Late last year, Apple introduced a trade-in program where it was offering customers the iPhone XR for as low as $449 if they traded in their iPhone 8 or older in perfectly working condition. While the trade-in program initially launched in the United States, it was since expanded to the likes of China, Europe, and other parts of the world. 

Now, in China at least, Apple has expanded this ‘limited time’ promotion by a month. Up until yesterday, Apple’s Chinese homepage stated that the promotion would last until February 17. Now, that date has been extended to March 25. Interestingly, that’s the same date when Apple is expected to hold a media event announcing its streaming service. It is also possible that we will see the company unveil a (PRODUCT)Red iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max at the event alongside the iPad mini 5 and a new 7th gen iPad.

Apple’s U.S. website does not have a date as to when the trade-in program ends. Given that the trade-in program in China will last until March 25, it is expected to run until the same day in other markets as well.

It is clear that Apple is going to run this trade-in program for as long as possible in a bid to boost iPhone sales in the region. With iPhone sales slowing down worldwide due to a slowing economy and increased competition from Chinese OEMs, Apple is trying every trick in its book to spur sales.

Given that Chinese OEMs will launch their flagship smartphones of 2019 over the next couple of months, I expect Apple to run this trade-in program even longer than March. While the company itself is relying on a trade-in program, it has asked e-commerce players in China to reduce iPhone prices by as much as 20 percent.

[Via 9to5Mac]

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