Discerning Chinese consumers, in general, are becoming less focused on branding and more concerned with quality buys. “Chinese consumers now have more options when it comes to phone tech.

“Compared to several years ago, I think the iPhone may be less of a status symbol, but that all depends on who you talk to,” said Jessica Rap, Senior Writer at Jing Daily which follows China’s luxury market. But this time, the new iPhone is priced double than the average salary in China. Chinese consumers have earned the reputation of having a “keeping up with the Joneses” mentality caused by increasing wealth and standards and this has served Apple well. Men bought iPhones to propose to their girlfriends (and got turned down), Chinese nouveau riche, derogatorily called “tuhao,” bought golden iPhones to match their golden Ferraris, shopping platform Taobao hawked Apple-branded toilet seats, lighters, and slippers–this was the power of Apple in China. This, however, will likely more depend on changes within consumers themselves rather than the actual technology the new iPhone X is offering.

IPhone X has hit the shelves in Mainland China, but it remains to be seen if Apple’s new flagship will win the hearts and minds of the Chinese people.

The article The iPhone in China isn’t the status symbol it used to be was written by Masha Borak for TechNode. While it may be losing its ‘status symbol’, the iPhone still has a lot going for it in China

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