Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro China sales have opened strongly, according to new retail tracking from Counterpoint Research. The firm says the Pro series grew 12% year over year in its launch comparison. Apple also led China’s smartphone sales during the week of September 14–20. The early figures stand out because the wider market has been weak for months.
What the launch-week figures show
Counterpoint’s September 30 report covers Week 38, which ran from September 14 through September 20. The iPhone 18 Pro models went on sale September 18. That means only three days of their retail sales fall within the measured week. Counterpoint compares that launch window with the previous Pro generation and reports 12% year-over-year growth.
Apple held 33% of China’s smartphone sales for that specific week, putting it first in the weekly ranking. This is a snapshot of purchases, not a quarterly market-share result. The numbers also cover the Pro family rather than every iPhone model. Readers should keep those limits in mind when weighing the result.
Why the comparison matters
China’s weekly smartphone sales had fallen by double digits year over year since July, Counterpoint says. A stronger Pro opening therefore looks meaningful against a soft market. At the same time, three days cannot tell us whether demand will stay high through October. Early buyers, preorders, and retailer promotions can make launch weeks unusually strong.
Possible reasons for the Pro surge
Counterpoint senior analyst Ivan Lam points to two possible factors. A later launch for the standard iPhone 18 may have encouraged some shoppers to choose a Pro model now. Meanwhile, higher prices for rival Chinese flagships may make Apple’s Pro pricing look more competitive. These are analyst explanations, not a survey of buyers’ reasons.
The timing also follows Apple’s worldwide retail launch. Our earlier iPhone 18 availability report explains when the new lineup reached stores. The fresh China data adds an early view of how buyers responded once the Pro models were on shelves.
What to watch next
The next several weekly reports will offer a better test of sustained demand. Watch whether the Pro models continue to sell well after the initial rush and whether competitors’ autumn releases change the ranking. The standard iPhone 18’s eventual arrival could also shift Apple’s product mix. China will be a useful market to follow because the Pro phones face several strong local rivals. Any later market-share figure will also need a clear time period and a distinction between sales and shipments. For now, the measured result is clear: the Pro launch gave Apple a strong, but early, week in China.
