Shares in Apple (AAPL) stock are up on Thursday after the iOS developer finally saw its iPhone sales climb in China. It is the first time since 2023 that Apple has achieved this, with sales in China growing 8% in Q2 2025. It was also in Q2 that the tech giant last saw a rise in sales two years ago.

The sales boost was driven in part by promotional pricing for the upcoming iPhone 16. The Pro and Pro Max models, according to a report from Counterpoint Research, attracted plenty of interest in China. “Apple’s adjustment of iPhone prices in May was well timed and well received, coming a week ahead of the 618 shopping festival,” Counterpoint Associate Director Ethan Qi said. The 618 festival is an annual event in China during which brands typically offer discounts, and Apple took part and took full advantage.

Meanwhile, rival smartphone developers in China also saw boosts. Huawei, the Chinese smartphone giant, saw sales increase 12%, beating out Apple for the largest growth in the period. Due to familiarity and exclusivity in Asia, consumers in China reportedly opted for Huawei more than Apple in the last quarter.

Apple Stock Rebounds, Analysts Get Bullish on AAPL

At press time, shares in Apple (AAPL) stock are up 1%, and have risen over 6.5% overall since the start of the trading week. The iPhone developer has struggled in 2025, with the company being hit hard by tariff threats during the Spring. Since the company shifted its production efforts from China to India despite US President Trump’s warnings, AAPL has slightly rebounded. In the last 30 days, investors have sent the stock up over 5%. However, it’s still down 14% year-to-date.

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Several banking institutions and stock analysts have provided bullish insight for Apple stock in the coming months. Most recently, Bank of America gave AAPL a ‘buy’ rating in July 2025 and a price target of $235. Bank of America analyst Wamsi Mohan wrote in his research piece to investors that Apple stock has upside potential in July 2025. He wrote that AAPL has a forward price-to-earnings ratio of around 26.5, which is below its five-year average of about 27.2. BofA sees this as a possible entry point for investors to accumulate the stock and hold on for the short term.