Apple’s iPhone 17 lineup has taken China by storm, with first-day sales reportedly far outpacing the iPhone 16.
In the first week alone, Apple moved an estimated 1.03 million iPhone 17 units — a massive 47% jump over its predecessor.
iPhone 17 flying off the shelves in China
Apple has received strong consumer interest for the iPhone 16 lineup in almost all major markets worldwide. Based on the strong demand for the base model, the company has asked its suppliers to boost its production by 30%.
Apple witnesses strong demand for the iPhone 17 in China — one of its biggest markets. The surge comes after a lukewarm response to the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 series, which pushed the company to offer indirect discounts to spur sales.
EToday reports the company sold 1.03 million units of the iPhone 17 in the first week of launch. That’s 47% higher than the iPhone 16, which managed 698,000 units. Preorder demand for the new iPhones was equally strong. The iPhone 17 sold out within the first hour of preorders going live.
Apple hasn’t started selling the iPhone Air in China yet, with regulatory hurdles around eSIM forcing a last-minute delay. The super-slim phone’s launch should further lead to a spike in sales.
DRAM demand gets a boost, too
The strong iPhone 17 sales will also help boost DRAM shipments. Apple equips the Pro models with 12GB LPDDR5X memory — the highest ever for an iPhone. It sourced the RAM from Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron. These companies are struggling with production capacity due to orders from Nvidia and other big tech companies for AI servers.
Apple saw a major decline in iPhone sales in China in early 2025. In Q1, 2025, the company lost 9% market share, with shipments declining to 9.8 million units — one million less than Q1 2024. This is despite the Chinese smartphone market growing by 3.3%.
The refreshed design, improved rear cameras, distinctive selfie shooter and longer battery life are all likely driving the surge in consumer interest around the iPhone 17.
