The Chinese have turned their backs on the iPhone 15

Due to an unusually long decline in demandApple resellers in China are forced to reduce prices on iPhone 15 models. Currently, the iPhone 15 Pro Max smartphone is offered on the Tmall marketplace and the JD.com online platform for 1,300 yuan ($180) cheaper than in the official Apple store. This time the discount was even greater than last year, when around the same time the company offered a $120 discount on its smartphones.

The latest generation of iPhone is lagging behindpopularity in China from previous series of Apple smartphones. Since its launch in September, a combination of economic hardships across the country and an unexpected revival in Huawei Technologies' smartphone business have seen the iPhone 15 family perform weaker than its predecessors.

“Apple follows the trend of “deflation” in China,intending to increase demand for the iPhone,” said IDC analyst Will Wong. “According to preliminary IDC data for January, the pressure came primarily from other Android device vendors, as we saw Apple's sales decline by about 10% year over year for the month, while Huawei grew by triple-digit percentages over the same period.” .

Apple began offering deep discounts this month following the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday.

In the fourth quarter of 2023, Apple sales in Chinafell 13% to $20.8 billion, well below analysts' forecast of $23.5 billion and the company's weakest performance for the period in the Middle Kingdom in many years.