According to the latest smartphone activation data shared by well-known industry insider Digital Chat Station, the flagship phone market in China is witnessing a massive sales surge. Tracking through week 21 (ending May 24, 2026), the sales numbers reveal a clear winner in the high-end segment, with one brand comfortably leading the pack.
Leading the charge is the standard Huawei Mate 80, which has seen its single-product activation volume soar close to 4 million units, sitting at an impressive 3.93 million. This performance puts it far ahead of other premium flagship devices released late last year. Even the ultra-premium Huawei Mate 80 Pro Max, which carries a premium starting price of 7,999 yuan (approximately $1,100 USD), has reached roughly 1 million activations.
Reports from other tech analysts corroborates this momentum. According to RD Observation, the total combined sales for the entire Huawei Mate 80 series have officially surpassed the 6 million mark, reaching 6.09 million units as of week 20 (May 11 to May 17, 2026). This milestone highlights the sustained demand and extremely strong brand appeal of Huawei’s flagship lineup.
On the other hand, the Xiaomi 17 sales figures are also showing healthy growth. Excluding the high-end Ultra variant, the total activations for the Xiaomi 17 series have reached approximately 4.67 million units. This total is split between 1 million for the standard Xiaomi 17, 1.75 million for the Xiaomi 17 Pro, and 1.92 million for the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max. Cumulative sales for the series reached 4.87 million, with the flagship Xiaomi 17 Ultra contributing an additional 213,400 units.
Overall, these numbers show a highly competitive market where both giants are finding success. However, the sheer volume of the standard Huawei Mate 80—approaching 4 million single-product activations—clearly positions it as the dominant driver in China’s high-end smartphone market right now.
