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| Why Apple is offering rare iPhone discounts in China | Why Apple is offering rare iPhone discounts in China |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| US tech giant cuts prices in China as it faces growing competition from local rivals like Huawei | US tech giant cuts prices in China as it faces growing competition from local rivals like Huawei |
| Shoppers in China are getting rare discounts on iPhones as Apple faces growing competition from local brands. | Shoppers in China are getting rare discounts on iPhones as Apple faces growing competition from local brands. |
| The four-day promotion, which starts this Saturday (4 January), includes discounts of as much as 500 yuan ($68.50, £55.30) on some of the US technology giant's newest handsets. | The four-day promotion, which starts this Saturday (4 January), includes discounts of as much as 500 yuan ($68.50, £55.30) on some of the US technology giant's newest handsets. |
| Chinese phone maker Huawei has also cut prices of its high-end mobile devices by as much as 20%. | Chinese phone maker Huawei has also cut prices of its high-end mobile devices by as much as 20%. |
| The discounts come as consumers in China remain hesitant about spending because of the country's economic challenges. | The discounts come as consumers in China remain hesitant about spending because of the country's economic challenges. |
| The offer covers Apple's top models as well as older handsets and some other devices. | |
| The biggest discount of 500 yuan will apply to Apple's flagship iPhone 16 Pro, which has a starting price of 7,999 yuan, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max which currently costs 9,999 yuan. | |
| The firm held a similar promotion in China last year ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday. This year, the festival starts at the end of January. | The firm held a similar promotion in China last year ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday. This year, the festival starts at the end of January. |
| Changing behaviour | Changing behaviour |
| "Apple's strategy has changed to adapt to the change in Chinese consumers' shopping behaviour," said Will Wong, a senior research manager for market intelligence firm International Data Corporation (IDC). | "Apple's strategy has changed to adapt to the change in Chinese consumers' shopping behaviour," said Will Wong, a senior research manager for market intelligence firm International Data Corporation (IDC). |
| "The value-seeking trend has made price discounts more attractive to consumers. Apple may fall behind other competitors if it doesn't adopt such a pricing strategy." | "The value-seeking trend has made price discounts more attractive to consumers. Apple may fall behind other competitors if it doesn't adopt such a pricing strategy." |
| The discounts being offered by Apple and Huawei reflect a wider trend in China. | The discounts being offered by Apple and Huawei reflect a wider trend in China. |
| From online retail giants to the country's car makers, deals are being offered in a bid to attract customers who have been reluctant to spend as the world's second largest economy slows. | From online retail giants to the country's car makers, deals are being offered in a bid to attract customers who have been reluctant to spend as the world's second largest economy slows. |
| Against this backdrop, Apple's share of the Chinese market has come under increasing pressure from local rivals, such as Vivo and Xiaomi. | Against this backdrop, Apple's share of the Chinese market has come under increasing pressure from local rivals, such as Vivo and Xiaomi. |
| Local competition | |
| The US firm re-entered China's top five smartphone makers in the third quarter of 2024 after briefly dropping off the list. | The US firm re-entered China's top five smartphone makers in the third quarter of 2024 after briefly dropping off the list. |
| According to IDC's latest research, Vivo was China's best-selling smartphone maker in the period as its sales jumped by more than 20%. | According to IDC's latest research, Vivo was China's best-selling smartphone maker in the period as its sales jumped by more than 20%. |
| During the same period, Apple saw sales dip by 0.3%. Huawei's jumped by more than 40%. | During the same period, Apple saw sales dip by 0.3%. Huawei's jumped by more than 40%. |
| "We've seen market competition increase with almost everyone launching a flagship last quarter," said Ivan Lam, a senior analyst at Counterpoint Research. | "We've seen market competition increase with almost everyone launching a flagship last quarter," said Ivan Lam, a senior analyst at Counterpoint Research. |
| Huawei has seen demand for its products surge after its return to the premium smartphone market in August last year. | Huawei has seen demand for its products surge after its return to the premium smartphone market in August last year. |
| The Shenzhen-based firm has since launched several new devices powered by advanced technology despite the company facing US restrictions. | The Shenzhen-based firm has since launched several new devices powered by advanced technology despite the company facing US restrictions. |