China Smartphone Sales Fall 23% YoY in January, Expected to Rebound in February Boosted by Spring Festival

According to the latest report of Counterpoint Research, China's smartphone sales fell 23% year-on-year in January 2026, primarily due to a high base effect from national subsidies in 2025 and a shift in the timing of Lunar New Year. In January, Huawei maintained its lead with a 19% market share, driven by the Mate 80 as its best-selling model. Apple, fueled by strong momentum from the iPhone 17 series, grew 8% year-on-year, which is the only brand to achieve positive growth. Its market share reached a five-year high for January, rising 5 percentage points from the same period of last year to 19%. OPPO and vivo each held a 16% market share, while Xiaomi and Honor accounted for 13% respectively. Counterpoint Research expects sales to rebound in February, supported by seasonal consumer spending during the Spring Festival holiday.