Apple retailers in China offer steep iPhone 11 discounts to bolster demand
A third of consumers are putting off buying new smartphones and adopting 5G, even as production ramps up again in China
Apple fans in China can now pick up an iPhone for just US$700 on some ecommerce sites. That might be on par with the starting price in the US, but it’s a huge discount for China.
On JD.com, the 64GB version of the basic iPhone 11 now costs 4,999 yuan (US$708), 500 yuan (US$70) cheaper than the original price. The more expensive iPhone 11 Pro has an even steeper price cut that shaves off 1,200 yuan (US$170). And the top-tier iPhone 11 Pro Max is selling for a whopping 1,600 yuan (US$227) off.
Google’s new Chinese partner, JD.com, is an online retail titan
JD.com isn’t alone. The same price cuts can be found on electronics retailers Suning and Guomei. But Apple’s official website in China hasn’t cut the price. Chinese media outlet National Business Daily reported that Apple had no comment when asked whether the price cuts were authorized by the company. We reached out to Apple and will update the story if they respond.
The coronavirus pandemic has already hit smartphone supply chains, with factories that produce iPhones having been shut down for a prolonged period. Hundreds of millions of Chinese customers were also confined at home during lockdowns across the country. While manufacturing has largely resumed, analysts say that there are more uncertainties in consumer demand.