China’s smartphone market weakened in the second quarter, but Huawei and Apple moved in the opposite direction. Both brands expanded shipments and market share at a time when higher component costs and a memory crunch were weighing on the industry.
According to Omdia, total smartphone shipments in mainland China fell 2% in April-June compared with the same period a year earlier. Even so, the market still reached 66.1 million units, underscoring how large the country remains despite the slowdown.
Huawei Takes the Lead
Huawei was the standout performer, shipping 15.2 million devices and securing a 23% market share. That was up from 12.2 million units and an 18% share in the same quarter last year.
Omdia said Huawei’s performance was supported by stable pricing, resilient demand in the premium segment, strong in-house research and development, and “deep alignment with domestic supply chains” that helped it stay steady amid cost volatility. The Pura X Max and Enjoy 90 Pro Max were both noted as well-received models.
| Producer | Shipments | Market Share | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huawei | 15.2 million | 23% | Up from 12.2 million and 18% |
| Apple | 12.4 million | 19% | Up from 10.1 million and 15% |
| Oppo | 10.6 million | 16% | Down 9% |
| vivo | 10.5 million | 16% | Down 11% |
| Xiaomi | 8.2 million | 12% | Down 21% |
Apple Gains Ground as Competitors Slip
Apple also posted a stronger result in China than it did a year earlier. Omdia said iPhone shipments rose to 12.4 million units, lifting Apple’s share to 19% from 15% in the same quarter last year.
That performance helped Apple widen the gap with several domestic rivals that were still under pressure from weaker demand and rising costs. The company’s growth came as the broader market remained fragile rather than expanding evenly across all vendors.
Other major players were not as fortunate. Oppo shipped 10.6 million units for a 16% share, while vivo delivered 10.5 million units and also held 16%, but both saw year-on-year declines of 9% and 11% respectively.
Xiaomi recorded the sharpest fall among the top five, with shipments dropping 21% to 8.2 million units and market share slipping to 12%. The results point to a more polarized Chinese smartphone market, where brand strength and supply resilience are becoming increasingly important.
What the Wider Market Signals
China’s second-quarter decline was still milder than the global market’s 4% drop over the same period. That contrast suggests the country remains relatively resilient, even as buyers become more cautious about replacing devices.
Omdia expects China’s smartphone market to fall 6% for the full year compared with 2025, though that decline is still forecast to be gentler than the global market. The analyst view is that vendors outside Huawei and Apple are adjusting portfolios while consumers are taking a more careful approach to upgrades.
