iPhone 15价格跌至史上最低

近日，苹果官网罕见大降价，iPhone 15系列降价500元、MacBook Air降800元 。 据@新浪新闻，继苹果官网降价后，官方授权渠道再次降价，iPhone 15系直降1050元，128G iPhone 15降至4949元。这是iPhone 15官方渠道价首次跌破5000元。
🤔️小作业： 1. According to Counterpoint's analysis, what factors contributed to the decline in iPhone sales in China during the last quarter of 2023? A) Increased production costs and supply chain issues. B) Reduced demand for smartphones and rising competition. C) Negative publicity and consumer trust issues. D) Technical flaws in the latest iPhone models. 2. Based on the article, which of the following statements about the global smartphone market is accurate? A) The premium segment represents the majority of smartphone sales globally. B) Apple has consistently held the top position in the global market by devices shipped. C) Samsung has recently regained its top position in the global smartphone market. D) The premium segment, though a minority in sales, accounts for a significant portion of revenue.

无注释 原文： Apple Goes on the Offensive as iPhone Sales Slip in Its Biggest Overseas Market
From: The Wall Street Journal
Apple is offering rare discounts in China, including on its latest iPhones, in a bid to beat back growing competition in the high-end market.
The tech giant is running a promotion from Thursday through Sunday in China in which it is cutting the price of iPhones by the equivalent of up to $70. Other products will be discounted by up to $110. The promotion comes ahead of the weeklong Lunar New Year holiday beginning Feb. 10, a customary gift-giving season in China.
In the last quarter of 2023, iPhone sales in China fell 11% compared with the same period a year earlier, according to market-research firm Counterpoint. Ethan Qi, a Counterpoint analyst, linked the downturn to waning demand for smartphones in China and intensified competition from local rivals. In particular, Huawei is swiftly gaining ground.
“China remains a priority market for Apple, so it's not common but also not a big surprise” to see the company fight to defend its market share, Qi said.
The discount comes with some conditions, including the use of certain payment methods and limited quantity available at Apple's 46 retail stores in China, according to the company. It didn't mention any restrictions for online purchases, which is the main route for Chinese consumers to acquire a phone.
The company typically doesn't discount its latest iPhones, although a year ago it did offer some discounts on the iPhone 14 through certain sales channels in China.
Consumer demand has been weak recently and some companies have found success by advertising eye-popping discounts.
Third-party retailers have already been offering discounts on iPhones beyond what Apple plans to offer temporarily.
A third-party seller active on one of China's most popular e-commerce sites, Pinduoduo, on Tuesday was advertising the base model of the iPhone 15 Pro Max at 8,228 yuan, compared with Apple's official price of 9,999 yuan. The third-party seller's discount price is equivalent to about $1,150, or nearly $250 off Apple's price.
In recent years, the premium segment has emerged as the main growth driver in an otherwise-sluggish global smartphone market. The segment accounts for just under a quarter of smartphone sales globally but 60% of revenue, according to Counterpoint.
Apple has led the high-end market in China, but its position has grown shakier. A new model released by Huawei in August showed the Chinese company was able to turn out a phone with high-speed data transmission.
Analysts say Huawei's sales growth has been driven by demand in its home country. Other Chinese brands such as OnePlus and Honor are introducing competitive devices in the lower price range of the high-end sector, according to analysts.
A further rival is Samsung Electronics, which has long struggled in the Chinese market but recently made some inroads with its flagship Galaxy S23 and its foldable phones. Apple doesn't sell foldable phones.
Samsung is set to release its latest high-end smartphones globally this week, and it plans a new-product event in China in late January.
Apple did well globally last year despite its challenges in China. Research firm International Data Corporation said this week that Apple overtook Samsung at the top of the global smartphone market last year by number of devices shipped. Samsung had held the top position for more than a decade. Apple was also the only one of the top three companies to show year-over-year growth in shipment volume.
“Apple's ongoing success and resilience is in large part due to the increasing trend of premium devices, which now represent over 20% of the market,” said Nabila Popal, an analyst at IDC. - ◆ - 注：完整题目见本文开头；中文文本为华尔街日报官方译文，仅供参考 含注释全文：
Apple Goes on the Offensive as iPhone Sales Slip in Its Biggest Overseas Market
From: The Wall Street Journal
Apple is offering rare discounts in China, including on its latest iPhones, in a bid to beat back growing competition in the high-end market.
苹果公司（Apple）将在中国提供罕见的折扣，折扣商品包括最新款的iPhone手机，以抵御竞争对手在高端市场日益激烈的竞争。

beat sb/sth back
beat sb/sth back 表示“击退，逐回”，英文解释为“to use force to move someone or something away from you”

high-end
high-end /ˌhaɪˈend/ 1）表示“（产品）高端的，高档的”，英文解释为“intended for people who want very good quality products and who do not mind how much they cost”如：high-end video equipment/a high-end department store 高端的视频设备/高档的百货商场。
2）表示“高端的，高档的（消费者）”，英文解释为“wanting very good quality products, and willing to pay a lot of money for them”如：high-end consumers 高端消费者。

