Apple’s iPhone 17 leads Singles’ Day smartphone sales in China, Huawei and Xiaomi struggle

Strong demand for Apple’s iPhone played a key role in driving smartphone sales during China’s month-long Singles’ Day shopping festival, according to research firm Counterpoint. The company accounted for 26% of all smartphones sold over the event, helping overall sales rise by 3% compared with the same period last year.

The iPhone 17 was particularly popular, with brisk sales keeping Apple ahead of the competition. However, when Apple is excluded, smartphone sales during the festival actually fell by 5%, highlighting a cautious consumer…