Chinese Apple third-party retailers like JD.com, TMall, and Pinduoduo are aggressively discounting Apple's iPhone 15 series just five months post-launch.
Per CNBC, this is their response to sluggish sales for the U.S. tech giant in China. This move follows October's discount offers and includes up to 10% markdowns on the iPhone 14 Pro.
Apple, facing competition from local rivals like Huawei and Xiaomi, occasionally permits discounts on its devices in China to stimulate demand, especially amid a challenging market landscape.
In fact, data from research firm IDC revealed that Apple's smartphone shipments in China experienced a 2.1% decline in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the same period the previous year.
This decrease is attributed to heightened competition from local competitors like Huawei, indicating challenges for the U.S. company in its third-largest market.
Moreover, restrictions imposed by Chinese companies and government entities on the use of Apple devices further compound the challenges, mirroring similar measures enacted by the U.S. government against Chinese apps citing security concerns.
iPhone 15 Discounts
For context, Pinduoduo is selling the 128GB iPhone 15 at a 1,411 yuan ($218.63) discount compared to Apple's retail price. At the same time, JD.com offers the 256GB iPhone 15 Pro Max for 8,899 yuan ($1,391.06), down from Apple's 9,999 yuan ($1,428.57) price tag.
Besides competition, the iPhone 15 series discounts are attributed to the upcoming International Women's Day campaign, although the duration remains undisclosed.
While Apple and the retailers have yet to comment, these markdowns reflect a broader trend of value-driven promotions amidst economic deceleration.
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