Apple’s iPhone 17 outpaces predecessor with strong U.S. and China demand

Published 20/10/2025, 06:14
Updated 20/10/2025, 10:02
© Reuters.

Investing.com -- Apple’s iPhone 17 series has outperformed its predecessor by 14% during the first 10 days of availability in the United States and China, according to data released Monday by Counterpoint Research.

The base model iPhone 17 has been the primary driver of this growth, with sales up nearly one-third compared to the iPhone 16 base model. Chinese consumers have shown particular enthusiasm for the entry-level device, with unit sales in China nearly doubling compared to last year’s equivalent model.

Counterpoint Senior Analyst Mengmeng Zhang attributed the strong performance in China to the base model’s value proposition. "The base model iPhone 17 is very compelling to consumers, offering great value for money," Zhang said, noting that it offers "a better chip, improved display, higher base storage, selfie camera upgrade – all for the same price as last year’s iPhone 16."

In the United States, the iPhone 17 Pro Max has emerged as the standout performer through the first two weekends of availability. This trend has been fueled by major carriers increasing maximum subsidies by 10% ($100), reflecting what Counterpoint describes as a strategic shift toward ultra-premium customer segments.

"Carriers here are looking to maximize lifetime value by converting strong device subsidies into years of higher monthly service revenue through 24 or 36-month financing contracts," explained Senior Analyst Maurice Klaehne.

The new iPhone Air model has also performed slightly better than the iPhone 16 Plus. After questions about its availability in China, Apple has officially announced that pre-orders in the country will begin on October 17.

"This is a big milestone for Apple and more broadly for eSIM," said Senior Analyst Ivan Lam, though he noted that the "shorter pre-order period and high price compared to the spec-high and feature-rich base model iPhone 17 means the Air will likely remain niche initially."

The data comes from Counterpoint Research’s China and US Q3 2025 Weekly Smartphone Sell-Out Tracker, covering the two markets that make up the bulk of iPhone sales globally.

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