Apple is offering discounts on its top-end iPhones and other products in China for the upcoming Chinese New Year, because the U.S. tech giant faces increased competition in one among its key markets.
The Cupertino giant is giving customers 500 Chinese yuan ($68.50) off the iPhone 16 Pro or iPhone 16 Pro Max and 400 yuan off the iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Plus. The deals also include discounts on the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15.
Apple has long resisted offering discounts through its own retail channels. Instead, third-party sellers would offer special offers at certain times of the 12 months. However, as competition increases, Apple has develop into more inclined to release seasonal offers over the past 12 months.
Apple offered the same Chinese New Year deal last 12 months, and in May the corporate offered 618 deep discounts as a part of the Chinese shopping festival.
The company's latest challenge got here from resurgent Huawei and other domestic brands. According to Canalys, Apple smartphone shipments fell 6% year-on-year in mainland China within the third quarter of 2024. The company's market share also fell to 14% from 16% last 12 months.
Data from Canalys shows Huawei grew shipments 24% year-on-year, while the corporate's market share rose to 16% from 13% a 12 months ago.
Huawei, which was once the world's leading smartphone vendor before U.S. sanctions crippled its cell phone business, has been aggressively releasing latest devices for the reason that second half of 2023. These devices contain chips that many had assumed could be difficult to fabricate as a result of U.S. restrictions on Huawei.
Last 12 months, the Chinese tech company launched a novel tri-foldable phone to showcase its technological prowess.
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