Kathmandu: Apple’s comeback in China is no longer a prediction. It is happening. The Apple iPhone China rebound picked up full speed in late 2025, with the company posting a record $85.3 billion in iPhone revenue in the final quarter of the year, up 23% from the same period a year ago. Greater China sales alone surged 38% in that quarter. New market data and fresh product announcements now confirm that Apple is carrying this momentum deep into 2026.
The Apple iPhone China rebound is being driven by one smart decision holding prices steady. While Chinese rivals Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo raised their prices in early 2026 due to rising chip costs, Apple did not. That move made the iPhone 17 eligible for China’s government purchase subsidy program, a benefit that Android competitors completely missed. Apple also ran a Lunar New Year sale in January 2026 offering up to ¥1,000 off products, and cut the iPhone Air price by around ¥2,000 in February. Research firm Counterpoint reported that Apple’s iPhone shipments in China grew around 20% in the first quarter of 2026. Apple is now the second-largest smartphone brand in China by shipments, right behind Huawei. Counterpoint analyst Ivan Lam said that as most rivals raise prices, Apple stands out for value and lasting quality.
Beyond the Apple iPhone China rebound, the company is also bringing artificial intelligence into everyday photo editing. Three new AI-powered tools are coming to the Photos app as part of iOS 27, set to be previewed at Apple’s WWDC event in June 2026 and released to the public in the fall. The tools are called Extend, which uses AI to expand the edges of a photo; Enhance, which automatically improves color, lighting, and clarity; and Reframe, which adjusts a photo’s perspective. All three run entirely on the device, meaning photos stay private and never go to a server. Early reports, however, warn that Extend and Reframe are facing reliability issues and may be delayed.
On the business side, Apple announced a new App Store option that lets users pay for a yearly app plan in monthly installments. This makes apps more affordable without requiring a large upfront payment. The option is not yet available in the United States or Singapore due to ongoing legal matters.
The Apple iPhone China rebound, combined with new AI features and flexible pricing, is already lifting Apple’s broader business. Services revenue grew 14% last year and is expected to climb further as more iPhones reach users’ hands across China and the rest of the world.
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