Huawei Technologies claimed the top spot in China’s smartphone market in the first quarter with its highest share in five years, while Apple saw the strongest growth among the top six players, despite a global memory chip crunch.

Huawei held a 20 per cent share in the first three months, the highest since the fourth quarter of 2020, according to a Friday report by Counterpoint Research. Chinese government subsidies that offered a 15 per cent discount for gadgets under 6,000 yuan (US$880), along with promotions during the Chinese New Year in February, supported the strong performance, the research firm said.

The company’s “heavy reliance on domestic suppliers provides a good cost buffer amid the global memory price surge”, the report said.

Last year, Huawei edged out Apple to reclaim the No 1 spot in mainland China’s smartphone market, according to IDC in January.

Apple ranked second in the first quarter with a 19 per cent share, boosted by a 20 per cent surge in shipments, the largest growth among the top six brands. This was driven by “sustained strong performance of the iPhone 17 series, promotional price cuts and government subsidies”, according to Counterpoint Research.

Apple might be the “best positioned to navigate the ongoing global memory crunch, supported by its premium product portfolio and strong supply chain management”, the report said, adding that the American tech giant was “more likely to absorb rising costs internally and expand its market share” in the near-to-medium term.