Apple’s Lunar New Year shopping window has quietly become one of the most practical times of year to look for official Apple discounts in China, especially if you’re already planning a purchase and you’re flexible about timing. For the 2026 season, Apple is again leaning into a short, defined promo period, with price reductions that can reach up to RMB 1,000 (about $144) across select iPhone, Mac, iPad, and Apple Watch models, tied to eligible payment methods.
The key detail is that this is not a broad, everywhere sale. It’s a targeted offer in mainland China, and it’s structured the way Apple often structures these events there: buy specific configurations, pay with qualifying methods, and the discount applies during a narrow set of days. Reuters reported the promotion runs January 24 through January 27, and also noted that the newest iPhone 17 model is excluded.
What the Apple Lunar New Year Discounts Cover
If you’ve ever tried to decode an Apple promo, the simplest way to think about the Apple Lunar New Year offer is as a “model-by-model” deal, not a blanket markdown. The discount amounts and eligible products appear directly on Apple’s China storefront pages, where the promo text is shown above the shopping flow for each category.
iPhone
On iPhone, the offer is presented as a limited-time savings during January 24–27 when purchasing designated models using eligible payment methods, with savings shown up to a stated cap. Apple’s iPhone purchase page for China displays the promo banner right at the top, making it clear this is time-bounded and tied to payment eligibility.
Macs
Mac discounts can be higher, and Apple’s MacBook Pro buying page in China explicitly shows savings up to RMB 1,000 during the same dates, again under the “eligible payment method” condition. That matters because many shoppers will see the headline number, but the real value depends on which configuration is included and what payment route they can use.
iPad and Apple Watch
The same structure shows up on iPad and Apple Watch pages in China. Apple’s iPad page includes a top-of-page promo line indicating a January 24–27 window, and its Apple Watch purchase page shows a similar banner for Apple Watch with the same schedule and qualifying-payment language.
The Apple Lunar New Year promotion isn’t designed for someone casually browsing for a deal. It’s built for the person who already decided what they want, and just needs a reason to buy this weekend instead of next month. That’s why the dates are tight, the payment rules are specific, and the product coverage is “designated models” rather than “everything in the store.”
It also fits a wider moment for Apple in China: competition is intense, upgrades are harder to win, and pricing pressure is real. Reuters framed this as an effort to sustain momentum in the market, while emphasizing that the newest iPhone 17 isn’t part of the promo.
For buyers, the practical takeaway is simple: if you’re shopping in China and you’re looking at Apple’s own storefront instead of third-party retailers, this is one of the rare windows where Apple itself is openly discounting. The discount can also feel more “official” than a reseller promotion, because it’s presented directly inside Apple’s own buying flow and attached to Apple’s own checkout rules.
How to Shop
Start by confirming the banner on the exact product page you plan to buy, because that’s where Apple signals eligibility, timing, and the savings cap. Then check whether your intended payment method counts as “eligible,” since the discount hinges on that. If you’re deciding between two models, compare the promo banners across categories, because the headline “up to” number can look similar while the real savings differ by product line.
If you’re buying for someone else, this is also a clean gifting window because it’s short enough to create urgency, but predictable enough to plan around. And if you’re not sure whether your model qualifies, treat the product page banner as the source of truth before you assume the discount will appear at checkout.
The Apple Lunar New Year promo may be brief, but it’s the kind of timing-based offer that rewards preparation: pick the product first, confirm the banner second, and only then lock in the purchase during the January 24–27 window.
