China is still important to Apple

News of iPhone 17 selling well in China and the US caused Apple shares to increase 4% in the latest trading session.

Users buy iPhone 17 Pro at an Apple store in Beijing (China). Photo: Reuters .

According to market research firm Counterpoint Research , total sales of the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air in the first 10 days on shelves in the US and China increased by 14% compared to the previous version. These are two key markets for Apple, accounting for the majority of iPhone sales.

Following a report from Counterpoint Research , CNBC reported that Apple shares rose nearly 4% on October 20, closing at $262.24 . According to Loop Capital, the figure could continue to rise as demand for the iPhone 17 exceeds expectations. The bank upgraded Apple stock from “hold” to “buy” with a target of $315 .

Of the four 2025 iPhone versions, the basic iPhone 17 model has received positive feedback, especially in China. According to analysts, users prefer the iPhone 17 because of its reasonable price.

“The base iPhone 17 is appealing to consumers, offering good value for money. It has an improved processor, a quality display, plenty of storage, and an upgraded selfie camera, all for the same price as last year’s iPhone 16,” said Counterpoint Research analyst Mengmeng Zhang.

According to Zhang, users have many reasons to choose iPhone 17, especially when combined with incentive programs from distributors.

“In short, the iPhone 17 offers great value for money. Chinese users are appreciating Apple for this move,” Counterpoint Research representative emphasized.

In the US, demand for the iPhone 17 Pro Max increased the most when the three major carriers increased the discount to a maximum of $100 . According to analysts, this shows that US carriers are shifting their focus to the super high-end segment.

Counterpoint Research analyst Maurice Klaehne says US carriers are looking to maximize value by increasing the initial discount, then recouping it back into subscription plans through 24-36 month contracts.

“Focusing on incentives on the iPhone 17 Pro Max makes Apple's ultra-premium device more accessible to users, promoting the trend of premiumization and increasing the attachment between high-value customers and the ecosystem,” Klaehne commented.

Market share of iPhone 16, iPhone 17, and iPhone Air models in the first 10 days in the US and China. Photo: Counterpoint Research .

With the iPhone Air, the device sold slightly better than the iPhone 16 Plus. Being licensed to sell in China somewhat helped Apple reduce the pressure on product sales.

“This is an important milestone for Apple and eSIM. However, the short pre-order period and higher price than the base iPhone 17, which has more powerful configurations, shows that the iPhone Air is still a niche market in the early stages,” said analyst Ivan Lam.

According to SCMP , the iPhone Air quickly sold out within a few hours of opening for pre-orders. On October 17, many memory and color versions of the iPhone Air were sold out on Apple's online store and the official Tmall store.

Last week, the Apple CEO traveled to China, meeting with government officials and visiting Apple stores. The popularity of the iPhone Air in China could help boost Apple's stock price, according to Evercore analyst Amit Daryanani. The company is expected to share strong earnings results in its next earnings report.

Apple stock has been volatile. It has risen only about 5% year to date, significantly slower than major companies like Nvidia, Meta, Microsoft and Alphabet, which have seen an average gain of 24% over the three months.

Source: https://znews.vn/trung-quoc-van-quan-trong-voi-apple-post1595680.html