Apple’s new iPhone outsells previous model by 14% in US, China

‘Consumers are resonating with the base model iPhone 17 on improved specs and upgrades,’ senior analyst Ivan Lam said.

Apple’s latest generation of iPhones is off to a faster start than usual, with its most basic model surging in popularity.

The iPhone 17 series outsold the iPhone 16 range by 14% over their respective first 10 days on sale in the US and China, according to Counterpoint Research. The data, giving the first quantified indication of consumer response in Apple’s top two markets, shows the standard iPhone 17 is in much higher demand than the corresponding $799 model last year. Counterpoint’s analysts attribute the boost to an improved display, more storage and the upgraded A19 chip.

“Consumers are resonating with the base model iPhone 17 on improved specs and upgrades,” senior analyst Ivan Lam said. “In China, sales are almost double those of the base iPhone 16 over the initial availability period – and the momentum continues to be good into October.”

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Customers collect their pre-ordered purchases at the Apple Sanlitun store during the iPhone 17 sales launch in Beijing on September 19. Image: Andrea Verdelli/Bloomberg

At the other end of Apple’s lineup, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is also seeing strong demand, particularly in the US. It’s drawing people who got their last phone during the pandemic to finally upgrade, Counterpoint said. Apple’s new top-of-the-line handset has its best cameras to date, an improved heat dissipation system and its most significant physical redesign in years.

Cupertino, California-based Apple still relies on the iPhone for roughly half its revenue. The company has managed to sustain strong sales of the device despite several missteps with its development of AI features and enhancements, and Chinese consumers are still waiting for its rollout of Apple Intelligence in the country.

© 2025 Bloomberg

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