Apple offers rare discounts on iPhone 13 and more in China - PingWest

Apple offers rare discounts on iPhone 13 and more in China

Apple offers rare discounts on iPhone 13 and more in China

July 26, 2022 4:39 am

Today, Apple China's official website launches discounts on iPhone 12, iPhone 13, Apple Watch, AirPods, and other products.

The iPhone 13 series is 600 yuan ($89) off, the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini are 500 yuan off, the Apple Watch SE is 200 yuan off, and the AirPods Pro is 250 yuan off, according to the website.

To be eligible, buyers have to use one of a select number of payment platforms, such as Ant Group Co.’s Alipay.

The sale will run for 4 days, from July 29 to August 1. This is the first time that Apple's official site in China has offered a sale. Typically, the US smartphone giant only provides education discounts for students.

Research company Canalys said this month that worldwide smartphone shipments dropped by 9 percent in the second quarter due to weakening consumer demand, inflation, and supply chain difficulties. Companies based in China had the largest drops, often in the double digits.

However, Apple recorded solid growth in shipments in China in June, according to national statistics. Among Apple's loyal Chinese customer base, there is a widespread belief that this deal is an effort to clear out older iPhone 13 models in preparation for the release of the iPhone 14.

According to renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, demand for Apple's iPhone 14 might outpace that of the already well-liked iPhone 13 series.

“My latest survey indicates that some Chinese distributors/retailers/scalpers have to pay the highest prepaid deposit ever for iPhone 14 to ensure a sufficient supply, implying the iPhone 14 demand in the Chinese market will likely be higher than expected," Kuo posted on Twitter.

While sales of iPhones in China are currently growing steadily, it faces a deteriorating global economic environment. To cope with an economic downturn, the company is reportedly planning to slow hiring and spending growth next year. American tech companies including Facebook, Amazon, and Google in enacting similar measures.

On Thursday, Apple will announce financial data for its fiscal third quarter, and many predict that its quarterly revenue growth will be the slowest since the pandemic outbreak. 

SHARE