China Overtakes U.S. to Become Biggest iPhone Market in Q2 2023

China in the second quarter became the biggest iPhone market in the world, overtaking the United States for the first time in history, based on data analyzed by global market research company TechInsights. According to the research firm's Global Shipment Report, China accounted for 24% of all \u200ciPhone\u200c shipments in Q2 2023, while the U.S. market accounted for 21%. The sluggish U.S. smartphone market in the second quarter is said to have been due to the psychology of consumers delaying the purchase of new phones in anticipation of new \u200ciPhone\u200c models launching in the second half of this year. Asian consumers have long been known to prefer larger-sized smartphones, and a separate analysis suggests this factor may have boosted overall sales of iPhone 14 Pro Max models. According to Omdia's Smartphone Model Market Tracker for 2Q23, in the January-to-June period, Apple's \u200ciPhone 14 Pro\u200c Max shipped 26.5 million units globally - the most out of any model from any manufacturer. Last year, the iPhone 13 was the bestselling device on the market, indicating a preference among consumers for entry-level rather than top-end devices. That trend is expected to continue, and Apple will likely milk the situation this year by further differentiating between its iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro lineup. Not only is Apple expected to make its new, more powerful A17 processor exclusive to the \u200ciPhone 15 Pro\u200c, the company is also expected to segment its higher tier options by reserving periscope zoom lens technology for the top-end \u200ciPhone 15 Pro\u200c Max as a standout feature.