Not Sophisticated, the Reason the iPhone 17 Sells Well in China Is Thanks to Color

Apple's iPhone sales in China have surged again after the striking orange iPhone 17 model went viral among consumers, helping the company reverse a nearly three-year downward trend.

Apple CEO Tim Cook said iPhone sales in China hit a record in the fourth quarter, with revenue rising 38% year-on-year to US$26 billion, or nearly 20% of the company's total sales.

Analysts believe the refreshed design of the iPhone 17 line strengthens Apple's position as a status symbol in China.

Apple's latest phones are considered more easily recognized as new and premium devices, especially the bright orange color dubbed "cosmic orange."

The model went viral on Chinese social media, with thousands of posts from users showing off their new phones. The color has been dubbed "Hermès orange" because it resembles the signature color of the French luxury brand.

"It looks simple, but the obvious design changes, including the striking orange color, have succeeded in attracting users eager to upgrade quickly," said IDC Senior Research Director Nabila Popal, as quoted by the Financial Times, Tuesday (February 10, 2026).

This resurgence comes after Apple's sales in China shrank in eight of the previous nine quarters. The company also faced pressure from domestic competitors like Huawei, Vivo, and Xiaomi, as well as government policies restricting iPhone use in the public sector.

However, Chinese consumers were captivated by the new design of the iPhone 17. In addition to the striking colors, the device also brought improvements to the camera, chip, display, and battery, triggering a major upgrade cycle.

Sales of the regular iPhone 17 model were also boosted by China's government subsidy policy, which provides discounts of up to 500 yuan for smartphones priced under 6,000 yuan.

Bank of America analyst Wamsi Mohan noted that Apple also benefited from comparisons with its weak performance in 2024.

Apple's sales in China shrank in eight of the previous nine quarters and haven't shown consistent growth since 2022.

He added that Apple also benefited from headwinds experienced by Huawei, whose sales fell by about 10% in the last quarter due to user complaints about the Harmony operating system.