Huawei recorded a 20% surge in shipments, while Apple saw a 25% increase during the second quarter. This resilience stems from a strategic decision to maintain stable pricing, even as rising memory and component costs forced rival Android manufacturers to hike their retail prices. Arthur Guo, a research analyst at IDC China, noted that this price stability provided a critical incentive for hesitant consumers to commit to purchases when the rest of the market offered little reason to buy.

Industry experts expect these headwinds to persist through 2027, driven by the ongoing volatility in storage pricing. A broader market recovery remains unlikely until 2028 or 2029, when a new consumer replacement cycle is expected to gain momentum.