China’s mobile phone market showed mixed performance in early 2026, according to CAICT data. In April, total phone shipments rose 2.8% year-over-year to 25.7 million units, driven mainly by domestic brands, which accounted for over 86% of sales. Foreign brands, including Apple, also saw a slight 1.8% increase in shipments.
Smartphone shipments specifically grew 12.3% in April to 25 million units, but the broader January–April period showed weakness, with total phone shipments down 8.6% and smartphone shipments down 5.5% year-over-year. The number of new phone models also declined by over 15%, indicating slower product launches across the industry.
Source: 9to5Mac
