iPhone 18 Pro Sales Up 3.1%: China Drives Early Growth
iPhone 18 Pro series sales grew 3.1% in the first three weeks, led by 29% growth in China, while the US and Japan slipped. Here’s what Counterpoint found.
Key Highlights
- Modest start: Global sales of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max rose 3.1% year-on-year in the first three weeks after their September release, per Counterpoint Research.
- China leads: China contributed 29% year-on-year growth, masking weaker numbers elsewhere.
- US and Japan dip: Higher prices hurt demand in both markets; US buyers saw limited upgrades, and a weaker yen amplified price hikes in Japan.
- Pro Max share slips: The Pro Max made up 56% of series sales, down from 57%, as India and Southeast Asia leaned towards the Pro.
- Next test: The iPhone Duo, launching in Week 43, has pre-bookings currently exceeding supply.
New Delhi: Apple's iPhone 18 Pro series has opened its sales run in positive territory, but the headline number hides a sharply divided picture. According to a report by Counterpoint Research released on Tuesday, global sales of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max grew 3.1 per cent year-on-year during the three weeks following their September release, outperforming the iPhone 17 Pro series over the same period last year.
Counterpoint attributed the growth to improved early supply compared with last year's launch, along with higher prices for competing flagship phones from Chinese Android makers. That second factor appears to have worked strongly in Apple's favour in China, which delivered 29 per cent year-on-year growth.
China's surge, however, masked softer performance in other key markets. Sales declined year-on-year in the United States and Japan, where higher prices weighed on demand. In the US, consumers have not viewed the new models as offering significant improvements in features or design over their predecessors. In Japan, a weaker exchange rate amplified price increases, further dampening appetite.
