iPhone 17 Off to a Strong Start, Outpacing iPhone 16 Sales by 14% [Report]
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Posted October 20, 2025 at 2:32pm by iClarified
Apple's new iPhone 17 lineup has outsold the iPhone 16 series by 14 percent in its first ten days of availability across China and the United States. The latest data comes from Counterpoint Research's weekly smartphone tracker, which points to strong initial demand in Apple's two key markets.
The base model iPhone 17 has been a major driver of growth, with sales up nearly one-third compared to its predecessor. In China, sales of the base model nearly doubled — a response that Counterpoint attributes to its strong value proposition, including an improved chip, a better display, and more base storage for the same price as last year's model.
While the base model leads in China, demand in the United States has been strongest for the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The report notes that major carriers have boosted subsidies by up to $100, aligning with aggressive trade-in deals aimed at high-value customers.
Apple's new iPhone Air is also outperforming the iPhone 16 Plus it replaces. Pre-orders for the eSIM-only model began in China on October 17 following an initial delay over regulatory approval.