Xin Lang Cai Jing·2026-01-20 13:39Core Insights - The 2025 Chinese smartphone market has seen a subtle shift in the competitive landscape, with vivo maintaining its lead, followed by Xiaomi and Apple, all surpassing 40 million units in activation volume [1][7]. Market Rankings - Vivo (including iQOO) ranked first with an activation volume of 46.357 million units, holding a market share of 16.77%, despite a slight decline of 2.58% from 2024 [2][8]. - Xiaomi (including REDMI) achieved an activation volume of 45.884 million units, capturing a market share of 16.60%, marking a growth of 5.41% year-on-year, thus surpassing Apple to claim the second position [3][9]. - Apple secured the third position with an activation volume of 45.206 million units and a market share of 16.35%, experiencing a significant growth of 9.34% [3][10]. - OPPO (including OnePlus and realme) ranked fourth with 43.996 million units and a market share of 15.91%, showing a year-on-year increase of 7.63% [4][10]. - Huawei placed fifth with an activation volume of 43.400 million units and a market share of 15.70%, reflecting a slight decline of 0.96% [4][10]. Market Trends - The overall smartphone market in China saw a slight decline in demand, with total shipments around 285 million units, down 0.6% year-on-year, indicating a softening consumer demand [2][8]. - The market is characterized by a "high-end consolidation and mid-range competition," with AI smartphones and foldable screens emerging as key growth areas [4][10]. - In 2025, the shipment volume of AI smartphones reached 118 million units, achieving a penetration rate of over 40% [4][10]. Future Outlook - Industry experts predict a continued slight decline in overall shipments by 2%-3% in 2026, with rising memory chip prices potentially increasing average smartphone prices by 10%-20% [11]. - The focus for leading brands will likely shift towards high-profit segments, intensifying market competition [11]. - Key questions for 2026 include whether vivo can maintain its lead, if Xiaomi can solidify its second position, and whether Apple can sustain its high-end growth trajectory [11].