Apple's journey in China feels like watching a tech giant play a particularly high-stakes game of chess—one where the rules keep changing and the competition doesn't play fair. After enduring what can only be described as a brutal two-year losing streak, Counterpoint Research just dropped some surprisingly good news: iPhone sales jumped 8% year-over-year in Q2 2025, marking Apple's first quarterly growth in China since Q2 2023. What you need to know: iPhone sales in China rose 8% YoY in Q2 2025—first growth in two years Apple slashed iPhone 16 Pro prices by over 30% during May's 618 shopping festival Despite the rebound, Apple still sits in fifth place in China's smartphone rankings Government subsidies and strategic pricing finally moved the needle for Apple Here's the kicker: this turnaround represents Apple's first strategic capitulation to China's discount-driven retail reality. The company that built its reputation on premium pricing just proved it can win—but only by...more