The tech giant is running a promotion from Thursday through Sunday in China in which it is cutting the price of iPhones by the equivalent of up to $70. Other products will be discounted by up to $110. The promotion comes ahead of the weeklong Lunar New Year holiday beginning Feb. 10, a customary gift-giving season in China.
该公司从周四到周日在中国开展促销活动，iPhone折扣最高相当于70美元。其他产品的折扣最高可达110美元。此次促销活动是在2月10日开始的为期一周的春节假期前进行，春节是中国传统的送礼季。

giant
giant /ˈdʒaɪ.ənt/表示“巨头，大公司”，英文解释为“Giant is often used to refer to any large, successful business organization or country.”如：Japanese electronics giant, Sony 日本的电子业巨头——索尼公司。
类似的还有： 📍mogul /ˈməʊɡəl/表示“（尤指新闻、影视界的）大人物；大亨”，英文解释为“A mogul is an important, rich, and powerful businessman, especially one in the news, film, or television industry.”如：an international media mogul一位国际传媒大亨。
📍magnate /ˈmæɡneɪt, -nɪt/ 表示“大亨，巨头”，英文解释为“a rich and powerful person in industry or business”。
📍tycoon /taɪˈkuːn/ 表示“巨头，大亨（工商界）”，英文解释为“someone who is successful in business or industry and has a lot of money and power”如：property tycoon 房地产大亨。
📍conglomerate /kənˈglɒmərɪt/ 表示“联合大公司；企业集团”，英文解释为“A conglomerate is a large business firm consisting of several different companies.”如：the world's second-largest media conglomerate 世界第二大传媒集团。
📍behemoth /ˈbiːhɪmɒθ/ 表示“巨头（指规模庞大、实力雄厚的公司或机构）”，英文解释为“a very big and powerful company or organization”。
📍titan /ˈtaɪ.tən/表示“巨人；巨头”，英文解释为“If you describe someone as a titan of a particular field, you mean that they are very important and powerful or successful in that field.”

promotion
promotion /prəˈməʊ.ʃən/ 1）表示“促销，推销；宣传”，英文解释为“activities to advertise something”如：a sales promotion 促销；
2）表示“提升，晋升”，英文解释为“the act of raising someone to a higher or more important position or rank”举个🌰：Did he get/Was he given the promotion he wanted? 他得到他梦寐以求的提升了吗？

equivalent
equivalent /ɪˈkwɪv.əl.ənt/ 1）作形容词，表示“（价值、数量、意义、重要性等）相等的，相同的”，英文解释为“equal in value, amount, meaning, importance, etc.”举个🌰：Eight kilometres is roughly equivalent to five miles. 八公里约等于五英里。
2）作名词，表示“相等的东西；等量；对应词”，英文解释为“a thing, amount, word, etc. that is equivalent to sth else”。
比如，提到Weibo时候会介绍为中国版的Twitter，常见的有几种说法： 🧣Weibo, China's Twitter-like service (SCMP) 🧣 Weibo, the Chinese equivalent to Twitter (NPR NEWS) 🧣Twitter-like Weibo (Reuters) 🧣Weibo, a Twitter-like platform (NYT)

customary
customary /ˈkʌs.tə.mər.i/ 1）相当于usual，表示“惯常的”，举个🌰：She's not her customary cheerful self today. 她今天不像往常那样乐呵呵的。
2）表示“传统的”，相当于traditional.

In the last quarter of 2023, iPhone sales in China fell 11% compared with the same period a year earlier, according to market-research firm Counterpoint. Ethan Qi, a Counterpoint analyst, linked the downturn to waning demand for smartphones in China and intensified competition from local rivals . In particular, Huawei is swiftly gaining ground .
市场研究公司Counterpoint的数据显示，2023年最后一个季度，iPhone在中国的销量较上年同期下降11%。Counterpoint分析师Ethan Qi认为，这主要是因为中国市场对智能手机的需求减弱，以及来自本土竞争对手的竞争加剧。尤其值得一提的是，华为（Huawei）仍在迅速扩大市场份额。

downturn
downturn /ˈdaʊn.tɜːn/ 作名词，表示“衰退，渐入低迷”，英文解释为“a reduction in the amount or success of something, such as a country's economic activity”如：the continuing economic downturn 经济的持续衰退。

wane
wane /weɪn/ 作动词，表示“衰减；减弱”，英文解释为“to become weaker in strength or influence”举个🌰：By the late 70s the band's popularity was beginning to wane. 上世纪70年代末，这支乐队的人气开始下滑。

