Price war erupts in Chinese smartphone market: Apple lowers prices, Huawei follows
Due to surging memory chip costs and sluggish sales, China's smartphone market is shrinking. Apple and Huawei have initiated price cuts on high-end models, pressuring other brands.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 16, 2026 at 17:57
- 🔍 Collected: May 16, 2026 at 18:31 (34 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 16, 2026 at 18:50 (19 min after Collected)
(Central News Agency, Taipei, 16th) Memory prices are soaring. China's smartphone market has been in a recession since the beginning of this year because many manufacturers have raised prices. Apple China reversed the trend yesterday and lowered the price of the iPhone 17 series phones, with a straight cut of 1,000 RMB (about 4,600 NTD) for all models. Huawei immediately followed suit and lowered the prices of its high-end phones. This has put greater pressure on other brands.
According to an IDC report, in the first 3 months of this year, smartphone shipments in China were 69.01 million units, a year-on-year decrease of 3.3%. Among them, the top two in sales, Huawei and Apple, did not raise prices this year; while other Chinese brands raised the prices of some products one after another to reflect the cost of memory chips.
Synthesizing reports from mainland media such as Xin Kuai Bao and The Paper, Apple China suddenly announced at 0:00 on the 15th that the iPhone 17 Pro series would be fully reduced by 1,000 RMB. This is the first price reduction since the new series was released. Third-party channels have even greater discount efforts. JD.com's Apple flagship store reduced prices simultaneously. After superposition of price reduction and double subsidies for trade-in, the iPhone 17 Pro series has a maximum discount of 2,000 RMB, and the price of some models is as low as 6,999 RMB.
The iPhone 17 standard version also welcomed its first price reduction after launch. The 256GB version was originally 5,999 RMB, and after multiple subsidies, the price is only 4,499 RMB.
Almost at the same time, Huawei announced the launch of the "618 Summer New Machine Benefit". The folding flagship Mate X7 series was reduced by 1,000 RMB, starting at 11,999 RMB after the discount; the Mate X6 was reduced by 3,000 RMB, starting at 9,999 RMB after the discount. Both models can enjoy 0% interest on up to 12 installments.
The price war between the two major brands in the high-end market forms a sharp contrast with the general trend of the mobile phone industry. Since the beginning of this year, the price increase of memory chips has been astonishing. Counterpoint Research data shows that the price in the first quarter soared by 50% to 55% compared with the previous quarter; the increase in the second quarter is expected to further push up by 80% to 85%.
China is about to usher in the 618 shopping festival. Apple and Huawei are not raising but lowering prices, which will inevitably cause greater price reduction pressure on other Chinese mobile phone brands.
Xiaomi announced on the 14th that the flagship mobile phone 15 Ultra, originally priced at 6,499 RMB, was directly reduced by 1,500 RMB. After adding various subsidies, the expected price is as low as over 4,300 RMB.
According to an IDC report, in the first 3 months of this year, smartphone shipments in China were 69.01 million units, a year-on-year decrease of 3.3%. Among them, the top two in sales, Huawei and Apple, did not raise prices this year; while other Chinese brands raised the prices of some products one after another to reflect the cost of memory chips.
Synthesizing reports from mainland media such as Xin Kuai Bao and The Paper, Apple China suddenly announced at 0:00 on the 15th that the iPhone 17 Pro series would be fully reduced by 1,000 RMB. This is the first price reduction since the new series was released. Third-party channels have even greater discount efforts. JD.com's Apple flagship store reduced prices simultaneously. After superposition of price reduction and double subsidies for trade-in, the iPhone 17 Pro series has a maximum discount of 2,000 RMB, and the price of some models is as low as 6,999 RMB.
The iPhone 17 standard version also welcomed its first price reduction after launch. The 256GB version was originally 5,999 RMB, and after multiple subsidies, the price is only 4,499 RMB.
Almost at the same time, Huawei announced the launch of the "618 Summer New Machine Benefit". The folding flagship Mate X7 series was reduced by 1,000 RMB, starting at 11,999 RMB after the discount; the Mate X6 was reduced by 3,000 RMB, starting at 9,999 RMB after the discount. Both models can enjoy 0% interest on up to 12 installments.
The price war between the two major brands in the high-end market forms a sharp contrast with the general trend of the mobile phone industry. Since the beginning of this year, the price increase of memory chips has been astonishing. Counterpoint Research data shows that the price in the first quarter soared by 50% to 55% compared with the previous quarter; the increase in the second quarter is expected to further push up by 80% to 85%.
China is about to usher in the 618 shopping festival. Apple and Huawei are not raising but lowering prices, which will inevitably cause greater price reduction pressure on other Chinese mobile phone brands.
Xiaomi announced on the 14th that the flagship mobile phone 15 Ultra, originally priced at 6,499 RMB, was directly reduced by 1,500 RMB. After adding various subsidies, the expected price is as low as over 4,300 RMB.