Why Apple is offering rare iPhone discounts in China

As Apple faces growing opposition from nearby models, customers in China are now receiving a few exceptional deals on smartphones.

The four-day promotion, which starts this Saturday ( 4 January ), includes discounts of as much as 500 yuan ($ 68.50, £55.30 ) on some of the US technology giant’s newest handsets.

Huawei, a Chinese smartphone company, has also reduced the costs of its premium mobile devices by up to 20 %.

The discounts are offered because China’s buyers are reluctant to spend because of its financial difficulties.

The present covers Apple’s major models, including the phone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, as well as older phones and some other products.

In China next month, the company promoted similarly ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday. This time, the festivity starts at the end of January.

According to Will Wong, a senior research manager for market intelligence firm International Data Corporation ( IDC ),” Apple’s strategy has changed to adapt to the change in Chinese consumers ‘ shopping habits.”

” The value-seeking craze has made value discounts more attractive to buyers. If Apple doesn’t follow for a pricing strategy, it might fall behind other competitors.

The deals being offered by Huawei and Apple reflect a wider pattern in China.

Deals are being made to entice customers who have been hesitant to invest as the world’s second-largest economy slows, from online retailers to the nation’s auto manufacturers.

Against this backdrop, Apple’s share of the Chinese industry has come under increasing pressure from regional rivals, such as Vivo and Xiaomi.

After briefly leaving the list, the US company returned to China’s top five device manufacturers in the fourth quarter of 2024.

According to IDC’s latest research, Vivo was China’s best-selling handset manufacturer in the time as its sales jumped by more than 20 %.

During the same time, Apple saw sales drop by 0.3 %. Huawei’s jumped by more than 40 %.

Nearly all launched a flagship in the last quarter, according to Ivan Lam, a senior analyst at Counterpoint Research.

After making a comeback to the advanced smartphone market in August of last year, Huawei has seen demand for its products rise.

Despite facing US limits, the Shenzhen-based company has since introduced a number of new devices powered by cutting-edge systems.