Apple Launches Holiday Deals Ahead of Chinese New Year

As the Chinese New Year approaches, Apple is rolling out significant discounts on its flagship devices in China, signaling the company’s efforts to stay competitive in a market increasingly dominated by Huawei (via CNBC).

Apple is offering price cuts on various iPhone models, including the iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 16, and iPhone 16 Plus, ahead of the festive shopping season.

For a limited time, customers in China can enjoy discounts of up to 500 Chinese yuan (approximately $68.50) on the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus models also come with discounts of 400 yuan. Apple is extending similar offers on older iPhone models such as the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15.

Traditionally, Apple has avoided offering discounts directly through its own retail channels, relying instead on third-party retailers to provide seasonal deals. However, the company has adjusted its strategy in recent months, with a noticeable shift toward posting promotional offers during key shopping events.

According to recent data from Canalys, Apple’s smartphone shipments in mainland China dropped by 6% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2024. This decline contributed to a decrease in the company’s market share, which slipped from 16% in Q3 2023 to just 14% in Q3 2024.

On the other hand, Huawei has been making significant strides. The Chinese tech giant experienced a 24% year-on-year increase in smartphone shipments, pushing its market share up from 13% to 16%.

For Apple, the growing strength of Huawei and other local players presents a challenge in retaining its position in the competitive Chinese market. Its strategy of offering seasonal discounts is likely to continue as part of its efforts to maintain market share and appeal to price-sensitive consumers.