iPhone 17's sales in China from Apple Inc. (AAPL.US) decreased by 6% year-on-year before its release.

According to data from Counterpoint Research, in the weeks leading up to the release of the iPhone 17, Apple Inc. (AAPL.US) saw a 6% year-on-year decrease in smartphone sales in China, a larger decline compared to previous product releases. This American tech giant is not the only company facing a summer slowdown. Its competitors Xiaomi (01810), Vivo, and Honor also experienced a decline in sales in the eight weeks leading up to the third quarter. Data shows that in the eight weeks leading up to the third quarter, smartphone sales in China decreased by 2% year-on-year. Meanwhile, Huawei's continued product expansion helped maintain positive sales growth. Counterpoint predicts a slight negative growth in the Chinese smartphone market throughout the third quarter, with sales expected to remain flat for the full year 2025. Some Seeking Alpha analysts suggest that Apple Inc.'s latest iPhone 17 lacks substantial innovation and only offers minor updates, lacking a catalyst to trigger a large-scale upgrade cycle. As of the time of writing, Apple Inc. has dropped 0.11% in pre-market trading.