Apple is clearly trying to expand its push to boost visibility in mainland China ahead of the iPhone 17 launch. Meanwhile, Apple has been gradually pulling its production out of China and into India over the looming tariff storm.
However, Apple can’t just quit and forget China just like that – the country represents the most important smartphone market in the world – there are lots of tech-savvy users who insist on getting the best in terms of hardware and software. For many, the iPhone is the best, so, by joining RedNote, Apple will try to reach them and sell them a phone or two come September.
The company’s verified RedNote account debuted some days ago with an animated logo post encouraging users to share their stories with Apple. Within hours, the account drew more than 200,000 followers, reflecting the platform’s appeal among young, trend-driven and tech-savvy audiences. Apple did not use the post to tease or announce any upcoming products at start.
RedNote itself has seen a surge in global recognition this year, particularly in the United States, after TikTok creators encouraged fans to join the app during heated debates over a possible American ban on TikTok. That ban, initially set for January 19, has been delayed multiple times as Washington, Beijing, and TikTok’s parent company ByteDance continue negotiations.
But RedNote made a splash half a year ago:
For Apple, RedNote represents another step in deepening its social presence in China. The company already maintains an official WeChat account launched in 2018 and a Douyin account, the local version of TikTok, opened in 2022. On Weibo, Apple has two separate accounts: one run by CEO Tim Cook, which has 1.8 million followers, and another dedicated to customer support.
RedNote on the App Store. | Image by Apple
Apple’s latest push comes as competition in China’s smartphone market intensifies. A government subsidy program introduced this year discounted devices under 6,000 yuan ($834), leaving most iPhones out. To qualify, Apple slashed iPhone 16 prices by up to one-third on major e-commerce platforms, boosting revenue by 4.4 percent in the June quarter. Still, analysts caution that slowing consumer demand and modest iPhone 17 upgrades could drag sales later in the year.
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