IDC Q2 Overview of the Smartphone Market in China and the U.S.: Huawei Regains Top Position in China, Lenovo Ranks Third in the U.S

According to the latest research from IDC, the global smartphone market shipment volume is expected to reach 297 million units in the second quarter of 2025 (25Q2), a year-on-year increase of 1.4%. As the two core markets globally, the performance of China and the United States is of great concern. The top five manufacturers in the Chinese market for the second quarter are Huawei, vivo, OPPO, Xiaomi (01810), and Apple (AAPL.US), with only Apple being a foreign manufacturer, and Huawei regaining the top position after four years. The top five manufacturers in the U.S. market are Apple, Samsung, Lenovo (00992), Google, and TCL. Major manufacturers in the U.S. market have driven positive market growth through advance stocking and the integration of AI technology. However, the market demand released in advance in the first half of the year may put pressure on growth expectations for the second half.

Chinese Market

National subsidies and "618" boost shipments, but consumer confidence remains low

In the second quarter, the shipment volume in the Chinese market fell by 4.1% to 68.86 million units, ending six consecutive quarters of year-on-year growth. The development momentum of the Chinese market this quarter was somewhat affected by the interruption of the government subsidy program. The "national subsidy" had a limited impact on market demand. Although sales performed well during the "618" e-commerce promotion, similar to the national subsidy, manufacturers and distributors mainly used this opportunity to clear inventory rather than increase shipments, and consumer confidence remains low.

The top five manufacturers in the Chinese market are Huawei, vivo, OPPO, Xiaomi, and Apple, with only Apple being a foreign manufacturer. Huawei regained the top position after four years, highlighting its strong brand appeal. vivo remains in second place. Xiaomi, with a broad customer base and a focus on cost-effectiveness, performed well this quarter, becoming the only manufacturer among the top five to achieve positive growth. Apple strategically adjusted prices, allowing specific iPhone 16 and 16 Pro versions to qualify for government subsidies, reducing its decline.

U.S. Market

Overall growth of 3.7%, significant effect of increased inventory

The U.S. market grew by 3.7%, with shipments reaching 25.66 million units. The top five manufacturers are Apple, Samsung, Lenovo, Google, and TCL. To cope with the impact of tariffs, most manufacturers in the U.S. market adopted an advance stocking strategy. Apple maintained its leading shipment share (47.6%), and after significantly increasing inventory in the first quarter, it maintained inventory levels in the second quarter, with a shipment growth of 14.8%, the fastest among the top five manufacturers. Samsung also significantly increased inventory in the second quarter while focusing its strategic emphasis on the "smart shipment" strategy, achieving a shipment growth of 14.3% It will introduce AI capabilities into mid-range devices, effectively stimulating sales at the retail end, with the new Galaxy A36 and A56 performing impressively. Lenovo (Motorola) is steadily expanding in the U.S. market, with a year-on-year growth of 2.4%, continuing to hold the third share of shipment volume in the U.S. market