Canalys: Huawei regained the crown of the Chinese smartphone market in the second quarter, while Apple fell to fifth place

According to data from Canalys, Huawei regained the top spot in the Chinese smartphone market in the second quarter of 2025, while Apple Inc. (AAPL.US) ranked fifth. Huawei ranked first with a shipment of 12.2 million units, a year-on-year increase of 15%, capturing 18% of the market share. Vivo followed closely with a shipment of 11.8 million units, holding 17% of the market share. However, compared to its shipment of 13.1 million units in the second quarter of 2024, Vivo saw a year-on-year decline of 10%. Canalys analyst Lucas Zhong stated, "Huawei launched its first Nova 14 series equipped with the HarmonyOS 5.0 system. This move is expected to accelerate the expansion of its independent ecosystem user base while also raising higher demands for system compatibility and user experience." The report added that Vivo implemented a staggered release strategy with its new models X200, S30, and Y300 series to cover a broader customer base. OPPO (including OnePlus) ranked third with a shipment of 10.7 million units, capturing 16% of the market share. Xiaomi achieved year-on-year growth for the eighth consecutive quarter, ranking fourth with a shipment of 10.4 million units. The report noted that Xiaomi launched its self-developed chip XRing O1 in May, featured in its flagship models Xiaomi 15s Pro and Xiaomi Pad 7 Ultra, highlighting its long-term investment in independent research and development and high-end products. Apple ranked fifth with a shipment of 10.1 million units, a year-on-year increase of 4%. In the second quarter, Apple strategically adjusted the pricing of the new iPhone 16 series to boost demand for the shopping season, but the high pricing led to non-compliance with national subsidy standards, suppressing its initial growth momentum. The report further stated that as the stimulus effect of the national subsidy policy at the beginning of the year gradually weakens, the smartphone market in mainland China saw a year-on-year decline of 4% in the second quarter. Amber Liu, the business director of Canalys, stated that the smartphone market in mainland China is expected to achieve moderate growth for the year and is likely to surpass the global market in 2025. "In the second half of the year, as economic resilience becomes evident, consumer confidence is expected to continue to recover. Due to manufacturers adopting cautious channel strategies to avoid stockpiling during the subsidy wave, inventory levels remain healthy. The subsidy policy in the first half of the year has released a large amount of demand in advance, and manufacturers currently face the challenge of maintaining replacement momentum."