Apple is offering discounts of up to $110 in China as part of its New Year sale, running from January 4 to 7, 2025. The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are among the devices included, with price cuts of up to 500 yuan ($68.50) for eligible customers. Certain discounts may increase based on the product's storage variant.

This initiative comes after Apple faced stiff competition from Huawei, whose Mate 60 series, powered by the Kirin 9000S chipset, gained massive traction in the Chinese market. With iPhone shipments underperforming, the trillion-dollar company previously introduced discounts of up to $318 on other products, which helped regain some market momentum.

China remains one of Apple’s most crucial markets, holding the title of the largest global smartphone market by volume. Analysts believe this price reduction is aimed at driving short-term sales and securing better results ahead of the company’s next quarterly earnings announcement. Apple is leveraging the popularity of its premium devices to attract customers during this limited-time sale.

The discount strategy could also address customer hesitancy, as the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max feature minimal upgrades compared to the iPhone 15 series. With Huawei's resurgence creating new challenges for Apple, aggressive pricing is viewed as a necessary move to maintain its competitive edge.

Additionally, reports suggest Apple may integrate generative AI features in its future products. However, to comply with Chinese regulations, the company needs partnerships with local tech giants like ByteDance or Tencent to deploy AI models on its devices.

WCCFTECH