Ahead of Apple announcing its latest earnings, CEO Tim Cook has revealed that Apple did not quite expect the iPhone 17 range to do as well as it has in China.
In November 2025, after the launch of the iPhone 17, it was revealed that one in four smartphones sold in China was an iPhone. Then preorders for the iPhone Air sold out in minutes in the country, and the whole iPhone 17 range broke records.
Apple's quarterly revenue from Greater China, as of end of January 2026
Yet for years the iPhone has seen sales drop in China, and overall was trending downwards against local rivals.
Now, though, Apple has reported that its Q1 2026 sales in China increased 38% year over year.
"I think it's a result of the product resonating with the Chinese in a huge way," said Tim Cook. "We just saw a lift that, was much greater than we thought we would see."
"And so we were surprised, but it's very product driven," he continued. "They love the iPhone."
China is not Apple's only success story in this latest earnings report. Overall the company had a record $143.8 billion quarter.
