Apple Desperately Trying to Market iPhone 15 Models in China
BEIJING: Chinese e-commerce platforms including PDD Holdings’ Pinduoduo and Alibaba’s Taobao are offering deep discounts on Apple’s latest iPhone 15 series, with some models selling as much as 900 yuan ($123) below retail.
Analysts say the iPhone 15 hasn’t sold as well in China as its predecessor. Counterpoint Research reported last week that sales of the iPhone 15 in China fell 4.5% compared to the iPhone 14 in the first 17 days after its launch.
Apple, Pinduoduo and Alibaba did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In China, Apple sometimes allows partner sellers to offer discounts to increase demand. But Chinese e-commerce platforms have also been locked in a “value for money” battle as consumers tighten their belts as the economy slows, and the main focus of the upcoming annual Singles Day shopping festival has been downgraded.
Pinduoduo is offering the 128GB version of the iPhone 15 Plus for 6,098 yuan, 900 yuan less than Apple’s retail price of 6,999 yuan, according to checks by Reuters.
The 512GB iPhone 15 Pro Max, priced at 11,999 yuan on Apple’s store, can be purchased for 10,698 yuan on Alibaba’s e-commerce platform Taobao.
The weekly magazine The Economic Observer was the first to report on the e-commerce platform’s iPhone 15 discounts on Monday.
