Highlights
- iPhone 15 Pro Max tops China’s smartphone market with a 5% share.
- Huawei Mate 60 Pro follows closely in second place.
- Apple secures three spots in China’s top five smartphone sales.
- Huawei and Honor show resilience despite US sanctions.
In a surprising twist, Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro Max narrowly eclipsed the much-anticipated Huawei Mate 60 Pro in sales in China this October.
The information comes from Counterpoint Research’s analysis of the Chinese market, which is the largest in the world.
The Tussle for the Top Spot in China
The iPhone 15 Pro Max secured the highest sales with a 5% market share making its success rather significant.
That’s because China has typically favoured local manufacturers like Huawei, Xiaomi, Vivo, and others.
Huawei’s Mate 60 Pro, powered by the in-house 7nm Kirin 9000s 5G SoC, was widely expected to dominate the market following its surprise release in August.
The Mate 60 Pro was the result of Huawei’s resilience and technological prowess in the wake of US sanctions.
While not highly competitive in terms of power efficiency or GPU prowess, the Huawei name alone commands a lot of weight in China.
However, Apple and its latest flagship seem to have upended that dominance, at least for the time being.
iPhones Defying Expectations
But it gets better for Apple.
Three out of the top five selling smartphones in China were iPhone models.
The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15, capturing 4% and 3% of the market share respectively, also made it to the top five, indicative of a strong preference among Chinese consumers for Apple’s offerings, despite the local allegiance and the presence of equally competitive homegrown products.
Huawei and Honor’s Resilience
Huawei’s Mate 60 Pro secured the second spot, just a hairbreadth away from the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Even in trying times, Huawei manages to keep a loyal customer base in its home ground.
There is also the presence of Honor, a former Huawei sub-brand, in the top five with the Honor X50.
Thankfully Honor is not burdened with the same restrictions as its former parent company after its separation from Huawei.
Even so, Huawei’s recovery after the US sanctions in 2019 and a subsequent chip shortage, is quite remarkable.
The company’s smartphone shipments, expected to hit the 100 million mark this year, illustrate not just a corporate comeback but a broader narrative of adaptation and persistence in the face of geopolitical tensions.
APPLE IPHONE 15 PRO MAX SPECIFICATIONS
Key Specs
| RAM | 6 GB |
| Processor | Apple A15 Bionic |
| Rear Camera | 12 MP + 12 MP + 12 MP |
| Front Camera | 12 MP |
| Battery | 4400 mAh |
| Display | 6.7 inches (17.02 cm) |
General
| Launch Date | August 16, 2023 (Unofficial) |
| Operating System | iOS v15 |
Performance
| Chipset | Apple A15 Bionic |
| CPU | Hexa Core (3.23 GHz, Dual core, Avalanche + 1.82 GHz, Quad core, Blizzard) |
| Architecture | 64 bit |
| Fabrication | 5 nm |
| Graphics | Apple GPU (four-core graphics) |
| RAM | 6 GB |
Display
| Display Type | OLED |
| Screen Size | 6.7 inches (17.02 cm) |
| Resolution | 1284 x 2778 pixels |
| Aspect Ratio | 19.5:9 |
| Pixel Density | 457 ppi |
| Screen Protection | Yes |
| Bezel-less display | Yes |
| Touch Screen | Yes, Capacitive Touchscreen, Multi-touch |
| Refresh Rate | 120 Hz |
Design
| Waterproof | Yes, Water resistant, IP68 |
| Ruggedness | Dust proof |
Camera
| MAIN CAMERA | ||
| Camera Setup | Triple | |
| Resolution | 12 MP f/1.6, Wide Angle, Primary Camera 12 MP , Telephoto Camera 12 MP, Ultra-Wide Angle Camera |
|
| Autofocus | Yes | |
| Flash | Yes, Dual LED Flash | |
| Image Resolution | 4000 x 3000 Pixels | |
| Settings | Exposure compensation, ISO control | |
| Shooting Modes | Continuous Shooting High Dynamic Range mode (HDR) |
|
| Camera Features | Digital Zoom Auto Flash Face detection Touch to focus |
|
| Video Recording | 1920×1080 @ 30 fps | |
| FRONT CAMERA | ||
| Camera Setup | Single | |
| Resolution | 12 MP f/2.3, Primary Camera | |
| Video Recording | 1920×1080 @ 30 fps | |
Battery
| Capacity | 4400 mAh |
| Type | Li-ion |
| Removable | No |
| Quick Charging | Yes, Fast |
| USB Type-C | No |
Storage
| Internal Memory | 128 GB |
| Expandable Memory | No |
Network & Connectivity
| SIM Slot(s) | Dual SIM, GSM+GSM |
| SIM Size | SIM1: Nano, SIM2: eSIM |
| Network Support | 5G Not Supported in India, 4G Supported in India, 3G, 2G |
| VoLTE | Yes |
| SIM 1 |
4G Bands:
TD-LTE 2300(band 40)
FD-LTE 1800(band 3) 3G Bands:
UMTS 1900 / 2100 / 850 / 900 MHz
2G Bands:
GSM 1800 / 1900 / 850 / 900 MHz
GPRS:
Available
EDGE:
Available
|
| SIM 2 |
4G Bands:
TD-LTE 2300(band 40)
FD-LTE 1800(band 3) 3G Bands:
UMTS 1900 / 2100 / 850 / 900 MHz
2G Bands:
GSM 1800 / 1900 / 850 / 900 MHz
GPRS:
Available
EDGE:
Available
|
| Wi-Fi | Yes, Wi-Fi 4 (802.11 b/g/n) |
| Wi-Fi Features | Mobile Hotspot |
| Bluetooth | Yes, v5.0 |
| GPS | Yes with A-GPS, Glonass |
| NFC | Yes |
Multimedia
| FM Radio | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes |
| Audio Jack | Lightning |
Sensors
| Fingerprint Sensor | No |
| Other Sensors | Light sensor, Proximity sensor, Accelerometer, Barometer, Compass, Gyroscope |
FAQs
How did the iPhone 15 Pro Max perform in the Chinese smartphone market?
In October, the iPhone 15 Pro Max unexpectedly led China’s smartphone market, securing a 5% market share.
This is particularly notable given the market’s usual preference for local brands like Huawei.
What was the market share of Huawei Mate 60 Pro in China?
The Huawei Mate 60 Pro, a strong contender with its Kirin 9000s 5G SoC, narrowly missed the top spot and secured the second position in the Chinese smartphone market, showcasing Huawei’s continued influence.
Which other Apple models ranked in the top five in China?
Alongside the iPhone 15 Pro Max, Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 also made it to the top five best-selling smartphones in China, holding 4% and 3% market shares, respectively.
What does Honor’s presence in the top five signify?
Honor’s inclusion in the top five, with the Honor X50, indicates the brand’s successful market presence post its separation from Huawei, demonstrating its independent appeal in the smartphone sector.
Also Read: iPhone 15 Sales Struggle in China: What’s Behind Apple’s Market Woes?
Also Read: iPhone 15 Pro Max Sets New Standards in Video Recording According to DxOMark
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