China has always been one of the most complex and at the same time lucrative battlegrounds for the global tech giants, and Apple is no exception.
After a period of uncertainty, the Cupertino giant seems to have regained a very strong position in the Dragon’s market, consolidating a commercial success that has no equal in the brand’s recent history in Asia.
To sustain this momentum and preserve customer loyalty in an increasingly competitive ecosystem, Apple has launched a targeted plan not only to sell new devices but also to take care of the existing user base.
An aggressive discount campaign to “revitalize” the iPhone 13
The news, initially reported by City News Service, highlights a significant shift in Apple’s after-sales policy.
From January 7 to April 30, Apple has launched a limited-time program dedicated to owners of the iPhone 13 series. The initiative allows replacing the batteries now degraded in iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max at a drastically reduced price.
Specifically, the cost for the intervention has been set at only 399 Yuan (about 50 euros), a sharp cut compared with the standard tariff of 729 Yuan. This is nearly a 50% discount, a rarity for a company known for the rigidity of its price lists, especially in the services sector.
This move is clearly designed to extend the lifecycle of devices already in circulation, preventing users of older models from being tempted to switch to local competitors due to reduced performance or prohibitive repair costs.
The absolute dominance of the iPhone 17 series
This loyalty initiative comes at a time when Apple is enjoying a true golden age in China. Recent data depict an almost embarrassing supremacy for local competition.
According to information circulating from the well-known leaker Ice Universe, as of December 31, 2025 Apple had sold an impressive 15.57 million units of the iPhone 17 range.
To understand the scale of these numbers, a comparison with the direct follower suffices: the Xiaomi 17 series, the best-selling Android flagship in the country, recorded volumes roughly 5.5 times lower than the American rival.
The most astonishing data, however, is that the sales volume of the iPhone 17 alone has surpassed the sum of sales of all other Chinese flagship smartphones put together. Apple is no longer just a competitor in the Chinese premium market; it has become the apex predator, cannibalizing market shares that once seemed untouchable by Western brands.
A Return to the Top
Counterpoint Research’s latest report also confirms this trend, noting that in October, iPhones accounted for a quarter of all smartphones sold in China.
Reaching a 25% market share in such a fragmented and aggressive landscape as China is a milestone that Apple had only achieved before, in 2022.
The combination of record sales for the new models and proactive customer support for older models demonstrates a two-pronged strategy.
On one hand, Apple pushes innovation with the iPhone 17 to attract those seeking the utmost in technology; on the other hand, with the promotion on iPhone 13 batteries, it pampers those who are not yet ready to upgrade, ensuring the user experience remains optimal.