intensify
intensify /ɪnˈten.sɪ.faɪ/ 作动词，表示“加强，增强；强化”，英文解释为“to become greater, more serious, or more extreme, or to make something do this”举个🌰：I jump, intensifying the pain in all my muscles. 我跳起来，浑身的肌肉更加疼痛了。

rival
rival /ˈraɪ.vəl/ 作名词，表示“竞争对手；敌手”，英文解释为“a person, group, etc. competing with others for the same thing or in the same area”；
作动词，表示“可与…相媲美，比得上”，英文解释为“to be as good, clever, beautiful, etc. as someone or something else”举个🌰：No computer can rival a human brain for/in complexity. 没有任何计算机比得上人脑复杂。

gain ground
表示“变得更受欢迎；取得进展；得到肯定”，英文解释为“If a political party or an idea or belief gains ground, it becomes more popular or accepted.”举个🌰：The Republicans are gaining ground in the southern states. 共和党在南部诸州越来越得人心。

“China remains a priority market for Apple, so it's not common but also not a big surprise” to see the company fight to defend its market share, Qi said.
Qi说，中国仍是苹果公司优先考虑的一个市场，因此苹果公司为捍卫市场份额而战的情况虽不常见，但也并太令人意外。
The discount comes with some conditions, including the use of certain payment methods and limited quantity available at Apple's 46 retail stores in China, according to the company. It didn't mention any restrictions for online purchases, which is the main route for Chinese consumers to acquire a phone.
据苹果公司称，该折扣附带一些条件，包括使用特定的支付方式，以及在中国的46家Apple Store零售店可折扣商品有数量限制。该公司没有提到对在线上商店有这样的数量限制，而网购是中国消费者购买手机的主要途径。

quantity
quantity /ˈkwɒn.tə.ti/ 表示“（尤指可测量或确定的）量，数量，分量”，英文解释为“the amount or number of something, especially that can be measured”举个🌰：We consumed vast quantities of food and drink that night. 那天晚上我们大吃大喝了一通。

The company typically doesn't discount its latest iPhones, although a year ago it did offer some discounts on the iPhone 14 through certain sales channels in China.
该公司最新款iPhone手机通常不会打折，但一年前在中国确实通过某些销售渠道对iPhone 14提供了一些折扣。
Consumer demand has been weak recently and some companies have found success by advertising ey e-popping discounts.
近来消费需求一直疲软，一些公司通过宣传惊人的折扣取得了成功。

advertise
advertise /ˈæd.və.taɪz/ 表示“（尤指为了销售某物）登广告，做广告，宣传；公布；征聘”，英文解释为“to make something known generally or in public, especially in order to sell it”举个🌰：We advertised our book in the local newspaper. 我们在当地报纸上登了广告出售我们的书。

eye-popping
表示“ 令人瞠目的；惊人的 ”，英文解释为“S omething that is eye-popping is very impressive or striking. ”举个🌰： For sure, there is little shortage of eye-popping scenery around here. 可以肯定的是，这里不缺乏令人着迷的景象。

Third-party retailers have already been offering discounts on iPhones beyond what Apple plans to offer temporarily.
第三方零售商已经在对iPhone打折，折扣力度大于苹果公司计划暂时提供的优惠。
A third-party seller active on one of China's most popular e-commerce sites, Pinduoduo, on Tuesday was advertising the base model of the iPhone 15 Pro Max at 8,228 yuan, compared with Apple's official price of 9,999 yuan. The third-party seller's discount price is equivalent to about $1,150, or nearly $250 off Apple's price.
周二，一家活跃在拼多多（Pinduoduo）上的第三方卖家打出了iPhone 15 Pro Max基本配置款售价人民币8228元的广告，相比之下苹果公司的官方售价为人民币9999元。该卖家的折扣价相当于约1,150美元，比苹果公司的价格便宜近250美元。拼多多是中国最受欢迎的电商网站之一。
In recent years, the premium segment has emerged as the main growth driver in an otherwise- sluggish global smartphone market. The segment accounts for just under a quarter of smartphone sales globally but 60% of revenue, according to Counterpoint.
近年来，高端市场已成为全球智能手机市场主要的增长动力，其他手机市场表现低迷。根据Counterpoint的数据，该细分市场在全球智能手机销量的份额接近四分之一，但却占收入的60%。

premium
premium /ˈpriːmɪəm/ 1）作形容词，表示“高昂的；优质的；高端的”，英文解释为“very high (and higher than usual); of high quality”，如：premium prices/products 奇高的价格；优质产品。
2）作名词，表示“奖金，津贴；加价；附加费”，英文解释为“A premium is a sum of money that you have to pay for something in addition to the normal cost.”举个🌰：Even if customers want "solutions," most are not willing to pay a premium for them. 即使顾客们想要“解决方案”，大部分人不愿意为此支付附加费。

