Apple’s iPhone 17 lineup is off to a flying start. According to new data from Counterpoint Research, sales of the new models are up 14% compared to the iPhone 16 lineup during the first ten days after launch in the U.S. and China.
That might sound like just another number, but it’s actually a huge early signal: people are upgrading faster, buying more expensive models, and responding well to Apple’s latest design tweaks, especially in two of its biggest markets.
iPhone 17 Standard Model Is Booming in China
In China, the regular iPhone 17 is leading the charge. Counterpoint’s report says the base model — priced at $799 — nearly doubled its sales compared to the iPhone 16 during the same early window last year.
Why the jump? Apple managed to pack in meaningful upgrades, a faster chip, a brighter display, more storage, and a better selfie camera, without raising the price. That combination of “better for the same money” is proving irresistible.
Counterpoint analyst Mengmeng Zhang said the standard iPhone 17 offers “great value for money,” noting that additional discounts and store coupons are helping push even more shoppers to make the switch.
So yeah, Apple’s value play is working.
In the U.S., It’s All About the Pro Max
Meanwhile, in the U.S., it’s the iPhone 17 Pro Max that’s stealing the spotlight. Counterpoint found that its sales are ramping up faster than last year’s iPhone 16 Pro Max, helped along by some smart carrier deals.
The big three U.S. carriers have boosted their maximum trade-in subsidies by roughly $100, which makes upgrading to the top-tier model a lot more tempting.
Counterpoint’s Maurice Klaehne explained that carriers are using these richer trade-in offers to lock customers into longer 24- to 36-month plans. That means Apple gets to keep more users in its high-end ecosystem, and carriers keep those customers around longer. Win-win.
iPhone Air: A Smaller Success, but Still Notable
And what about the iPhone Air, Apple’s new middle child between the base and Pro models?
So far, it’s selling slightly better than last year’s iPhone 16 Plus on the same timeline. But there’s a catch. Its rollout in China started later because of operator approval delays, meaning it didn’t go on sale until October 17.
Analyst Ivan Lam says the Air’s performance is “niche” for now. It’s seen as a step forward for eSIM adoption in China, but its pricing and specs make it a tougher sell next to the regular iPhone 17.
Still, it’s early days, and even a modest start is progress for a new model slotting into Apple’s lineup.
The Big Picture: iPhone 17 Cycle Off to a Strong Start
What’s most interesting about Counterpoint’s data is that momentum hasn’t slowed. Sales for both the standard iPhone 17 in China and the Pro Max in the U.S. stayed strong into early October, even beyond the first ten-day window.
That gives Apple a rare launch-cycle win in its two most important markets, a sign that the iPhone 17 lineup could outperform the 16 family all the way through the holiday season.
And with new designs, smarter chips, and better pricing across the board, it’s not hard to see why.
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