Shoppers in China are luckier than the rest of the world as they get rare discounts on iPhones from Apple again this year amid growing competition from local tech companies.

The four-day promotion, which starts this Saturday, January 4, includes discounts up to 500 yuan ($68.50) on some of the newer cell phones of the American technology giant. The Chinese phone manufacturer Huawei it has also reduced the prices of its high-end mobile devices by up to 20%.

The discounts come as consumers in China remain hesitant as to the expenses, due to the country’s economic challenges. The offer covers Apple’s flagship models as well as older mobiles and some other devices.

OR greater discount of 500 yuan will apply to Apple’s flagship, the iPhone 16 Prowhich has a starting price of 7,999 yuan, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max which is currently priced at 9,999 yuan.

The company ran a similar offer in China last year ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday. This year, the celebration begins at the end of January.

Behavior change

“Apple’s strategy has changed to adapt to the changing buying behavior of Chinese consumers,” said Will Wong, senior director of research at market research firm International Data Corporation (IDC).

“The value-seeking trend has made price discounts more attractive to consumers. Apple may fall behind other competitors if it does not adopt such a pricing strategy.”

The discounts offered by Apple and Huawei reflect a broader trend in China. From online retail giants to the country’s car manufacturers, they are on offer offers in an attempt to attract customers who have been reluctant to spend as the world’s second-largest economy slows.

The Chinese government has also stepped up efforts to boost consumption. Last year, Beijing launched an exchange program to encourage consumers to trade in old products such as cars and home appliances.

The scheme was expanded on Friday to include mobile phones, tablets, smart watches and fitness bands.

Local competition

In this context, Apple’s share of the Chinese market is under increasing pressure from local rivals, such as Vivo and the Xiaomi, reports the BBC.

The American company returned to China’s top five smartphone makers in the third quarter of 2024 after briefly falling off the list.

According to IDC’s latest research, Vivo was the best-selling smartphone maker in China during this period, as sales grew by more than 20%.

During the same period, Apple he saw them sales of retreating against 0.3%. Accordingly, Huawei jumped by more than 40%.

“We have seen competition in the market increase with almost everyone launching a flagship in the last quarter”said Ivan Lam, senior analyst at Counterpoint Research.

OR Huawei saw the demand for its products to is growing exponentially after its return to the premium smartphone market in August last year. The Shenzhen-based company has since launched several new devices powered by advanced technology, despite the company facing restrictions from the US.