Consumers in Beijing and Shanghai are now entitled to discounts of up to 2,000 yuan (US$278) on select models of Apple devices – including the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and MacBook – when they buy directly from the US company, according to a statement published on Tuesday on Apple’s mainland Chinese website.
To avail themselves of the government subsidy in Shanghai, consumers must make their purchase at one of the eight bricks-and-mortar Apple Stores in the city. Those in Beijing can enjoy the subsidy when placing orders via Apple’s online retail shop and providing a shipping address within the Chinese capital.
Select models of the iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch that cost below 6,000 yuan are eligible for a subsidy of up to 500 yuan, while as much as 2,000 yuan in discounts cover certain Mac computer models, according to Apple’s statement.
Although certain Apple products sold via local e-commerce platforms, such as JD.com and Alibaba Group Holding’s Taobao marketplace, have been eligible for such subsidies, Tuesday’s announcement marks the first time the US company has started offering discounts under the government scheme through its own retail channels. Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post.
Apple’s participation in the government subsidy programme comes as iPhone shipments in China are forecast to fall 1.9 per cent in 2025, owing to strong competition from Chinese smartphone vendors led by Huawei Technologies and a broader economic slowdown in the country.
