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iPhone 15 Series Gets Deep Discounts by Chinese Retailers as Analysts Point to Weak Sales

iPhone 15 Series Gets Deep Discounts by Chinese Retailers as Analysts Point to Weak Sales

Chinese e-commerce platforms including PDD Holdings' Pinduoduo and Alibaba's Taobao are selling iPhone 15 models up to $123 below the retail price.

By Reuters | Updated: 23 October 2023 14:40 IST

iPhone 15 Series Gets Deep Discounts by Chinese Retailers as Analysts Point to Weak Sales

Photo Credit: Reuters

The 512 GB iPhone 15 Pro Max can be bought for CNY 10,698 Alibaba's Taobao

Highlights

Apple launched its iPhone 15 series in September
iPhone 15 sales are down 4.5 percent in China compared to iPhone 14
128 GB version of the iPhone 15 Plus is offered at CNY 6,098 on Pinduoduo

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 selling models up to CNY 900 ($123 or roughly Rs. 10,229) below the retail price.

Analysts say the iPhone 15 has not been selling as well in China as its predecessor. Counterpoint Research said last week that iPhone 15 sales in China were down 4.5 percent versus the iPhone 14 in the first 17 days after its market launch.

Apple, Pinduoduo and Alibaba did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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In China, Apple will occasionally allow partner vendors to offer discounts to spur demand. But Chinese e-commerce platforms have also been locked in a "value for money" battle as consumers tighten their belts amid a slowing economy, with discounting a key focus of forthcoming annual Singles Day shopping festival.

Pinduoduo is offering the 128 GB version of the iPhone 15 Plus at CNY 6,098 (roughly Rs. 69,312), CNY 900 less than Apple's retail price of CNY 6,999 (roughly Rs. 79,553), according to checks made by Reuters.

The 512 GB iPhone 15 Pro Max, which has a CNY 11,999 (roughly Rs. 1,36,385) price tag in Apple's store, can be bought for CNY 10,698 (roughly Rs. 1,21,598) on Alibaba's e-commerce platform Taobao.

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The e-commerce platform iPhone 15 discounts were first reported by The Economic Observer weekly newspaper on Monday.

Last month, Counterpoint data showed that Apple was expected to gain a larger share of India's smartphone sales, with the high-end iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models accounting for more of its shipments. The company is projected to account for 7 percent of all smartphone sales in the country from July to December, up from 5 percent in the first half of 2023.

© Thomson Reuters 2023

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iPhone 15

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Big upgrades over the 14
Excellent ergonomics, build quality
Very good all-round performance
Apple ecosystem benefits

Bad
Relatively slow charging
Expensive
Still a 60Hz display

Read detailed Apple iPhone 15 review

Display 6.10-inch

Processor Apple A16 Bionic

Front Camera 12-megapixel

Rear Camera 48-megapixel + 12-megapixel

RAM 6GB

Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB

OS iOS 17

Resolution 1179x2556 pixels

More Apple mobiles Apple mobiles price in India

Apple iPhone 15 Plus

KEY SPECS
NEWS

Display 6.70-inch

Processor Apple A16 Bionic

Front Camera 12-megapixel

Rear Camera 48-megapixel + 12-megapixel

RAM 8GB

Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB

OS iOS 17

Resolution 1290x2796 pixels

More Apple mobiles Apple mobiles price in India

Apple iPhone 15 Pro

KEY SPECS
NEWS

Display 6.10-inch

Processor Apple A17 Pro

Front Camera 12-megapixel

Rear Camera 48-megapixel + 12-megapixel + 12-megapixel

RAM 8GB

Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB

OS iOS 17

Resolution 1179x2556 pixels

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Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Excellent display
USB Type-C
AAA gaming
Excellent all-round performance
Good primary and telephoto camera
Customisable Action Button

Bad
Gets hot quickly when stressed
Slow wired charging
Expensive

Read detailed Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max review

Display 6.70-inch

Processor Apple A17 Pro

Front Camera 12-megapixel

Rear Camera 48-megapixel + 12-megapixel + 12-megapixel

RAM 8GB

Storage 256GB, 512GB, 1TB

OS iOS 17

Resolution 1290x2796 pixels

More Apple mobiles Apple mobiles price in India

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