Apple has started selling its new iPhone 16 series at discounted prices in China. This move comes as demand for the latest iPhones has cooled due to delays in AI features.
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Pinduoduo, a leading e-commerce platform in China, is offering the iPhone 16 Plus with 512GB of storage for 8,999 yuan ($1,268).
This is a 10% discount from the official price of 9,999 yuan. The 128GB iPhone 16 is being sold at an even steeper discount of 11%.
"Based on our conversations with distributors and analysis of pre-order figures on major Chinese e-commerce sites, total pre-order units were down Y/Y within the first couple of days, with… pro model units down double digits." https://t.co/jU6u12vswg
— Jesse Felder (@jessefelder) September 16, 2024
Both Pinduoduo and Alibaba’s Taobao marketplace have reduced the price of the 256GB version of the high-end iPhone 16 Pro Max by 4%.
This brings the price down by 400 yuan to 9,599 yuan.
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Alibaba’s Tmall shopping platform is also offering buyers the option to purchase a new Apple handset in 24 interest-free installments. As the market dynamics shift, Huawei’s latest offerings have gained significant consumer interest.
This has further influenced the competitive landscape in China’s smartphone market.
Apple offers discounts in China
The discounts on Apple’s latest iPhones come as a surprise, given the company’s typical pricing strategy.
Apple usually maintains its prices and rarely offers discounts on new products. The move suggests that Apple is facing challenges in the Chinese market. The company is trying to boost sales and maintain its market share in the face of increasing competition from local brands like Huawei.
The delay in AI features for the iPhone 16 series may have contributed to the cooling demand. Consumers are increasingly looking for advanced AI capabilities in their smartphones. Any delay in delivering these features can impact sales.
Despite the discounts, the iPhone 16 series still carries a premium price tag compared to many other smartphones in the Chinese market. It remains to be seen how effective these discounts will be in attracting buyers and boosting sales. Apple will need to continue innovating and delivering cutting-edge features to stay competitive in the rapidly evolving smartphone market.
The company’s ability to adapt to changing consumer preferences and market conditions will be crucial to its success in China and other key markets around the world.
