Apple discounts iPhones and other products in China
In a rare move, Apple has slashed the prices of some of its most popular products in China, including iPhones, Mac laptops, AirPods and more.
MacRumors notes that Apple’s homepage in China advertises the discounts as part of a sale promotion running from January 4 through January 7. Apple’s sales in China have dropped as part of a larger trend causing foreign smartphone sales to drop due to strong competition from domestic brands.
During the promotional period, customers in China can pick up the latest iPhone 16 Pro or iPhone 16 Pro Max discounted by 500 yuan, which works out to approximately $68. The regular iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are 400 yuan less, or about $55.
Older models like the entry-level iPhone 14 and the iPhone 15 models have been marked down by 300 yuan, or about $31.
Apple China responds to competition by slashing prices
“Other products, including MacBook Air, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods and Apple Pencil, will also see price reductions, with the MacBook Air eligible for a discount of up to 800 yuan,” MacRumors reports. “The promotional items are available in limited quantities, with only 29,300 iPhones included in the sale.”
The limited-time promotion is available through Apple’s online and brick-and-mortar stores in the country. Shoppers must use specific payment methods like WeChat Pay and Alipay to receive discounts.
A rare move indeed
Apple almost never offers discounts directly, in any country. Instead, its authorized retailers and third-party sellers offer sales promotions. But as Apple’s sales continue to face pressure in China, home to 1.4 billion people and its second-biggest market by revenue, the company decided to offer discounts to boost sales ahead of the Lunar New Year (often called the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year).
Domestic smartphone producers have been increasingly making attractive devices with great hardware specifications, putting the squeeze on Apple’s most important product. While the iPhone 16’s arrival enabled Apple to grab an IDC-estimated 15.6 percent market share in the third quarter of 2024, the company had a bit higher share at 16.1 percent in the same period the year before.
Source link: https://www.idownloadblog.com/2025/01/02/apple-discounts-iphones-and-other-products-in-china/
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