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Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro series recorded higher initial global sales than its predecessor, according to Counterpoint Research. Global sales of the new Pro models rose 3.1% year-on-year during the first three weeks after launch, compared with the same period for the iPhone 17 Pro series.
The research firm described the launch performance as mixed. The headline growth masks sharp differences across Apple’s major markets, with China recording the strongest gains while sales declined in the United States and Japan.
China emerged as the standout market for Apple. Sales there jumped 29% year-on-year, making it the strongest-performing market in the initial sales window. Counterpoint attributed the surge to improved early availability of devices and relatively higher prices among competing Chinese Android flagship phones.
The firm said China contributed the bulk of the global increase. Excluding China, worldwide sales growth would have been considerably weaker. This underscores Apple’s continued reliance on the Chinese market for premium iPhone demand, even as competition from domestic brands intensifies.
India also performed well in the early phase of the launch. Counterpoint identified India as one of the markets where the iPhone 18 Pro series performed strongly, highlighting Apple’s growing presence in one of the world’s fastest-growing smartphone markets.
The United States, however, recorded a 4% decline in sales compared with the iPhone 17 Pro series. Counterpoint said higher prices for the new models weighed on consumer demand in the market.
Japan saw an even sharper fall of 27%. The research firm said currency movements amplified the impact of higher prices, making the new iPhones more expensive for local buyers and dampening sales.
The 3.1% global increase indicates that Apple maintained momentum at the premium end of the smartphone market. Looking ahead, the uneven regional performance shows that pricing and currency conditions can quickly offset demand gains in developed markets.
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