Apple has announced a price reduction for its iPhone 16 series, as several models are now offered at discounted rates. This move comes ahead of the Double 11 sales event. Starting from a specified date, customers can receive a 500 yuan coupon on Apple's Tmall flagship store, reducing the starting price of the iPhone 16 to 5,499 yuan, while the popular iPhone 16 Pro Max begins at 9,499 yuan. This marks the first official price drop since the launch of the new models.
Industry insiders have noted that the price cut for the iPhone 16 series is more controlled compared to last year. The strategy is intended to maintain Apple's pricing system and prevent market disruption observed in previous years. An analyst highlighted that while Apple once maintained a high resale value for iPhones, the company is now employing tactics like trade-ins, interest-free installments, and direct discounts to boost market share and sales.
Recent analyses by industry experts have speculated that Apple may have reduced the fourth-quarter production of the iPhone 16 series by approximately three million units, based on supply chain investigations. However, another analyst observed that there are no significant changes in assembly orders, with only a slight reduction in component orders expected from mid-November.
Counterpoint Research shared that the iPhone 16 series shipments are comparable to last year's figures. The introduction of Apple Intelligence, capable of understanding and generating language and images, is expected to gradually increase sales rather than causing an immediate surge.
Global smartphone sales experienced a 2% year-over-year growth in the third quarter, with Apple and Samsung maintaining steady sales. Apple's market share reached 18%, ranking second to Samsung. Analysts predict that as Apple Intelligence expands to new markets and supports more languages, the iPhone 16 will continue driving strong growth into 2024 and beyond.
