iPhone 15 Series Receives Rare Discounts in China Amidst Growing Competition

Apple is making waves in China by offering rare discounts on its popular iPhone 15 series, reducing prices by up to 500 yuan (70$). The move is seen as a smart response to the increasing competition in the world’s largest smartphone market.

The limited-time promotion, labeled as a Lunar New Year event, will run from January 18 to January 21, aligning with the upcoming holiday in mid-February. This is a big change from what Apple usually does because, for many years, they haven’t reduced the prices of their newest iPhones.

The iPhone 15 series has faced challenges in China, with sales lagging behind previous models. Fierce competition from local brands like Huawei and Xiaomi, coupled with restrictions imposed by some companies and government departments on the use of Apple devices, has contributed to a 30% decline in Chinese iPhone sales during the first week of 2024 compared to the same period in the previous year.

Analysts attribute this drop to a challenging competitive landscape and growing consumer reluctance to upgrade their devices. Online platforms like Pinduoduo have already been offering discounts of up to 16% on the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro since the beginning of the year.

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Nicole Peng, Senior Vice President of market research firm Canalys, notes that the discounts are not surprising given Apple’s global sales pressure and the need to reinvigorate demand in China. She says that Huawei’s comeback, fueled by strong feelings of love for their country among Chinese customers, might be a problem for Apple.

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Canalys predicts that Apple’s global sales will remain flat this year, with a slight decline expected in China.As Apple changes its prices to fit the market, we still need to see how these discounts will affect how well Apple does in the tough competition of the Chinese smartphone market.