China's Smartphone Market Activation Data for 2025, Week 11: Huawei's Triumphant Return and a Shifting Landscape

China's Smartphone Market Activation Data for 2025, Week 11: Huawei's Triumphant Return and a Shifting LandscapeThe Chinese smartphone market in 2025 can be described as volatile and dynamic. While the top six brands remain dominant, their rankings have undergone a dramatic shift compared to last year

China's Smartphone Market Activation Data for 2025, Week 11: Huawei's Triumphant Return and a Shifting Landscape

The Chinese smartphone market in 2025 can be described as volatile and dynamic. While the top six brands remain dominant, their rankings have undergone a dramatic shift compared to last year. Two brands that were at the bottom last year now occupy the first and second positions. Remarkably, many brands can quickly ascend to the top based solely on the first week of sales for their new releases. On February 21st, industry insider "RD Observation" released domestic smartphone market activation data for 2025, Week 11 (March 10th-16th), illustrating the intense competition within the market.

According to "RD Observation," Huawei roared back to the top spot in Week 11, commanding an 18.1% market share. Xiaomi closely followed with 17.5%. Vivo secured third place with a 16.5% share, with its main brand accounting for 12.4% and iQOO contributing 4.1%. Apple maintained a solid fourth position at 14.4%. OPPO ranked fifth with 13.8% (11.6% for the main brand and 2.2% for OnePlus). Honor held sixth place with 12.8%, followed by Huawei's Smart Selection (1.8%) and realme (1.0%).

It's noteworthy that while the overall market experienced a 9% week-over-week decline, Huawei successfully bucked the trend and reclaimed its top position. Consistent monitoring of weekly rankings reveals that Xiaomi briefly held the top spot in Week 10 thanks to the initial sales of the Xiaomi 15 Ultra. However, by Week 11, Huawei and Xiaomi switched places, signifying a major shift. The remaining brands maintained relatively stable positions.

A closer examination reveals interesting details. Huawei's lead over Xiaomi was a slim 0.6 percentage points, while Xiaomi held a 1 percentage point advantage over Vivo. These three brands collectively controlled a massive 52.1% of the market share, leaving less than 50% for all other brands combined. This highlights the intense competition concentrated among these three leading brands, with a significant gap separating them from the rest.

Another key observation is Vivo's main brand surpassing OPPO's main brand for the first time in six weeks. This suggests a possible sales decline for OPPO, the reasons for which remain unclear. Apple, meanwhile, maintained its consistent fourth-place ranking.

The competition between Huawei, Xiaomi, and Vivo is exceptionally fierce, often decided by razor-thin margins. Huawei's lead this week is closely tied to its new product launch and marketing strategies, a testament to its brand strength. Xiaomi maintained its strong market presence through the performance of flagship models like the Xiaomi 15 Ultra. Vivo's continued progress showcases its competitive prowess, and its main brand's victory over OPPO hints at further shifts in the market landscape.

OPPO's sales decline warrants further investigation into its underlying causes. Increased competition and product strategy adjustments are potential contributing factors. Regardless, this serves as a reminder that complacency is a luxury no brand can afford in this fiercely competitive market.

Apple's stable performance reflects its strong brand influence and product competitiveness. While not commanding the largest market share, its consistent ranking and loyal customer base solidify its significant presence.

In conclusion, the 2025 Week 11 data clearly demonstrates the intense competition in China's smartphone market. Huawei's return, Xiaomi's stability, Vivo's rise, OPPO's adjustment, and Apple's consistent performance together paint a vibrant and dynamic picture. We will continue to monitor market trends, analyze the strategies and performance of each brand, and strive for a deeper understanding of the future direction of the Chinese smartphone market. The ever-changing market will see even more intense competition, ultimately benefiting consumers with better products and services. This is not just a battle between companies, but a reflection of technological innovation and market competition, holding significant implications for the entire industry chain. We eagerly anticipate further developments in the coming weeks.