Apple reclaims top spot in China smartphone market iPhone discounts of up to $350

By Phong Ngo May 28, 2025 | 03:01 am PT

Apple reclaimed the top spot in China’s smartphone market last week with a 21.5% market share after introducing rare price cuts of up to US$350 on its iPhones.

The U.S. tech giant, not known for offering discounts on its products, slashed prices to regain momentum after months of losing ground to local competitors like Huawei and Xiaomi, tech site PhoneArena reported. The discounts were rolled out ahead of China’s annual mid-year shopping event, the "618 festival" on June 18.

E-commerce platform JD.com is listing the iPhone 16 Pro (128 GB) at 5,469 yuan (US$759), a 2,530 ($350) yuan reduction from Apple’s official price. Alibaba’s Tmall is offering a similar deal, pricing the model at 5,499 yuan.

A passerby walking past an Apple Store in Shanghai with a Huawei advertisement in the background. Photo by Reuters

The strategy appears to have paid off. Over 520,000 16 Pros and 320,000 16 Pro Maxes were activated in a single week, according to PhoneArena.

Apple’s market share in China has been under pressure from local brands offering strong performance at lower prices. Its latest feature, Apple Intelligence, is not yet available in the Chinese market, further limiting appeal.

Geopolitical tensions have added to the challenge.

Many consumers have shifted to local brands amid rising nationalism and trade disputes, including Donald Trump’s calls for higher tariffs on Chinese goods.

Online users noted the swift rebound in Apple’s popularity, with some joking that steep discounts were all it took to win back buyers, while others predicted intensified competition in China’s smartphone sector.