Xiaomi and Huawei Lead as China’s Smartphone Market Grows in Q1 2025

Frederick Nyame

April 30, 2025

China’s smartphone market is back on the rise. In the first quarter of 2025, phone shipments in the country grew by 5%, reaching a total of 70.9 million units, according to Canalys.

Xiaomi came out on top. The company saw a huge 40% jump in shipments compared to last year. Due to this massive growth, it now holds 19% of the market. One reason for the growth? Xiaomi pushed hard to connect its phones with other smart products in its ecosystem. It also benefited from China’s new device subsidy program, which kicked off in January.

China’s Subsidy Boosts Sales

Image Credit: GsmArena

The device subsidy program started on January 8, 2025. It gives buyers up to 15% off the price of certain tech products. The discount is capped at CNY 500 (about $68) per item. It covers smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and smart bands under CNY 6,000 ($820). High-end models like foldables and flagships are not included.

This subsidy program has helped brands like Xiaomi grow quickly, especially in the mid-range segment and budget-friendly gadgets.

Huawei in Second Place

Huawei followed closely by taking the second spot. The Chinese tech company took the second spot with an 18% share of the market. It saw 12% year-over-year growth. Demand for Huawei phones stayed strong. The foldable Mate XT and the new Pura X helped attract more attention. Huawei’s HarmonyOS Next is also expanding and is now said to power about 3% of all smartphones in China.

The Rest of the Top 5

Image Credit: GsmArena

Oppo and Vivo each grabbed 15% of the market. Next on the list is Apple who rounded up the top five with 13% market share. While Apple’s numbers were down a bit, interest in AI features is growing fast.

Phones with AI tools, like DeepSeek, are gaining traction. Canalys says 22% of all phones shipped in Q1 were AI-capable. By the end of the year, that number could potentially grow to almost double, estimating about 40% by year end.

Disclaimer: We may be compensated by some of the companies whose products we talk about, but our articles and reviews are always our honest opinions. For more details, you can check out our editorial guidelines and learn about how we use affiliate links.

Follow Gizchina.com on Google News for news and updates in the technology sector.

Source/VIA :

GsmArena