Apple’s iPhone 17 surpasses iPhone 16 sales in US and China

Apple’s iPhone 17 lineup is off to a record-breaking start, with early sales significantly outpacing last year’s models in the company’s two largest markets, the U.S. and China.

Apple’s iPhone 17 series is selling 14 per cent better than the iPhone 16 in the U.S. and China.

According to new data from Counterpoint Research, the iPhone 17 series outsold the iPhone 16 range by 14 per cent during its first 10 days on sale in the two countries, underscoring renewed momentum for Apple’s flagship device.

The biggest surprise comes from the base iPhone 17, which has seen a dramatic rise in popularity compared to the standard iPhone 16.

Analysts say the jump is driven by hardware-focused upgrades, including a 120Hz OLED display, double the base storage at 256GB, and the more efficient A19 chip – all offered without a price increase compared to the iPhone 16 when it debuted in September 2024.

Ivan Lam, senior analyst at Counterpoint said: “Consumers are resonating with the base model iPhone 17 on improved specs and upgrades.

“In China, sales are almost double those of the base iPhone 16 over the initial availability period – and the momentum continues to be good into October.”

Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is also performing strongly, particularly in the U.S., where Apple is seeing pent-up demand from users upgrading their devices for the first time since the pandemic.

The 17 Pro Max introduces Apple’s most advanced camera system, enhanced thermal performance, and a major redesign with an aluminium unibody, appealing to long-time iPhone owners looking for a meaningful refresh.

Despite challenges in AI development and delays in rolling out Apple Intelligence to China, the company’s hardware-first strategy appears to be resonating with consumers.

The iPhone still accounts for nearly half of Apple’s total revenue, and this early sales surge suggests the 17 series could help drive another strong quarter for the Cupertino company.