Hello, your favorite Xiao Lei is here! As the last major shopping festival of the year, although this year's Double 11 started early on October 14th, the main promotion period is still scheduled for November 21st to 24th. I'm sure many of you are already planning to upgrade your phone during this time.

Double 11 is an excellent time to get a new phone every year. Although flagship phones were released earlier in October due to the intense competition among manufacturers, it doesn't prevent last-generation flagships from offering great discounts, making it a great option for those with limited budgets.

Enough small talk, let's get straight to the point. To find the best platform to buy a phone during Double 11, Lei Technology has been Lurk, lurk, lurk across various platforms for days, bringing you first-hand information from the front lines. Let's take a closer look at the prices offered by each platform this year.

The Cheapest iPhone 16 Isn't on Pinduoduo

Apple products are always a highlight of Double 11, and major platforms offer significant subsidies to attract customers. Some even enjoy exclusive new flagship subsidies not available to other brands. So, which platform offers the best iPhone deals this year? Let's compare the prices directly.

Source: Lei Technology

Last year, Pinduoduo led the price competition for various iPhone models, but this year, things have changed. Among the four models, Pinduoduo has lost ground in all but the iPhone 15 Pro, where it maintains an advantage. The other three platforms lack official subsidies for the 128GB version of the iPhone 15 Pro, focusing instead on 256GB subsidies. Here, Pinduoduo and Taobao's Hundred Billion Subsidy Program offer the same price.

Besides Pinduodou, Douyin and Kuaishou have also increased their investments in e-commerce significantly this year. Kuaishou offers the lowest prices for the iPhone 15, iPhone 16, and iPhone 16 Pro. They're clearly putting money where their mouth is, and live streaming sessions may yield even better deals.

Overall, Douyin's deals are inferior to Kuaishou's. Currently, only the iPhone 15 enjoys discounts on its mall channel, while the other three models are absent. It seems users will have to wait for Douyin livestreamers to bring warmth to their "family" members.

Turning to traditional e-commerce giants Taobao and JD.com, Taobao's investment this year is higher than previous years, but due to the sheer number of categories and products requiring subsidies, the final allocation to Apple remains limited. Discounts are primarily focused on popular models and new releases.

The iPhone 15 Pro's price matches Pinduoduo's, while the iPhone 16 series is similar to other platforms, offering 12-month interest-free installments. Considering current consumer loan interest rates, this effectively saves several hundred yuan in interest expenses.

JD.com takes a different approach, avoiding direct price competition and instead offering a free one-year AppleCare+ (AC+) with select models. The iPhone 15 and 16 come with a free year of AC+, equating to a roughly 600 yuan discount based on Apple's official pricing.

Source: JD.com

Of course, not everyone will purchase AC+, so for those who weren't planning on it, the iPhone 15's price isn't particularly attractive. However, the iPhone 16 is a steal, essentially offering a year of unlimited accident protection for around 100 yuan. Additionally, the iPhone 16 Pro supports a "+99 yuan" upgrade to a year of AC+, making it more cost-effective than the other three platforms.

Although Pinduoduo lost the subsidy price battle for all models this year (or tied), it still offers occasional surprise coupons and a 1111 yuan trade-in subsidy. If you're planning to trade in your old phone, Pinduoduo's program is quite attractive.

Similarly, Douyin offers up to 1500 yuan in trade-in subsidies, but due to its higher base prices, these deals may only be worthwhile if your old phone has significant value.

Overall, if you're targeting the iPhone 15 series, both Pinduoduo and Kuaishou are worth considering. You could also opt for JD.com with a slightly higher budget, but note that the 7162 yuan price is from China Unicom's self-operated store, not Apple's JD.com flagship store. There are no bundle requirements, so it's identical to the standard open-market version.

If you're eyeing the latest iPhone 16 series, JD.com is the top choice, particularly for full-price purchases due to its competitive AC+ offer. Taobao is also a solid option, offering 12-month interest-free financing.

