Apple doesn’t often slash prices on new iPhones so quickly, but that’s exactly what’s happening with the iPhone Air in China. After a steep New Year discount, the phone has reportedly sold out on at least one major platform in the mainland.
Apple’s official Tmall flagship and JD.com store recently launched a promotion that cut the Air’s 256GB model price by 2,000 yuan. With China’s national subsidy applied, the phone’s price dropped to as low as 5,499 yuan (~ $790).
That’s a 2,500-yuan reduction from its original launch price of 7,999 yuan, or more than 30% off. For a newly released iPhone, such a level of discount is quite unusual.
The aggressive price cut is unsurprisingly a response to weaker-than-expected sales of the slim model globally.
According to data from international research firm IDC, iPhone Air sales reached only around one-third of Apple’s highest expectations in the weeks following launch. Not long after, Apple reportedly reduced its production of the model by half.
iPhone Air price drops bring back sales momentum
But the price drop seems to have changed the story. On JD.com, the 256GB iPhone Air is now listed as sold out, with the page showing the status as “being procured.” Delivery timelines have also been pushed back to February.
Apple’s official Tmall store, meanwhile, still lists the device as available, with delivery estimated within six days.
Part of the appeal is the iPhone Air’s design. The device focuses on being thin and light, measuring just 5.6mm thick and weighing 165 grams. It runs on Apple’s A19 Pro chip and features a 120Hz high-refresh-rate display. The phone uses a single 48MP rear camera and packs a 3,149mAh battery.
That hardware mix has also been a point of criticism. Analysts have noted that the iPhone Air was originally priced too close to the iPhone Pro lineup while offering fewer features, including a single camera, single speaker, smaller battery, and eSIM-only support. At full price, those trade-offs were hard to ignore.
At the new lower price, though, the compromises do feel easier to accept.
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