Apple is giving uncommon discounts on iPhones in China, reducing retail costs by up to 500 yuan ($70) against rising competition in the world’s largest smartphone market.
Discover the latest tech scoop – the Apple iPhone 15 Receives Rare Discount!
On Monday, the US tech company’s Chinese website displayed a 5% price reduction on some iPhone models.
Under the name Lunar New Year event, the short-lived offer will begin on January 18 and run until January 21 or until the mid-February holiday.
In China, sales of Apple’s most recent iPhone 15 series smartphones have declined compared to earlier versions.
The US government’s war on Chinese apps is a reflection of limits on security grounds.
Meanwhile, domestic competitors like Huawei Technologies and Xiaomi offer alternative models, and according to insiders, some businesses and government departments are limiting staff use of Apple devices.
According to a client note from Jefferies analysts, Chinese iPhone sales dropped 3 percent for the entire year 2023 and 30 percent in the first week of 2024 compared to the same period the previous year.
The competitive environment is predicted to be more difficult this year by analysts.
On September 22, 2023, at an Apple Store in Shanghai, China, the new iPhone 15 Pro is being checked by customers as it officially goes on sale throughout China.
Apple’s most recent iPhones have not seen a price reduction in years.
The reduction follows its unexpected decision to keep the September launch prices of the iPhone 15 series untouched, which shocked the market.
Prices of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro have been reduced by up to 16 percent since the beginning of the year on online shopping sites like Pinduoduo.
According to Nicole Peng, senior vice president at market research firm Canalys, the discount is not surprising given Apple’s global sales,
especially in China, are declining due to rising competition and Apple customers’ unwillingness to upgrade.
There is pressure to increase.
“It is clear that Huawei is making a comeback,” Peng stated, saying that “some Chinese consumers may return to using Huawei out of patriotism.”
Canales predicts that this year’s Apple sales will be flat globally, with just a slight decrease in China.
See more Apple Vision Pro is expected in late January or early February