Huawei leads China smartphone market in Q1 2026 with highest share in five years, Apple sees strongest growth

Huawei Technologies secured the leading position in China's smartphone market during the first quarter of 2026, achieving its highest market share since the fourth quarter of 2020 at 20 percent. Apple experienced the most significant growth among the top six brands, with shipments increasing by 20 percent, capturing a 19 percent market share. This performance was supported by Chinese government subsidies offering 15 percent discounts on devices priced under 6,000 yuan (US$880) and promotional activities during the Chinese New Year in February. According to Counterpoint Research's Friday report, Huawei's heavy reliance on domestic suppliers provided a cost advantage during a global memory chip shortage. Apple's success was attributed to the sustained strong performance of its iPhone 17 series, promotional price reductions, and government subsidies. The report suggested Apple is best positioned to manage the ongoing global memory crunch due to its premium product portfolio and robust supply chain management, potentially absorbing rising costs internally and expanding its market share in the near-to-medium term. Despite the global memory price surge, both companies demonstrated resilience in the competitive Chinese market.