China Smartphone Market June 2026 Overview
China’s smartphone market recorded 28 million units in sell‑through during June 2026, representing a 62 % increase from May and a 3 % year‑over‑year gain. Despite the June surge, cumulative shipments for the first half of 2026 fell 7 % compared with the same period a year earlier.
Memory‑price pressure caused low‑tier smartphone shipments to drop 14 % in June, while the mid‑tier and high‑tier segments together grew roughly 10 % YoY, buoyed by promotional campaigns from Huawei and other Android manufacturers. Entry‑level models continued to hold a record‑low share of total shipments.
Apple’s unit share expanded YoY, though the increase was smaller than in May because competing brands also ran promotions. Discounts on the iPhone 17 Pro in May had shifted some demand forward, limiting the June share gain.
During June, rivals offered promotions in the RMB 3,000‑5,000 price range. Huawei’s premium‑segment shipments remained flat month‑over‑month, constrained by higher system‑on‑chip (SoC) costs from SMIC’s "N+3" manufacturing process, which limited pricing flexibility.
Chinese smartphone makers intensified promotional activity in the RMB 3,000‑5,000 segment ahead of September product launches. Sell‑in volumes fell below sell‑through levels, reducing inventory from 3.9 months in May to 3.2 months in June, although inventory remained above normal levels.
Average selling prices declined from May’s elevated levels but stayed 15 % higher than June 2025. The YoY price increase reflected both like‑for‑like price rises and a reduced mix of entry‑level devices. Both Qualcomm and MediaTek raised their SoC prices during the period.