Apple has launched an online storefront on WeChat in China, according to multiple media reports. The Tencent-owned media platform has 1.2 billion users in the country, which means the move could give Apple an even greater presence in one of its most important markets.
Shoppers browsing through WeChat will have access to the full line of Apple products, including the iPhone 14, as well as some Apple services like the retailer’s trade-in program. Orders made through WeChat are eligible for free shipping, and some users will have the option to pay for three-hour delivery.
Apple’s WeChat store is one of the platform’s Mini Programs, which operate as apps within WeChat. This enables users to access multiple services from within WeChat without the need to clutter their phones with multiple programs. Meta is testing out initial steps toward the same goal in Brazil, with hopes of turning WhatsApp into a “super app” that has a similar breadth of capabilities to WeChat.
Apple, despite being a notable retailer in its own right, is no stranger to partnerships. The retailer’s presence in China includes a storefront on Alibaba’s Tmall marketplace as well as its own site and stores. Apple also has formed partnerships to expand its reach in the U.S., most recently by tripling the number of Apple at Target locations to 150 in preparation for the 2023 holiday season.
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