Huawei beats Apple to become China's top smartphone brand again
What's the story
Huawei Technologies has reclaimed its position as the leading smartphone brand in China, according to a report by Counterpoint Research. The company captured a 20% market share in Q1 2026, its highest since Q4 2020. This growth was largely fueled by Chinese government subsidies and promotional offers during the Chinese New Year celebrations in February.
Market dynamics
Huawei's resilience amid global memory chip crisis
Despite the ongoing global memory chip crisis, Huawei has remained resilient. The company's heavy reliance on domestic suppliers has helped it weather the storm and maintain its market position. The firm's "heavy reliance on domestic suppliers provides a good cost buffer amid the global memory price surge," Counterpoint Research said in its report.
Apple's performance
Apple comes in 2nd with 19% market share
Apple came in second with a 19% market share, thanks to a whopping 20% surge in shipments. This was the biggest growth among the top six brands. The success was attributed to "sustained strong performance of the iPhone 17 series, promotional price cuts and government subsidies," Counterpoint Research said.
Strategic positioning
Apple's strong supply chain management
Counterpoint Research also noted that Apple is well-positioned to deal with the ongoing global memory crunch. The company's premium product portfolio and strong supply chain management are key factors in this.