Huawei has returned to the top of China’s smartphone market for two consecutive weeks, overtaking Apple following the launch of its Mate 80 series. Industry data shows that Huawei led national smartphone sales in both late November and early December, signalling a strong comeback in its home market.
During the 48th week of 2025, from November 24 to November 30, Huawei captured 27.81% of smartphone sales in China. Apple followed with 17.12%, while OPPO, vivo, and Honour rounded out the top five.
Huawei maintained its momentum in the 49th week, covering December 1 to December 7. During this period, the company secured 22.89% of the market, again outperforming Apple, which recorded an 18.65% share. OPPO and vivo retained their positions, while Xiaomi moved into fifth place with 13.30% of sales.
Mate 80 Pricing Strategy Drives Demand
Analysts attribute Huawei’s resurgence largely to its aggressive pricing strategy for the Mate 80 series, which launched on November 28. Despite higher global memory costs, Huawei priced the new lineup below the previous generation, strengthening its value proposition.
#Huawei has surged back to the top of #China's smartphone market for two straight weeks. In the 48th week of 2025 (from Nov. 24 to 30), Huawei captured 27.81% of China's smartphone market share, leaving Apple behind with a share of 17.12%. 📱 pic.twitter.com/oC5k6vxETR
— China Economy (@CE_ChinaEconomy) December 13, 2025The standard Mate 80 model starts at 4,699 yuan ($666), nearly 800 yuan cheaper than its predecessor. Meanwhile, the Mate 80 Pro and Pro Max launched at 5,999 yuan and 7,999 yuan, both priced 500 yuan lower than earlier models. Online feedback has been largely positive, with consumers praising the improved balance between performance and cost.
HarmonyOS Strengthens Huawei’s Ecosystem
Huawei’s expanding software ecosystem has also supported its market recovery. HarmonyOS now features more than 300,000 native apps and meta-services. According to Richard Yu Chengdong, Chairman of Huawei’s Consumer Business Group, more than 27 million devices now run HarmonyOS 5 and HarmonyOS 6.
Read: Huawei Targets 100,000 Apps for Harmony OS to Boost Self-Reliance
Yu shared the figures during Huawei’s product launch event on November 25, highlighting the growing adoption of Huawei’s in-house operating system.
Market observers say Huawei’s return to leadership reflects a combination of competitive pricing, flagship hardware, and a strengthening domestic software platform. Together, these factors have helped the company regain consumer confidence and re-establish dominance in China’s highly competitive smartphone market.
