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Chinese Retailers Offer Deep iPhone 15 Discounts 

The Apple iPhone 15 series is displayed for sale at The Grove Apple retail store on release day in Los Angeles, California, on September 22, 2023. (AFP)
The Apple iPhone 15 series is displayed for sale at The Grove Apple retail store on release day in Los Angeles, California, on September 22, 2023. (AFP)
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Chinese Retailers Offer Deep iPhone 15 Discounts 

The Apple iPhone 15 series is displayed for sale at The Grove Apple retail store on release day in Los Angeles, California, on September 22, 2023. (AFP)
The Apple iPhone 15 series is displayed for sale at The Grove Apple retail store on release day in Los Angeles, California, on September 22, 2023. (AFP)

Chinese e-commerce platforms including PDD Holdings' Pinduoduo and Alibaba's Taobao are offering deep discounts on Apple's latest iPhone 15 series, with some selling models up to 900 yuan ($123) below the retail price.

Analysts say the iPhone 15 has not been selling as well in China as its predecessor. Counterpoint Research said last week that iPhone 15 sales in China were down 4.5% versus the iPhone 14 in the first 17 days after its market launch.

Apple, Pinduoduo and Alibaba did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

In China, Apple will occasionally allow partner vendors to offer discounts to spur demand. But Chinese e-commerce platforms have also been locked in a "value for money" battle as consumers tighten their belts amid a slowing economy, with discounting a key focus of forthcoming annual Singles Day shopping festival.

Pinduoduo is offering the 128 GB version of the iPhone 15 Plus at 6,098 yuan, 900 yuan less than Apple's retail price of 6,999 yuan, according to checks made by Reuters.

The 512 GB iPhone 15 Pro Max, which has a 11,999 yuan price tag in Apple's store, can be bought for 10,698 yuan on Alibaba's e-commerce platform Taobao.

The e-commerce platform iPhone 15 discounts were first reported by The Economic Observer weekly newspaper on Monday.

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Cards to Consoles: Nintendo Opens First Museum

(FILES) This photo taken on September 24, 2024 shows large console-shaped pillows in the gift shop during a media preview of the new Nintendo Museum, located inside a renovated old factory, in the suburbs of Kyoto. (Photo by Richard A. Brooks / AFP)
(FILES) This photo taken on September 24, 2024 shows large console-shaped pillows in the gift shop during a media preview of the new Nintendo Museum, located inside a renovated old factory, in the suburbs of Kyoto. (Photo by Richard A. Brooks / AFP)
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Cards to Consoles: Nintendo Opens First Museum

(FILES) This photo taken on September 24, 2024 shows large console-shaped pillows in the gift shop during a media preview of the new Nintendo Museum, located inside a renovated old factory, in the suburbs of Kyoto. (Photo by Richard A. Brooks / AFP)
(FILES) This photo taken on September 24, 2024 shows large console-shaped pillows in the gift shop during a media preview of the new Nintendo Museum, located inside a renovated old factory, in the suburbs of Kyoto. (Photo by Richard A. Brooks / AFP)

Nintendo opened its first museum on Wednesday in a renovated factory in Kyoto, showcasing the long history of the Japanese video game giant from playing cards to "Super Mario.”

The company began life in 1889 producing Japanese playing cards called "hanafuda" as well as Western-style ones. Nintendo launched its first home video-game machines in 1977.

Many exhibits at the museum in Kyoto's Uji city are interactive -- including an area where two people can play Mario and Donkey Kong games together on a giant console.

Other zones focus on Nintendo's vintage products. For example, there is a digital version of an ancient Japanese poetry game, and a workshop for fans to create their own hanafuda cards.

Tickets, priced at 3,300 yen ($22.60) for adults and less for children, are already sold out for October and November, AFP reported.

"Visitors can learn about Nintendo's commitment to manufacturing that places importance on play and originality," Shigeru Miyamoto, the renowned creator of "Super Mario" and other games said in a video in August.

The "Super Mario" games were launched in 1985, two years after the company began selling its classic Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) console.

The museum is part of efforts by Nintendo to broaden its brand exposure, including with a smash-hit animated movie last year featuring the Italian plumber and his colorful crew.

The company has also built a "Super Nintendo World" zone at the Universal Studios Japan theme park, featuring a Mario Kart ride with a real-life Bowser's Castle.

A similar area is set to open at the park's huge Orlando location next year.

Nintendo first announced plans for the museum in 2021.

Kensaku Namera, an analyst at Nomura Securities, told AFP that the museum fits into Nintendo's strategy as a place where "people can interact" with its gaming franchises.

Repurposing an old factory built in 1969, which was once used by Nintendo for producing playing cards and later repairing consoles, is also a canny move, he said.

"It's an effective reuse of assets" by Nintendo, Namera said.