Overview
- OPPO, OnePlus and vivo raised prices on select China models in mid‑March, citing higher component costs tied to memory and storage.
- Counterpoint reports Apple’s China smartphone sales rose 23% in the first nine weeks of 2026 as the overall market fell 4%.
- E‑commerce discounts and eligibility for state subsidies helped Apple drive sell‑through without increasing iPhone prices.
- Analysts attribute the cost squeeze to AI data‑center demand tightening DRAM and related memory supply, pressuring handset bills of materials.
- Huawei may gain share in lower‑to‑mid tiers due to domestic memory sourcing, and relief is expected mainly during June’s 618 promotions even as the crunch persists through 2026.