Apple Slashes iPhone Prices by Up to 31% in China Amid Fierce Competition
- tech360.tv
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
Apple iPhones are now up to 31% cheaper on major Chinese e-commerce platforms, as the tech giant faces mounting pressure from local rivals Huawei and Xiaomi.
Although Apple has not officially announced a price cut, discounts of up to 2,500 yuan (USD 346) are widely available through distributors.
On JD.com and Alibaba’s Tmall, the iPhone 16 Pro with 128GB of storage is now priced at 5,999 yuan, down from 7,999 yuan. This markdown makes the model eligible for a government subsidy of up to 500 yuan, offered in nearly 30 cities and provinces including Beijing and Shanghai.
The subsidy applies to smartphones priced under 6,000 yuan and is part of a broader effort to stimulate consumer spending and revive China’s sluggish economy.
Other iPhone models have also seen price drops. The iPhone 16 Pro Max with 256GB of storage, originally priced at 9,999 yuan, is now available for 8,599 yuan on JD.com.
While Apple’s official website has not changed its pricing, local media outlet ITHome reported that the company has informed some distributors of discounts up to USD 176 per unit.
These reductions have made iPhones on the mainland cheaper than in Hong Kong, a traditional shopping destination for lower-priced Apple products.
For instance, the iPhone 16 Pro starts at HKD 8,599 (USD 1,104) in Hong Kong, still higher than the discounted mainland price.
Even before the latest cuts, models like the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus and iPhone 16e were already cheaper in mainland China than in Hong Kong.
Apple’s smartphone shipments in China fell 9% year-on-year to 9.8 million units in the first quarter, according to IDC. It was the only brand among the top five to post a decline.
In the tablet market, Apple’s share in China dropped by 2 percentage points to 22.5% in the same period. Huawei led with a 34.5% share, despite a 1.8-point decline, while Xiaomi grew its share by 4 points to 16.8%.
iPhone prices in China cut by up to 31%, or 2,500 yuan
Discounts make some models eligible for government subsidies
iPhone 16 Pro now costs 5,999 yuan on JD.com and Tmall
Source: SCMP