China's annual shopping event, the 6.18 Festival, saw 14 million smartphones sold — and it's estimated that Apple's iPhone models accounted for half.
Apple has done well in China's 6.18 festivaliPhone before, but for 2022, new research says it made 7 million of the 14 million smartphones sold.
"Apple solidified the leadership with impressive performance during 6.18 festival this year," said Peng Peng, analyst at research company Strategy Analytics. "Apple outperformed the market selling nearly 7 million iPhone units, modestly down -4% YoY."
Strategy Analytics says that "thanks to the greater mix of higher-priced iPhones," Apple's 49% share of sales by volume, meant 66% share of all revenues.
Xiaomi to have captured 30% of the market by volume, which is slightly down from 32% at this time in 2021. Honor came third with 10% volume share, up from 2021's 6%.
"We estimate Apple generated a revenue of 41.5 billion CNY (US$ 6.3 billion)," continued Peng, who said Apple dominated across all of China's online stores taking part in the shopping festival. "Apple ranked top by revenue share across all major platforms (JD, TMall and Pinduoduo etc.)."
China's JD.com has long been a popular site for iPhone buyers in the country. In the first two seconds of its Singles Day sales event in 2021, JD.com sold $15.6 million worth of the iPhone 13.
Outside of special events like the 6.18 Festival, Apple's iPhone sales in China rebounded in May 2022 following a dip in April. Morgan Stanley research claims that YoY, iPhone sales were up 15% in China.
The growth in China also fuelled Apple's global figures. Research by Counterpoint says that the iPhone tool 62% of worldwide smartphone sales in Q1 2022.
