The iPhone 17 Pro Max leads the current surge in Chinese smartphone demand. Industry data shows that as of November 2, activation volume for the iPhone 17 series in China exceeded 8.25 million units. Within this total, the flagship iPhone 17 Pro Max reached 3.95 million units. This performance follows a period where JD.com reported that pre-orders for the series surpassed 2 million units within six hours of the event conclusion.
High demand for premium models
The iPhone 17 Pro Max clearly wins the sales race among high-end users. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo notes that the production volume for the iPhone 17 Pro Max in the third quarter of 2025 sits approximately 60% higher than the 16 Pro Max from the same period last year. While the standard edition captures 43% of JD.com pre-orders, the Pro Max maintains a strong 29% share. You should notice that the iPhone Air model fails to match this momentum, with activation volume reaching only about 100,000 units in early November. The thin body of the Air model limits battery life, and its single-lens design prevents it from competing with the Pro series.
| Model | JD.com Pre-order Share |
|---|---|
| iPhone 17 Standard | 43% |
| iPhone 17 Pro Max | 29% |
| iPhone 17 Pro | 24% |
| iPhone 17 Air | 4% |
Demand remains high even as shipping times fluctuate. In the US, delivery for certain configurations tracks at 3 to 4 weeks. In China, the iPhone 17 series drove a 29% year-on-year increase in Apple sales during the first two weeks of October. However, the iPhone Air faces a stall because it lacks regulatory approval for eSIM in the mainland market.
Regional revenue shifts
Apple sees massive growth in Greater China despite previous declines. Revenue in Greater China grew 38% to $25.53 billion, smashing the estimate of $21.82 billion. This growth offsets a decline in the Americas, where revenue missed estimates by hitting $58.53 billion against a projected $59.06 billion. The iPhone 17 series helps stabilize the company after the iPhone 16 launch. The standard iPhone 17 costs RMB 5999, but a government trade-in subsidy of RMB 500 reduces the price to RMB 5499. Will the delay of the Chinese-version AI impact these high activation numbers?
