Apple has launched major discounts on its flagship iPhones in China ahead of the annual 618 shopping festival, signaling that competition in the country’s premium handset market is heating up as leading domestic and overseas brands vie for replacement demand.
Starting on Friday, Apple cut prices for its iPhone 17 Pro series by 1,000 yuan ($138), according to prices displayed on major Chinese e-commerce platforms.
JD.com, one of China’s largest online retailers, showed on its Apple product self-operated flagship store that, after direct discounts and trade-in subsidies, some iPhone 17 Pro models could be purchased for as low as 6,999 yuan — the lowest level since the series launched.
The standard iPhone 17, Apple’s latest base-model flagship phone, also received its first notable price cut since release, with some versions priced at 4,499 yuan after multiple subsidies and trade-in offers.
Taobao, Alibaba’s e-commerce platform, showed on its official Apple Store flagship shop that the iPhone 17 Pro series would be offered with a direct 1,000-yuan discount from the same day.
A store employee at an Apple outlet in Beijing confirmed to the Global Times on Friday that the latest discounts could be combined with trade-in subsidies and platform promotions, with some models reaching their lowest prices since launch.
“Some customers do wait for the May discount season, especially with 618 shopping festival approaching. For those planning to upgrade, this is a relatively good buying window,” the employee said.
News of Apple’s price cuts quickly shot to the top of Sina Weibo’s trending list on Friday, carrying the platform’s “explosive” tag. In one highly liked comment, a user said the discount stood out at a time when many consumer electronics products are becoming more expensive.
MacDailyNews Take: This news seems to have added more juice to Apple’s stock price, too.
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