iPhone Air fails in China as retailers slash prices to sell it

Apple’s thin iPhone faceplanted in China, triggering brutal price slashes and signaling weak demand despite flashy specs.

China price cuts hit fast

• Tmall slashed iPhone Air pricing shortly after launch.
• JD.com matched cuts, stacking trade-in subsidies.
• Final China pricing undercut U.S. launch by hundreds.
• Discounts appeared months after the October debut.

Why buyers cooled off

• Early sellouts leaned on Apple’s premium aura.
• Single rear camera killed perceived value.
• Small battery scared power users immediately.
• Shoppers balked at the flagship pricing math.

Performance reality check

• A19 Pro chip paired with 12GB RAM impressed.
• Battery life still trailed Galaxy S25 Edge.
• Software tweaks failed to close endurance gaps.

Depreciation and next steps

• Value dropped nearly in half within ten weeks.
• Worst resale slide among recent iPhones.
• Apple plans a second model with dual cameras.
• Follow-up launch targets spring 2027.