While the iPhone remains wildly popular in Europe and the United States, Apple’s smartphone has historically struggled to gain a foothold in China. In an effort to bolster sales amidst the economic turmoil caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Chinese retailers are slashing prices on the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max.
Multiple online Chinese retailers like JD.com have heavily discounted the iPhone 11 family. For example, the 64 GB iPhone 11 is now selling for about CN ¥5000 (~US $710), which is a discount of ¥500 (~$71). The iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max have also been cut by ¥1200 and ¥1600 (~$170 and ~$227), respectively.
It should be noted that these discounts have only popped up on third-party retail sites. Apple’s official online Chinese storefront is still selling the iPhone 11 family as its full retail price.
The cuts were likely made to spur consumer spending, but it’s uncertain whether buyers will take the bait. The iPhone has long struggled to gain a meaningful foothold in China, where cheap Android devices reign supreme. Considering the lower average income for most of the Chinese population, the iPhone is seen as a luxury item reserved for the wealthy.
Additionally, many Chinese consumers have decided to delay their next smartphone purchase because of the economic shutdown in China. The growing march of 5G phones are also holding iPhone sales back; while many mid-range Android handsets are starting to get 5G modems, Apple has yet to officially announce plans for a 5G-capable iPhone.