Huawei Maintains Top Spot in China's Smartphone Market Despite an 8.6% Industry Decline

Market Dynamics and Competitive Landscape in 2026

Market intelligence firm Counterpoint has published a comprehensive analysis covering the performance of China's smartphone market over the first 30 weeks of the year. Although the overall sector faced an 8.6% contraction in sales volumes compared to the previous year, Huawei persevered by securing its dominant position through smart pricing adjustments and popular hardware releases.

The published report highlights the continuous fluctuations across the Chinese mobile ecosystem, which have been heavily influenced by mounting component costs and persistent memory shortages across the supply chain.

While major competitors like OPPO, vivo, and Honor attempted to maximize consumer engagement during major promotional events such as the 618 shopping festival, broader economic pressures limited their overall success.

Conversely, Huawei adopted an aggressive market stance, steering the competition through the first half of the year even as overall market sales retreated by 8.6% year-over-year.

Statistical insights indicate that Huawei sustained a weekly market share exceeding 20% starting from the second quarter. Strong consumer enthusiasm for models like the Enjoy 90 Pro Max served as a primary driver behind this notable milestone.

Although the original equipment manufacturer has refined its pricing approach, ongoing industry pressures are mounting. Consequently, the enterprise plans to adjust retail prices upward for upcoming device lineups in the second half of the year.

Meanwhile, Xiaomi secured the second position in sales share during the 30th week, largely propelled by the popularity of the Redmi Note 17 collection. Nevertheless, the firm is also implementing price adjustments ranging from 300 to 500 yuan per model, which may impact its competitive ranking moving forward.

Honor experienced a notable rebound in transaction volumes following the rollout of the X80 Pro Max. The technology corporation is actively modifying its deployment strategies to recapture consumer interest amidst challenging market conditions.

Apple shifted downward from second to fifth place within the weekly sales hierarchy across the region. The American brand is currently navigating a period of steady demand, which is expected to persist until the launch of its next-generation smartphone generation. Summarizing the outlook for the remaining months, the findings state:

"The contraction in sales is even greater after the 618 shopping festival, with the year-on-year decline returning to double digits, indicating the market has entered a seasonally weak phase, while storage costs continue to rise."

How did Huawei maintain its market leadership despite an industry downturn?

Huawei successfully retained its top position by implementing optimized pricing strategies, releasing high-demand products like the Enjoy 90 Pro Max, and maintaining a steady weekly market share above 20%.

What caused the broader smartphone sales decline in China?

The sector contraction was primarily driven by persistently rising component expenses, ongoing memory shortages, and a seasonal slump following major retail events like the 618 shopping festival.

Where did Apple rank in the weekly sales report?

Apple experienced a drop to the fifth position in the weekly sales charts as it entered a steady demand phase ahead of upcoming product announcements.

Which smartphone series helped Xiaomi secure its market position?

Xiaomi's performance during the evaluated period was significantly supported by the commercial traction of the Redmi Note 17 series.

🔎 Ultimately, the mobile industry in China continues to adapt to complex economic realities, balancing component cost inflation with evolving consumer demands. While market leaders like Huawei demonstrate remarkable resilience through strategic adaptability, the broader sector faces critical choices regarding pricing and product positioning as the year progresses.