IT News on September 30th: Market research firm CounterPoint Research published a blog post today (September 30th) stating that compared to the iPhone 17 Pro series, Apple's iPhone 18 Pro series saw a year-on-year increase of 12% in its first week in China (the 38th week, with a statistical period of 3 days), pushing Apple to top the sales charts for smartphones in China for the 38th week of 2026, with a market share reaching 33%.

IT reported, citing the media's remarks, that during the 38th week of 2026, which covered from September 14 to September 20, the Apple iPhone 18 Pro series contributed only to three days of sales (from the 18th to the 20th), yet Apple still topped the weekly smartphone sales chart in China that week, with a market share of 33%.

The report states that early model replacement demands, channel support, and changes in competitor prices collectively affected the initial sales performance of iPhone 18 Pro. The delayed launch of the basic version of iPhone in 18 may also have prompted some consumers to turn to the Pro series.

CounterPoint Research indicates that the weekly sales volume of smartphones in China has been declining by double digits year-on-year since July. According to this institution, consumer demand has been affected by rising storage costs, and there is an expectation of a market recovery month-on-month after the release of new products in September.