Apple's latest iPhone 18 Pro series has outperformed its predecessor in early global sales, even as rising manufacturing costs and weaker demand in some markets put pressure on the smartphone industry, according to Counterpoint Research data released on Tuesday (27 October).
Worldwide sales of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max rose 3.1 per cent in the first three weeks after launch, according to Counterpoint Research's Smartphone Weekly Sales Tracker.
China led the growth with a 29 per cent increase, while sales fell 4 per cent in the U.S. and 27 per cent in Japan, revealing sharp regional differences in demand.
For consumers in Azerbaijan, the figures raise a key question: could rising global production costs push local iPhone prices higher?
Global smartphone shipments fell 20 per cent year-on-year in the third quarter of 2026, hitting their lowest level for the period in 14 years, according to Counterpoint Research's Market Monitor report published on 12 October.
The research firm attributed the decline to rising costs and shortages of DRAM and NAND memory chips, essential components in smartphone manufacturing.
Counterpoint estimated that global smartphone retail prices had risen 20 per cent so far in 2026 as manufacturers passed on higher costs to consumers.
The impact is being felt across the industry. Samsung led global smartphone shipments with a 23 per cent market share in the third quarter, while Apple's share reached 22 per cent, its highest for the period despite a year-on-year fall in shipments.
Manufacturers have taken different approaches to rising costs. Counterpoint reported that OPPO and vivo increased prices for some entry-level and mid-range smartphones, while Xiaomi scaled back its focus on cheaper devices and adjusted shipment plans to protect profits.
The figures point to a growing divide: demand for premium smartphones has remained relatively resilient, while more affordable models face mounting pressure from higher prices.
Counterpoint linked the 29 per cent rise in Chinese iPhone 18 Pro sales partly to better product availability and price increases among rival flagship devices.
Apple's strong performance stands in contrast to China's broader smartphone market, where shipments fell 10 per cent year-on-year in the third quarter of 2026, according to Counterpoint's separate China market report published on 19 October.
Huawei topped the Chinese market, accounting for 21.3 per cent of shipments during the quarter, followed by Apple with 19.5 per cent.
Counterpoint also suggested that Apple's decision to delay the launch of the standard iPhone 18 may have boosted demand for its more expensive Pro models.
The results highlight a striking contrast: China's premium smartphone segment is showing greater resilience than the wider market, where rising prices and component shortages have dampened demand.
Counterpoint attributed weaker U.S. sales partly to higher prices and a perception among consumers that the latest models offered too few improvements over previous versions.
Apple's official September announcement showcased the A20 Pro processor, a new 48-megapixel main camera with variable aperture, longer battery life and expanded artificial intelligence capabilities.
The company set the U.S. starting price for the 256 GB iPhone 18 Pro at $1,199.
Yet those upgrades have failed to deliver stronger early sales across all markets, according to Counterpoint's findings.
Japan offers a particularly clear example of rising launch prices.
Apple priced the 256 GB iPhone 18 Pro at 219,800 yen at launch, compared with 179,800 yen for the equivalent iPhone 17 Pro when it debuted in September 2025.
That is an increase of 40,000 yen, or approximately 22.2 per cent, between launches.
The price rise came alongside a 27 per cent drop in early sales, although the data does not prove that higher prices were responsible. Counterpoint also cited exchange-rate pressures as a factor weighing on Japanese demand.
An authorised retailer in Azerbaijan is advertising the 256 GB iPhone 18 Pro for 3,589 manats.
Apple's official U.S. starting price of $1,199 offers a useful benchmark, although a direct comparison must account for differences in taxes, distribution and other local costs.
Imported smartphone prices depend on several factors, including international wholesale costs, shipping, taxes, distribution expenses and retailers' pricing strategies.
Any adjustments may also take time to reach consumers. Existing stock and supply agreements can delay the impact of higher global production costs on local retail prices.
Counterpoint's research shows that rising memory-chip costs have already driven up smartphone prices worldwide. However, there is no evidence in its findings that Azerbaijani retailers are planning further iPhone price increases.
For buyers in Azerbaijan, the outlook remains uncertain. Global manufacturing costs are climbing, but whether that will lead to higher prices in local shops is not yet clear.
Apple's sharply contrasting performance in China, the U.S. and Japan highlights a growing challenge for smartphone makers: how to absorb rising production costs while convincing consumers that premium devices are worth their increasingly high prices.
Russia and Ukraine have begun a regional ceasefire to allow the start of a humanitarian effort in the Russian-occu...
Iran says a “new and positive atmosphere” has emerged following rare security talks in Tehran with senior officials from Pakistan, Saud...
The first day of the seventh World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue wrapped up in Baku on Tuesday (27 October), with President Ilham Aliyev highligh...
Russia and Ukraine have begun a regional ceasefire to allow the start of a humanitarian effort in the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky, both sides said on Tuesday, but they continue strikes elsewhere, including the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.
Serbia's Aleksandar Vučić has conceded defeat after a student-led protest movement took the majority of seats in Sunday's parliamentary elections.
Russian strikes hit several parts of Ukraine overnight, injuring at least six people and targeting energy and port infrastructure, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said U.S. warnings about imminent Russian ballistic missile attacks had resumed.
Iran's Supreme National Security Council says senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye will travel to Tehran to discuss regional security.
Nearly two years after the 20 October 2024 parliamentary elections, Iraq’s Kurdistan Region remains without a cabinet. The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) won 39 of 100 seats and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) 23, leaving neither able to govern alone.
Uzbekistan is moving into a new phase in the development of Islamic finance, with the country’s first Islamic banking licence issued shortly before a regional forum in Samarkand brought together industry players to discuss how the sector can expand across Central Asia.
The European Union is pushing to deepen trade ties with Asia as rising global trade barriers threaten international commerce, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said during a visit to Singapore on Tuesday (27 October).
As Israelis head to the polls on Tuesday, 27 October, the Israeli economy faces a paradox; soaring stocks and a stronger currency alongside rising public debt and billions of dollars in war costs. What do the figures reveal about the challenges awaiting the next government?
Russia's President Vladimir Putin is hosting the Eighth Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) summit in Moscow. The Kremlin has said leaders will discuss the role of gas in global energy security and adopt a final declaration.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has secured another four years in office, but slowing growth, expensive credit and mounting public debt threaten to test the economic gains of his previous term.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment