Counterpoint: Smartphone sales in China slump during first months of 2026 | Infinium-tech
Smartphone sales in China declined slightly in the first two months of 2026 as shipments declined 4% compared to the same period last year. according to Counterpoint ResearchDemand for new smartphones in China was lower than expected despite a new wave of government subsidies and promotions during the Lunar New Year, according to China Weekly’s smartphone sell-out tracker.
Chinese brands saw some growth during the Lunar New Year holiday period in February, with a slight improvement in shipments compared to January values. With rising memory prices and OEMs like Vivo and Oppo already confirming that they will have to raise device prices, the outlook for the rest of 2026 doesn’t look good.
Despite declining sales for most brands, the new report also shows that despite challenging conditions, some OEMs like Apple and Huawei are projected to expand their market share this year.
According to Counterpoint analysts, Apple sees a 23% increase in smartphone sales during the first two months of 2026 due to strong demand for the iPhone 17. Apple is expected to leverage its strong supply chain connections to absorb higher component costs.
Huawei, on the other hand, has built a flexible domestic supply chain, which will serve as a cost buffer against rising memory prices in the global market. Looking ahead, Counterpoint expects a turbulent time between March and May, while hoping that the 618 Shopping Festival in June may provide some boost to demand.
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