China's Smartphone Market, Week 5 2025: Xiaomi Takes the Lead, Intense Competition Among "Mi Hua OV" Emerges

China's Smartphone Market, Week 5 2025: Xiaomi Takes the Lead, Intense Competition Among "Mi Hua OV" EmergesThe competition in China's smartphone market remained fierce in Week 5 of 2025 (January 27th to February 2nd). Compared to the previous week, the overall market size decreased by approximately 35%, yet some manufacturers experienced counter-cyclical growth, resulting in significant shifts in market share rankings

China's Smartphone Market, Week 5 2025: Xiaomi Takes the Lead, Intense Competition Among "Mi Hua OV" Emerges

The competition in China's smartphone market remained fierce in Week 5 of 2025 (January 27th to February 2nd). Compared to the previous week, the overall market size decreased by approximately 35%, yet some manufacturers experienced counter-cyclical growth, resulting in significant shifts in market share rankings. Flagship phone activation data further highlights the intensity of this competition. This article delves into the market data from Week 5, analyzing the reasons behind Xiaomi's rise to the top and the future competitive landscape among the four major brands: Xiaomi, Huawei, vivo, and OPPO ("Mi Hua OV").

Xiaomi's Ascent: A Combination of Strategic Planning and Product Strength

Xiaomi captured the top spot in Week 5 with a market share of 19.7%, a result not achieved by chance. Years of consistent investment, particularly the strong performance of the Xiaomi 15 series, Redmi K80 series, and Redmi Turbo series, provided a powerful impetus for Xiaomi's market share growth. These three series demonstrated significant impact in the domestic market, precisely capturing the needs of consumers in different market segments.

Beyond product competitiveness, Xiaomi has made significant strides in system optimization. The smoothness and intelligent experience of the Surge OS 2.0 version have received widespread user praise, enhancing user stickiness. Furthermore, the inclusion of several Xiaomi models in government subsidy programs further lowered the barrier to entry for consumers, stimulating demand.

Flagship phone activation data confirms Xiaomi's success. Leaked data indicates that the Xiaomi 15 series achieved activations of approximately 2.5 million units, significantly higher than its competitors. This data clearly shows the Xiaomi 15 series' warm reception since its launch, becoming a key factor in Xiaomi's rise to the top.

Huawei and vivo Maintain Top Positions, OPPO Close Behind

Following Xiaomi is Huawei, securing second place with an 18.6% market share. Although slightly behind Xiaomi, Huawei remains a significant force in the Chinese smartphone market. It's noteworthy that in Q4 2024, Huawei held the top spot with an 18.1% market share, followed closely by Xiaomi at 17.2%. The Week 5 data shows that Huawei's market position faced some impact, closely related to the strong challenges from competitors like Xiaomi. However, Huawei is actively adjusting its strategy, planning to focus on the mid-to-low-end market; updates to the Nova and Enjoy series will significantly impact its future market share.

vivo ranked third with a 17.8% market share, with its sub-brand iQOO contributing significantly to its overall performance. OPPO followed closely with a 15.2% market share. Honor and Apple secured fifth and sixth place with 12.8% and 10.6% market share, respectively.

Other Manufacturers and Overall Market Performance

Brands like Huawei Smart Selection and realme, while holding smaller market shares, injected vitality into the market and offered more choices. Additionally, the "Others" category (including China Telecom, China Mobile, U-MAGIC, etc.) accounted for 2.8% of the market share, reflecting the richness and diversity of the Chinese smartphone market.

Flagship Phone Activation Comparison: Xiaomi 15 Series Leads the Pack

Besides market share, flagship phone activations are a crucial indicator of manufacturer competitiveness. In Week 5, the Xiaomi 15 series, Huawei Mate 70 series, vivo X200 series, and OPPO Find X8 series were the market's focal points. According to leaked data, the Xiaomi 15 series reached approximately 2.5 million activations, the Huawei Mate 70 series approximately 2.19 million, the vivo X200 series approximately 1.45 million, and the OPPO Find X8 series approximately 1.28 million. The Xiaomi 15 series' leading advantage once again demonstrates its strong product strength and market appeal.

Future Outlook: Intense Competition Among "Ultra" Flagships

In the coming period, the four major brands ("Mi Hua OV") will successively launch their "Ultra" flagship models, including the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, Huawei P80 Ultra, vivo X200 Ultra, and OPPO Find X8 Ultra. The market performance of these models will further influence the competitive landscape among the four major brands. The competition among these "Ultra" flagships will undoubtedly reignite the battle in China's smartphone market, warranting continued attention.

Week 5 Market Data Summary

Week 5 data reveals that competition in China's smartphone market remains exceptionally intense. Xiaomi's rise to the top is not accidental but a result of its long-term strategic planning and product improvements. Huawei, vivo, and OPPO maintain leading positions but face strong challenges from competitors like Xiaomi. In the future, the competition among "Ultra" flagships will become a new market focus, and the fight for the mid-to-low-end market will intensify.

Conclusion: Opportunities and Challenges Coexist

In 2025, the Chinese smartphone market presents both opportunities and challenges. For manufacturers, continuous innovation, product improvement, and precise understanding of market demand will be key to winning the competition. For consumers, intense market competition will bring more choices and more cost-effective products.

In summary, the competitive landscape of the Chinese smartphone market is undergoing profound changes, and the Week 5 data is just a snapshot of this fierce competition. We will continue to monitor market dynamics and interpret this silent war.