Apple’s Tim Cook kicks off China visit amid mixed signals on new iPhone demand

Apple's executive chairman, Tim Cook, commenced his third visit to China this year, coinciding with the unveiling of the iPhone 18 Pro lineup and the first foldable device, the iPhone Duo. These releases have been rolled out in one of the company's most significant markets. During a visit on Sunday, Cook met Meng Fanli, the governor of Guangdong province, China's vital manufacturing hub.

Cook expressed Apple's intent to expand its footprint, including ventures in smart manufacturing and sales channels. Guangdong has historically been crucial to Apple's growth in China, hosting a concentration of suppliers and ecosystem partners. Meng's administration expressed enthusiasm for Apple's imminent presence, pledging to foster a top-tier business ecosystem that is international, market-driven, and governed by the rule of law.

Cook's presence was later noted at an Apple Store in Guangzhou, according to social media updates from patrons on Sunday. Cook, upon arriving in Guangzhou, expressed his return to China on Weibo, sharing his experience of watching a local content creator use an iPhone 18 Pro to film a martial arts video. This is Cook's inaugural trip to China since assuming the role of executive chairman last month, after relinquishing the CEO position to John Ternus.

As the former CEO, Cook paid two visits to China earlier this year. In May, he joined a prominent business and technology delegation accompanying former US President Donald Trump for a meeting with President Xi Jinping. Other American business leaders aboard the delegation included Tesla's Elon Musk and Nvidia's Jensen Huang. In March, Cook toured Apple stores in Chengdu and Beijing during the celebrations marking the company's 50th anniversary.

His latest visit followed the September launch of the anticipated iPhone Duo, set to be released on October 23, along with the already available iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. Initial data indicated that the Pro models received positive reception, although their higher prices might dampen consumer demand. Sales of the new Pro models in their initial three days were 12 percent higher than the sales of the iPhone 17 Pro lineup during its entire first week last year, propelling Apple to the top spot by smartphone sales in China for the week of September 14 to 20, as per Counterpoint Research.

However, Nikkei Asia reported last week that Apple had instructed certain suppliers to reduce the production of components for the new Pro models, sparking concerns about demand following the initial launch period.