Apple's iPhone 17 series has achieved over $170 billion in global sales in its first year, setting a record for any iPhone series. Strong sales of the base model and significant growth in the Chinese market drove the overall performance.
According to market research firm Counterpoint Research, the iPhone 17 series' first-year global sales exceeded $170 billion, marking an 11% increase compared to the previous iPhone 16 series. This growth was fueled by continued replacement demand across the entire lineup, from the base model to the Pro Max.
Notably, the base model of the iPhone 17 saw a 1.3 times increase in sales compared to its predecessor. It also ranked as the top-selling smartphone globally for a single model in the first half of the year, while the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max secured the second and third spots, respectively, making the top three models all part of the iPhone 17 series.
Counterpoint Research attributed this success to the expanded features of the base model, which were previously available only in the Pro lineup, as well as enhanced chip and camera performance in the Pro models, stimulating replacement demand among a broad consumer base.
Regionally, the recovery in the Chinese market was particularly notable. Sales of the iPhone 17 series in China surged by 35% compared to the previous model, accounting for approximately 24% of global sales. This increase was driven by rising replacement demand for the base model. Growth continued in Japan, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific markets, complementing the modest growth seen in mature markets like North America and Europe.
Despite rising memory prices, Apple managed to keep product prices relatively stable, which contributed to its success. Since the fourth quarter of last year, memory prices have quadrupled, prompting many Android smartphone manufacturers to raise prices or adjust specifications. As a result, the price gap between flagship Android products and the iPhone has narrowed.
The expansion of installment purchasing and promotions in key markets has also reduced the financial burden of purchasing high-end models, supporting premium demand.
Apple aims to leverage the success of the iPhone 17 into future products. On September 9, the company unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, along with its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo. Counterpoint Research anticipates that the ultra-premium foldable model will increase the average selling price (ASP) of iPhones and that the addition of more affordable models will support the next sales cycle.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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