Android Flagships Slashing Prices, Kuaishou Going All In

Moving on from Apple, let's explore Android flagships. While new flagships are Coming soon , older models may offer even better value.

This round of price comparisons focuses on flagship models from four major phone brands, primarily standard editions (Pro and Ultra versions have limited discounts and higher prices, offering less value than new flagships). Let's dive into the prices.

Source: Lei Technology

In terms of Android flagship subsidies, Pinduoduo finally reclaims the top spot, offering the lowest or tied-for-lowest prices for three out of four models (excluding the OPPO Find X7). Purely from a price perspective, it's the most affordable option.

Apart from Pinduoduo, Kuaishou is also making strides this year. Apart from the slightly higher price for the Honor Magic6, it offers competitive prices for the other three models, drawing attention to this rapidly rising e-commerce platform. Who knows, it might surprise us all one day.

On the other hand, JD.com and Taobao aren't far behind. While their prices aren't the cheapest, most price differences are minimal. Both platforms offer attractive interest-free financing deals, along with large consumption vouchers worth 7000-560 and 3000-240 yuan, respectively. After checking, I found that most Android flagships support these vouchers, further reducing prices when combined with other purchases.

Among this year's Android flagships, OPPO, vivo, and Honor have seen significant price drops of around 700 yuan or more. Xiaomi 14, however, is an outlier, with minimal official price cuts. While third-party channels offer discounts, they're less substantial compared to other brands, suggesting that Xiaomi 14 series sales are so strong that price cuts aren't necessary to meet sales targets.

Considering the price hikes for this year's new flagships, the price difference between OPPO, vivo, and their older models approaches 1000 yuan, enhancing their competitiveness. Similarly, Pro and Ultra versions have seen comparable price drops. Feel free to search various platforms for more options.

With so many choices, finding the right phone can be overwhelming. Here are some suggestions to help you decide.

In terms of performance, the four flagships are neck-and-neck. The Find X7 features the Dimensity 9300, scoring around 2.1 million on AnTuTu, while the Xiaomi 14 and Magic6 sport the Snapdragon 8Gen3, reaching scores of approximately 2.3 million. The X100s boasts the Dimensity 9300+, scoring around 2.4 million.

If you're looking for a performance-oriented flagship for gaming, all four phones offer similar experiences. Simply go for the cheapest option. From the table, Honor's Magic6 seems the most cost-effective. Alternatively, consider the iQOO Neo9S Pro+, Z9 Turbo+, realme GT6, or OnePlus Ace 3 Pro, all featuring flagship processors and priced below 3000 yuan, with impressive overall configurations.

Source: Lei Technology

However, performance is just one aspect of a flagship phone. Many buyers prioritize camera quality. Discussing cameras can be tricky, as Chinese Android brands have developed their unique imaging styles. It's challenging to crown a single model as the absolute best in image quality, as each has its strengths.

If camera performance is your priority, consider the latest flagship standard editions. Based on past trends, their performance should be comparable to the previous generation's Pro models. Combined with trade-in subsidies for new phones, they offer better value than older flagship standard editions.

If you're looking to spend around 3000 yuan, the OV duo stands out. The Find X7 and X100s, both standard editions, boast impressive camera specs, including periscope lenses (unlike Xiaomi and Honor's standard telephoto lenses), offering superior long-distance shooting capabilities.

However, in other scenarios, the four flagships are relatively even, as their main camera specs are similar. If pressed to choose, vivo's overall image quality slightly edges out the competition. OPPO offers more natural colors, while Xiaomi's "Leica" style emphasizes contrast, making your choice dependent on personal preference.

Wrapping up our discussion on prices, this year's subsidies across platforms, combined with national trade-in incentives, have pushed prices of many flagship brands to new lows. However, mainstream brands offering government subsidies are scarce, primarily focusing on less popular products. Consider sub-brand flagship models if they suit your needs, as they often deliver similar experiences to their parent brand counterparts.

Additionally, using price comparison tools can save you time and hassle. Finally, I wish everyone the best of luck in finding their dream phone!

Source: Lei Technology