China Drives iPhone 18 Pro Launch as U.S. and Japan Sales Slip
Counterpoint says iPhone 18 Pro sales rose 29% in China in the first three weeks, while the U.S. fell 4% and Japan 27%. Global sales were up 3.1%.
Apple’s newest flagship phones are selling well overall, but the growth is coming from one place. Research firm Counterpoint says combined global sales of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max rose 3.1% in their first three weeks on sale, compared with the same stretch of last year’s launch. Sales in China jumped 29%, which more than made up for drops of 4% in the U.S. and 27% in Japan.
Why China is ahead
Counterpoint points to two reasons for the strong showing in China. First, Apple had better supply of the phones at the start. Second, rival Android flagships there have become more expensive, which makes the iPhones look comparatively more attractive. In other words, Apple benefited both from having stock available and from competitors’ pricing.
Why the U.S. and Japan are down
The picture is different elsewhere. In the U.S., Counterpoint says buyers felt the phones did not change enough in features and design, even with additions such as a variable aperture camera. That is a camera feature that lets the lens adjust how much light it lets in.
Price is part of the story as well. Apple raised starting prices by $100 in the U.S., so the iPhone 18 Pro now begins at $1,199 and the Pro Max at $1,299. In Japan, Counterpoint says exchange rates made the price increase even steeper for local buyers, which helps explain the 27% decline there.
Which size is selling
The larger phone is still the more popular of the two, but its lead narrowed slightly. The Pro Max accounted for 56% of sales, down from 57% a year earlier. Counterpoint says growth in India and Southeast Asia favored the smaller model.
What this means for shoppers
For anyone deciding whether to buy now, the numbers say more about Apple’s business than about the phones themselves. A sales dip in the U.S. does not mean the phones are flawed, and the report does not say that. It does suggest that the higher starting prices and a perception of modest upgrades are weighing on buyers in some markets. If you are on an older iPhone and the price gives you pause, the data shows you are not alone in hesitating.
- Starting prices are now $1,199 for the Pro and $1,299 for the Pro Max in the U.S.
- If you prefer a smaller phone, you are in good company: that size is gaining ground in some regions.
- Compare what the new camera offers against your current phone before paying the higher price.
What to watch next
An important caveat is that Counterpoint’s tracking period came before the launch of the iPhone Duo on October 23. The firm is watching whether Apple’s first foldable iPhone attracts new buyers or simply pulls sales away from the Pro Max. That question could change the picture in the coming weeks, and it will be the main thing to watch when Counterpoint publishes its next look at the numbers. Until then, the early read is clear: a strong China launch is holding up Apple’s totals while two big markets cool.
Source: MacRumors
