Huawei Reclaims No.1 Share in China Smartphone Market, Surpassing Apple for Two Weeks Straight
Key Points
- Huawei (华为) reclaimed the No.1 spot: third‑party data show Huawei topped China’s smartphone market for two consecutive weeks, surpassing Apple (苹果).
- Mate 80 launch drove the rebound: the HUAWEI Mate 80 series (on sale from Nov 28, 2025) brought bold imaging, an ultra‑bright Linglong display and a claimed up to 14‑day extreme standby, while cutting entry price vs the prior generation by ¥800 RMB.
- Competitive pricing at launch: starting prices at launch were Mate 80 ¥4,699 RMB, Mate 80 Pro ¥5,999 RMB and Mate 80 Pro Max ¥7,999 RMB, helping mid‑to‑high‑segment conversion.
- Software and sustainability matters: early units shipped with HarmonyOS 6 (鸿蒙), and ecosystem adoption will be key to whether this share gain is durable or transient.
Huawei Mate 80 reignited a market shift in China after launch week.
Key points
- According to third‑party market data cited by media, Huawei (Huáwèi 华为) has topped the domestic smartphone market for two consecutive weeks, overtaking Apple (Píngguǒ 苹果).
- The rebound follows the launch of the HUAWEI Mate 80 series, which introduced new imaging, display and battery claims while cutting starting price versus the previous generation.
- HUAWEI announced pricing at launch: Mate 80 starts at ¥4,699 RMB ($658 USD), Mate 80 Pro at ¥5,999 RMB ($840 USD), and Mate 80 Pro Max at ¥7,999 RMB ($1,120 USD).
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What happened
Media reports on December 11, 2025, citing authoritative third‑party sales and share data, say Huawei (Huáwèi 华为) has regained the top spot in China’s smartphone market for two straight weeks, surpassing Apple (Píngguǒ 苹果).
The market shift followed the release of Huawei’s HUAWEI Mate 80 series, which the company unveiled at its all‑scenarios product launch on November 25, 2025.
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Why the Mate 80 series matters
Huawei positioned the Mate 80 series as a high‑value iteration with several headline features.
The key product claims were second‑generation Red Maple natural‑color imaging, a claimed up to 14‑day extreme standby/endurance mode, and an ultra‑bright Linglong display.
The company also announced that the starting price for the new series is ¥800 RMB lower than the previous generation, a pricing move that appears to have boosted competitiveness in the mid‑to‑high segment.
The company confirmed pricing at the launch event.
The HUAWEI Mate 80 series has a starting price of ¥4,699 RMB ($658 USD).
The HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro starts at ¥5,999 RMB ($840 USD).
The Mate 80 Pro Max starts at ¥7,999 RMB ($1,120 USD).
HarmonyOS 6 (Hóngméng 鸿蒙) was the operating system on first‑sale units, and the series officially went on sale on November 28, 2025.
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Market reaction and broader context
Industry observers and consumer commentary suggest the rebound reflects both positive responses to the Mate 80’s feature set and renewed confidence in the HarmonyOS (Hóngméng 鸿蒙) ecosystem.
Price positioning—particularly lowering the entry price versus the previous generation—likely helped convert interest into early sales.
Retail and social‑media feedback quoted by outlets highlighted strong impressions of imaging and battery life among users who switched from other brands.
That said, short‑term weekly share swings can be influenced by launch cycles, inventory and promotions.
Longer‑term market leadership will depend on sustained sales, channel coverage, software ecosystem adoption and supply dynamics going into 2026.
Quick takeaways for investors, founders, and product teams
- Product + price moves matter.
Cutting ¥800 RMB off the entry price while adding headline features appears to have accelerated purchase decisions in a launch window. - Hardware claims still drive short‑term share.
Bold imaging and battery narratives can translate into social buzz and retail conversion during launch weeks. - Software ecosystems remain strategic.
HarmonyOS 6 adoption and developer support will be a core determinant of whether this rebound is durable or transient. - Watch promotional dynamics.
Weekly share data often reflects temporary campaign effects, so channel mix and inventory will shape the medium‑term picture.
What to watch next
- How sustained Mate 80 sales are across online and offline channels versus promotions for competing models.
- Adoption and developer response for HarmonyOS 6 (Hóngméng 鸿蒙) in the months following the device launch.
- Whether Apple (Píngguǒ 苹果) and other vendors respond with pricing, promotions or new hardware to stem share movement in China.
Actionable signals to track
- Weekly market share reports from third‑party trackers to see if the two‑week lead becomes a trend.
- Channel inventory levels and preorder numbers reported by retailers and carriers.
- Developer forums and app store metrics for HarmonyOS 6 to measure ecosystem momentum.
Image credit: HUAWEI Mate 80 series product pages – Huawei Consumer.
References
- 连续2周超越苹果，华为手机重夺国内市场份额第一！ – 每日经济新闻
- 连续2周超越苹果 华为手机重夺国内市场份额第一！ – 东方财富
- HUAWEI Mate 80 series launch and product pages – Huawei Consumer
Huawei Mate 80 is the current headline driving short‑term share gains in China and a key story to watch heading into 2026.
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