Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL, ETR:APC)’s latest iPhone 16 model has received a warmer reception in China compared to last year’s iPhone 15 model.
According to Counterpoint Research shared by Bloomberg, the iPhone 16 sold 20% more units in the first three weeks of its China launch than the 15 did in the same post-launch period.
It comes as a relief for Apple, which has faced intense competition from domestic Chinese rival Huawei.
Global consumer appetite for Apple’s flagship device was subject of concern leading up to its September release, with analysts pointing to shrinking wait times for the device, suggesting muted demand for the handheld.
Apple has also faced criticism for releasing the iPhone 16 in an unfinished state.
The device’s much-hyped artificial intelligence features, including a ChatGPT-powered Siri virtual assistant and an AI-powered writing assistant, are still being rolled out as software upgrades.
This led The Verge to call the iPhone 16 “one of the most unfinished products Apple has ever shipped”.
But Counterpoint’s analyst Ivan Lam highlighted the “smooth production ramp-up, consistent pricing strategy, and the initial wave of upgrades by existing iPhone users”, as key drivers behind the “substantial growth in the Chinese domestic market”.
Apple shares are expected to add 1.5% when US markets open on Friday.