Choose the sentence that best describes the performance of the iPhone 8 Plus compared with earlier Plus models in terms of market share.

Introduction / Context:
This question is about improving a sentence taken from a business or technology report. It tests how naturally you can express a comparison of early market share figures for three smartphone models while keeping the structure clear and grammatically correct.

Given Data / Assumptions:
The idea is that the iPhone 8 Plus has a market share of 0.4 percent, while the earlier iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone 6 Plus had early shares of 0.2 percent and 0.3 percent. The sentence should show that the newer model has topped or exceeded the early performance of the previous models. We assume that small stylistic edits are allowed as long as the meaning is kept intact.

Concept / Approach:
In English business writing, it is common to say that one product topped the early performance figures of another product, meaning it exceeded those figures. The verb top can take a direct object, such as topped the early performance figures. Prepositions like in before early performance or phrases like topped to perform early are not idiomatic. Therefore we look for a version where top has a clear and natural object.

Step-by-Step Solution:
First, read option A. It says topped the early performance figures of the iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone 6 Plus. This is grammatical and clearly links the verb topped with its object early performance figures.Second, read option B. It uses topped in early performance, which is less natural because topped usually takes a direct object rather than an in phrase in this context.Third, read option C. It says topped to perform early, which is ungrammatical and does not convey any clear meaning.Fourth, read option D. It uses topped in earlier performing, which is again unidiomatic and confusing, since earlier performing does not work here as a noun phrase.Finally, compare all four options. Only option A presents a smooth, professional sounding sentence that a real market analyst might write.

Verification / Alternative check:
We can test option A by simplifying the middle part. The wording the iPhone 8 Plus, which at 0.4 percent market share topped the early performance figures of the iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone 6 Plus, which attracted 0.2 percent and 0.3 percent market share respectively is long but logically structured. If we strip some detail, we get the iPhone 8 Plus topped the early performance figures of the iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone 6 Plus, which is perfectly acceptable. No other option reduces so neatly.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B combines topped with in early performance, which does not match normal usage and sounds translated or forced. Option C uses topped to perform early, an incorrect pattern that confuses top with perform. Option D uses topped in earlier performing, which mixes verb and participle forms in a way that native writers would avoid. These phrases do not appear in standard business English, so they are not appropriate in a formal report.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes treat high level vocabulary like top, outperform, or exceed as if they could freely combine with any preposition. In reality, such verbs have preferred patterns that you must memorise from authentic reading. Another pitfall is ignoring the core grammar when distracted by many numbers in a sentence. Always identify the main subject, verb, and object and check if the basic skeleton is correct before worrying about the extra details.

Final Answer:
The best version is The only bright spot so far this year for Apple is its iPhone 8 Plus, which at 0.4 percent market share topped the early performance figures of the iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone 6 Plus, which attracted 0.2 percent and 0.3 percent market share respectively.