Updated
Updated · DIGITIMES · Jul 22
Huawei Reclaims No. 1 China Smartphone Share as H1 Shipments Fall 3%
Updated
Updated · DIGITIMES · Jul 22

Huawei Reclaims No. 1 China Smartphone Share as H1 Shipments Fall 3%

1 articles · Updated · DIGITIMES · Jul 22

Summary

  • China smartphone shipments dropped about 3% in the first half of 2026, yet Huawei retook the top market-share position in the country.
  • Major vendors accelerated handset launches and pushed further into mid- to high-end models as they tried to defend margins in a softer market.
  • Huawei’s return to No. 1 underscores how premium-focused competition is reshaping China’s smartphone market even as overall demand remains under pressure.

Insights

How did Huawei reclaim China's top smartphone spot despite a shrinking market and fierce competition from Apple's iPhone 17?
Will the hidden inflation of memory chips trigger an even steeper collapse in China's smartphone shipments later this year?
With budget phones vanishing due to rising costs, are consumers forced into premium upgrades they do not actually want?