By Che Pan and Eduardo Baptista
BEIJING, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Global sales of Apple's iPhone 18 Pro series in the first three weeks after launch were 3.1% higher than for the iPhone 17 Pro series over the same period a year ago, according to Counterpoint Research.
The smartphones performed well in markets such as China and India but more modestly elsewhere, Counterpoint said, pointing to a mixed start.
Sales in China rose 29% from a year earlier, the strongest growth of any market, as early stock of the iPhone 18 Pro series was higher than for last year's 17 Pro phones and price increases on rival flagship Android models from Chinese Android makers boosted demand.
Excluding China, global sales growth would have been far weaker, according to the research firm.
Sales in the United States and Japan fell 4% and 27% respectively from a year earlier with the new models more expensive than their predecessors.
Counterpoint said US consumers saw few meaningful improvements in features or design over previous models to justify the price. In Japan, demand shrank as exchange rates amplified the price increases.
The iPhone 18 Pro Max accounted for 56% of sales within the iPhone 18 Pro series, a slight decrease from 57% last year.
(Reporting by Che Pan and Eduardo Baptista; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Kate Mayberry)