Huawei Dominates Chinese Smartphone Market: Outpacing Apple in Early 2026 Sales Surge

The smartphone landscape in China is witnessing a significant shift as Huawei maintains its momentum into the sixth week of 2026. By consistently outperforming major competitors like Apple and Xiaomi, the tech giant has solidified its position at the summit of the industry. This remarkable success is largely attributed to the robust production and high demand for the premium Mate 80 series, which has captured the attention of consumers across the region.

Recent analysis from RDObservation regarding the Chinese smartphone sales market for the sixth week of 2026 highlights Huawei as the leader in performance. The data indicates a highly competitive environment where two major players have separated themselves into the first tier of the market.

Market Share Breakdown and the Rise of the Mate 80

According to the latest activation units' share, Huawei currently accounts for 18.3% of the market. Apple is trailing by a razor-thin margin, holding an 18.2% share. While the standard Mate 80 models have historically made up a large portion of shipments, the company’s recent strategic move to address high-end demand has further bolstered its lead.

After nearly a month of anticipation, Huawei has successfully increased the production capacity for the Mate 80 Pro Max and RS Ultimate models. Consumers who were previously unable to secure these flagship variants can now participate in a new 30-day pre-order program, ensuring that the supply meets the overwhelming consumer interest.

Competitive Landscape: OPPO, Vivo, and Xiaomi

The competition remains fierce among other major vendors. OPPO currently ranks third, securing a 16.3% activation share. Within this figure, the sub-brand OnePlus contributes 2.8%, while realme devices account for 1.3%. Vivo shares the fourth spot with OPPO at 16.3%, with its iQOO gaming-centric models representing 4.8% of that total.

Xiaomi occupies the fifth position with 14.1% of the market share. Meanwhile, Honor, the maker of the Magic series, holds 12.8% of the market, largely driven by the recent release of its Magic 8 lineup. These figures suggest that while Huawei and Apple lead the pack, the mid-tier market remains highly fragmented and competitive.

The current trends suggest that Huawei is well-positioned to maintain its lead in the Chinese Huawei sales rankings throughout February 2026. Having held the top spot last month, the company's ability to maintain this trajectory will depend on its continued supply chain efficiency and the sustained popularity of its high-end hardware.

Which brand currently leads the smartphone market in China?

As of the sixth week of 2026, Huawei is the leading brand in the Chinese smartphone market with an 18.3% share of activated units.

How close is Apple to Huawei in terms of sales?

Apple is in a very close second place, holding an 18.2% market share, which is only 0.1% behind Huawei.

What is driving Huawei's recent success in 2026?

The primary driver is the Mate 80 series. Huawei has also ramped up production for the high-end Mate 80 Pro Max and RS Ultimate models to meet high consumer demand.

How are other brands like Xiaomi and OPPO performing?

OPPO and Vivo are tied for third place with a 16.3% share each, while Xiaomi follows in fifth place with 14.1% of the market share.

Is Huawei expected to stay at the top for the rest of February?

Current market listings and trends suggest that Huawei will likely continue to lead the Chinese sales market throughout February 2026 if production levels remain steady.

🔎 In conclusion, the early weeks of 2026 have proven that Huawei's resurgence is not just a temporary trend but a sustained market dominance. By leveraging the advanced capabilities of the Mate 80 series and optimizing its production cycles for premium models, the company has successfully navigated a high-pressure environment to stay ahead of global giants like Apple. As the year progresses, the industry will be watching closely to see if Huawei can expand this lead or if competitors will find a way to reclaim the top spot in the world's largest smartphone market.