Analysis: Mac Grew 16% and iPad Grow 15% in China in the Fourth Quarter of 2025

Key Takeaways

• Mac sales rose 16% YoY, reaching 700k units.
• iPad shipments grew 15% YoY, 2.3 million units sold.
• Apple’s market share hit 6% for Macs, 25% for iPads.
• Chinese PC shipments projected to fall 12% in 2026.
• Tablet market expected to shrink 11% next year.

Summary

Apple’s Mac sales in China rose 16% year‑over‑year in Q4 2025, reaching 700,000 units and 6% market share, while iPad shipments grew 15% to 2.3 million units, capturing 25% of the tablet market. Both categories posted growth despite a broader slowdown in Chinese PC and tablet shipments. Omdia projects PC shipments to fall to 37.9 million in 2026, a 12% decline in the consumer segment, and tablet shipments to drop 11% to 32 million. Apple’s performance highlights its resilience in a contracting market.

Pulse Analysis

Apple’s fourth‑quarter 2025 results in China reveal a rare upside in a market that is otherwise contracting. The company shipped 700,000 Macs, a 16 % year‑over‑year increase that lifted its share to 6 %, while iPad deliveries rose to 2.3 million units, up 15 % and capturing a 25 % slice of the tablet segment. Those gains stand out against Omdia’s forecast of a 12 % drop in consumer PC shipments and an 11 % decline in tablets for 2026, underscoring Apple’s ability to grow on a shrinking base.

The upside can be traced to several converging factors. Apple’s premium hardware and tightly integrated ecosystem continue to resonate with Chinese professionals and students who value performance and security, especially as remote work and hybrid learning persist. Local supply‑chain efficiencies and the rollout of newer silicon‑powered models have also narrowed price gaps, making the Mac more attractive to cost‑conscious buyers. Meanwhile, the iPad’s versatility for content creation and education, bolstered by Apple Pencil and iPadOS updates, has helped it outpace competing Android tablets despite broader market softness.

Looking ahead, Apple’s market‑share gains could translate into disproportionate revenue growth, given the higher average selling price of its devices. However, the looming contraction in China’s overall PC and tablet volumes means absolute unit growth may be limited. Investors should monitor Apple’s ability to sustain premium pricing, its rollout of localized services, and any regulatory shifts that could affect supply chains. If Apple can keep expanding its share while the total addressable market shrinks, it will reinforce its position as the dominant high‑margin player in China’s computing landscape.