Not holding back on features and offering full specifications, can the iPhone 17 win back Chinese users?

"Perspective" is a newly launched lightweight data graphic column by 36Kr - using data to analyze trends and pictures to present key points.

"Talk is Cheap. Show me the data."

Author: Qiu Xiaofen

In 2025, it is the beginning of Apple's "Three - year Reinvention" plan.

At 1 a.m. on September 10th, it released the most comprehensively updated new - generation iPhone 17 series in the past five years. This time, Apple bid farewell to the "incremental innovation" and fully "loaded up" like Android phones.

Chart made by 36Kr

It updated the configurations that were frequently criticized in the Chinese market before. For example, it expanded the memory and battery life, adopted the VC heat dissipation system, improved the network connection, and equipped the whole series with 120Hz refresh rate screens - although high refresh rate has been a feature of Chinese Android flagship phones five years ago. Apple used the A19 series chips for the whole series this time and also showed off its self - developed C1X chip and N1 chip, which also made its performance quite remarkable.

In terms of price, the iPhone 17 series did not increase the price as rumored. The prices remained the same, and even the base version was 1000 yuan cheaper than the previous generation.

This time, Apple added the Air product line to replace the original Plus models. This is the thinnest and lightest phone in Apple's history, only 5.5mm thick, about the thickness of a standing grain of rice. However, its future is not widely optimistic in the outside world. It may have a rough fate like the Plus - in order to achieve extreme thinness and lightness, the Air sacrificed a lot of performance.

Chart made by 36Kr

Although Apple has continuously launched new series in recent years, users are more willing to pay for products with higher cost - performance. 36Kr learned that the sales proportion of the iPhone Pro and Pro Max series is getting higher and higher, increasing from 40% in 2020 to more than 70% now. At the same time, the standard version only accounts for 20%, and the Plus series, which is neither high - end nor low - end, only accounts for less than 5%. Therefore, it is difficult to judge how far the "concept" model Air with relatively low performance can go and whether Apple's key step to consolidate the middle - price segment can succeed.

But Apple must win back Chinese users with the iPhone 17 series. Since 2023, Apple's shipments in the Greater China region have declined by 15% and 17% respectively, and it has fallen out of the top three positions. The financial report shows that the Greater China region is also the only region where Apple suffered revenue losses in 2024.

Chart made by 36Kr

Chart made by 36Kr

Huawei returned to the market with high - profile two years ago, and Android phones are eroding Apple's market share in China as a whole. In the next two years, we may see more Android - style innovations on Apple phones, such as foldable phones in 2026 and the "all - glass" design in 2027.

Chart made by 36Kr