Despite competitive pressures from Huawei’s new Mate 60 series and a partial governmental ban on Apple smartphones, the iPhone 15 series has made a smashing debut in China. The long queues at Apple’s flagship store in Beijing’s bustling Sanlitun shopping district were just the tip of the iceberg.

Apple still has control over the Chinese smartphone market despite the US Huawei Ban

According to JD Daojia, a delivery platform affiliated with JD.com, sales for the new iPhone models during the first two hours shot up by a staggering 253% compared to last year’s iPhone 14 series. What’s even more intriguing is the uptick in orders from lower-tier cities, which multiplied by six times. This shows that Apple’s appeal isn’t confined to the cosmopolitan elites but is spreading across various demographics in China.

Apple iPhone

While Huawei has been drumming up nationalist sentiments with its Mate 60 series, consumers like a 21-year-old Beijing student surnamed Li are still loyal to Apple. For Li, the iPhone 15 Pro Max wasn’t just another smartphone but a marriage of aesthetic finesse and cutting-edge technology.

Another consumer, a 34-year-old film industry worker also named Li, was particularly drawn to the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s new titanium body. Being a user of a variety of Apple products, Li found no reason to switch allegiance to Huawei. This reveals that brand loyalty and integrated ecosystems continue to be Apple’s strong suit in keeping its user base intact.

The new iPhones, priced between 7,999 and 13,999 yuan ($1,095 and $1,916), also bring the game-changing A17 Pro chip and a shift to type-C charging cords. Despite the regulatory and competitive challenges, Apple has managed to not only maintain but also significantly boost its momentum in the Chinese market. It’s a surprise, but let’s see how Huawei shapes its future strategy for China.

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