region based on a variety of things including costs, competition, local conditions and exchange rates.

Consumers in China are now seeing delivery estimates for the iPhone 13’s high-end models shortened to less than a week from about 20 days in early November. Some of China’s biggest e-commerce sites still limit each consumer to only two units for some popular models.

Write to Yang Jie at [email protected]