New phones from manufacturers Companies like Huawei and Apple helped boost China’s smartphone sales last quarter, and the iPhone maker returned to the top five brands in the world’s largest phone market.

Smartphone shipments in China reached 68.8 million units in the end-September quarter, up 3.2% year on year, according to preliminary data released by market intelligence firm IDC on Friday.

“A significant wave of device upgrades is supporting the sustainable recovery of the Chinese smartphone market,” Arthur Guo, senior research analyst for IDC China, wrote in the report. Shoppers still ‘highly motivated’ to buy a new phone despite China’s broader reach economic difficulties.

Huawei led the increase in smartphone shipments last quarter, with a 42% increase compared to the same period a year ago. The Chinese technology giant has recorded four consecutive quarters of growth, thanks to its return to the premium phone market with the Mate 60 last August. The phone was celebrated by Chinese state media for having an advanced processor produced domestically despite US sanctions.

Last quarter, Huawei one explained The trifoldable smartphone is a three-screen model.

“Huawei’s double-digit growth was once again fueled by its premium image and the excitement it generated with its three foldable phones,” said Will Wong, senior research manager in IDC’s Asia-Pacific customer devices group.

Huawei is currently China’s third largest smartphone player with a 15.3% market share.

Apple, which launched its latest iPhone on September 20, has returned to China’s top five smartphone manufacturers based on shipments. According to data from IDC, Apple has 15.6% of China’s market share, just ahead of Huawei and second place overall.

Apple ranked sixth in the second quarter of 2024. accordingly It was the first quarter in four years that all Chinese companies were in the top five, IDC said.

Still, Apple’s smartphone shipments were down 0.3% last quarter from a year ago. Upcoming shopping events such as Singles’ Day could boost sales in the final quarter of the year.

independent research suggested before Apple was losing ground in China due to competition from local brands such as Huawei, Honor and Xiaomi.

Vivo led China phone shipments last quarter with 18.6% market share. Xiaomi and Honor were in the top five after Apple and Huawei.

IDC expects smartphone shipments to increase in the last quarter of the year, citing the early start of Singles’ Day, the world’s largest shopping festival.

Apple, Huawei, vivo and Xiaomi each achieved 100 million yuan ($14 million) in direct sales on Monday, the first day of direct sales from e-commerce giant Alibaba. accordingly (Owned by Alibaba) South China Morning Post.

This story first appeared on: Fortune.com