In a bold move to reignite iPhone sales, leading Chinese e-commerce platforms JD.com and Alibaba’s Tmall have rolled out hefty discounts on the iPhone 16 lineup. Some devices are now up to $350 cheaper as the country gears up for the “618” shopping festival, one of its biggest retail events.
While discounts on Apple products are rare in Western markets, China has increasingly become a hotspot for aggressive iPhone promotions. Analysts point to lagging sales figures as a key reason behind these steep price cuts.
iPhone 16 Pro Sees Deepest Discount Yet
JD.com is currently offering the 128GB iPhone 16 Pro for approximately $758—roughly $350 off its regular retail price. Interestingly, the 256GB version of the standard iPhone 16 is also listed at the same price, yielding a $212 markdown.
Tmall is not far behind. It lists the same 128GB Pro model for around $763. However, buyers must apply a mix of coupons, some of which are subsidized by the government, to secure the deal.
Subsidies May Be Driving Discounts
Apple CEO Tim Cook recently acknowledged the influence of Chinese subsidies during the company’s earnings call. He noted that while it’s hard to quantify their exact impact, the support likely helped bolster iPhone sales in the region.
Government subsidies reportedly apply to devices priced under $830, making select iPhone 16 models eligible for extra price drops. The current offers are notably deeper than last year’s 618 discounts, which peaked at around $180.
Uncertainty Over How Long Deals Will Last
With the 618 shopping event running from June 1 to June 18, it remains unclear if these promotions will continue throughout the festival or end earlier. There is also no confirmation whether Apple itself or third-party resellers are behind the discounts.
Regardless of the source, shoppers in China now have a rare opportunity to grab Apple’s latest flagship smartphones at significantly lower prices—at least for a limited time.
