Apple Blockbuster Quarter Boosted by Strong Sales in China
- IPhone sales leapt 35% in the June quarter, Canalys estimates
- That helped propel the company’s revenue above expectations
An employee wearing a protective mask checks the temperature of customers outside an Apple Inc. store in Shanghai, China, on April 20.
Photographer: Qilai Shen/BloombergApple Inc. pulled off a strong quarter in China by switching up retail tactics and pushing a cheaper iPhone, becoming one of the few U.S. tech giants to ride the country’s post-pandemic recovery despite Washington-Beijing tensions.
IPhone shipments there surged a surprising 35% in the April to June period, research firm Canalys estimates, driving a 2% rise in Greater China revenue to $9.3 billion. Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook said sales actually grew 6% on a constant-currency basis, propelled by demand for Macs and iPads from millions now accustomed to working from home. Its out-performance in Greater China -- Apple’s single biggest international market -- drove quarterly revenue well above Wall Street’s forecasts.