segment
segment /ˈseɡ.mənt/ 1）作名词，可以表示“（群体或事物的）部分，片，段；（柑橘、柠檬的）瓣；（圆的一部分）弓形”，举个🌰：She cleaned a small segment of the painting. 她擦干净了这幅画的一小部分。
2）表示“分割；划分”，英文解释为“to divide sth into different parts”举个🌰：Market researchers often segment the population on the basis of age and social class. 市场研究人员常常按年龄和社会阶层划分人口。
3）表示“（电视、广播或互联网节目的）节，段”，英文解释为“a short piece of film that forms part of a television or radio programme, or that is broadcast on the internet”举个🌰：CNN last week broadcast a segment on homicides in the city. CNN上周播出了有关这座城市凶杀状况节目的一段。

sluggish
sluggish /ˈslʌɡɪʃ/ 表示“萧条的；迟钝的；行动缓慢的；迟缓的；缺乏活力的，性能欠佳的”，英文解释为“moving or operating more slowly than usual and with less energy or power”举个🌰：The housing market has been very sluggish these past few years. 过去这几年房地产市场一直很萧条。

Apple has led the high-end market in China, but its position has grown shakier. A new model released by Huawei in August showed the Chinese company was able to turn out a phone with high-speed data transmission .
苹果公司在中国的高端手机市场一直领先，但其地位已经开始有了一些动摇的趋势。华为去年8月份发布的一款新机型表明，该公司仍然能够生产出具有高速数据传输功能的手机。

transmission
transmission /trænzˈmɪʃ.ən/ 1）表示“（广播、电视等的）播送，播送内容”，英文解释为“the process of broadcasting something by radio, television, etc., or something that is broadcast”举个🌰：We apologize for the interruption to our transmissions this afternoon. 我们为今天下午广播节目的中断表示歉意。
2）表示“传递；传播”，英文解释为“the process of passing something from one person or place to another”如：the transmission of disease 疾病的传播。

Analysts say Huawei's sales growth has been driven by demand in its home country. Other Chinese brands such as OnePlus and Honor are introducing competitive devices in the lower price range of the high-end sector, according to analysts.
分析师称，华为的销售增长主要是受国内需求推动。分析师认为，一加（OnePlus）和荣耀（Honor）等其他中国品牌正在高端市场的较低价位区间推出具有竞争力的设备。
A further rival is Samsung Electronics, which has long struggled in the Chinese market but recently made some inroads with its flagship Galaxy S23 and its foldable phones. Apple doesn't sell foldable phones.
苹果公司另一个竞争对手三星电子（Samsung Electronics）在中国市场落寞已久，但最近凭借旗舰产品Galaxy S23和可折叠手机取得了一些进展。苹果公司不销售可折叠手机。

make inroads
make inroads/an inroad 表示“取得进展；产生效果”，英文解释为“to start to have a direct and noticeable effect (on something)”举个🌰：We have not been able to make much of an inroad into the backlog of work. 我们在处理积压事务方面没有太多进展。

flagship
flagship /ˈflæɡ.ʃɪp/ 表示“（某机构的）旗舰产品，最重要理念，主建筑物”，英文解释为“the best or most important product, idea, building, etc. that an organization owns or produces”举个🌰：This machine is the flagship in our new range of computers. 这台机器是我们新计算机系列的主打产品。

Samsung is set to release its latest high-end smartphones globally this week, and it plans a new-product event in China in late January.
三星电子定于本周在全球发布最新的高端智能手机，并计划于1月底在中国举行新品发布会。
Apple did well globally last year despite its challenges in China. Research firm International Data Corporation said this week that Apple overtook Samsung at the top of the global smartphone market last year by number of devices shipped . Samsung had held the top position for more than a decade. Apple was also the only one of the top three companies to show year-over-year growth in shipment volume .
尽管在中国面临种种挑战，但苹果公司去年在全球市场的表现可圈可点。研究机构国际数据公司（International Data Corporation, 简称IDC）本周称，按设备出货量计算，苹果公司去年在全球智能手机市场超越三星，登顶榜首。在之前的十多年间三星一直占据全球智能手机市场榜首的位置。苹果公司也是智能手机前三名中唯一一家出货量实现同比增长的公司。

overtake
overtake /ˌəʊ.vəˈteɪk/ 1）表示“（数量或程度上）大于，超过”，英文解释为“to go past something by being a greater amount or degree”举个🌰：Our US sales have now overtaken our sales in Europe. 我们在美国的销售额现已超过了我们在欧洲的销售额。
2）表示“超过，赶上，追上（人或车辆）”，英文解释为“to come from behind another vehicle or a person and move in front of them”举个🌰：Always check your rear view mirror before you overtake (another car). 超车前一定要先看一下后视镜。
3）表示“突然降临于；意外发生在”，英文解释为“to happen to a person or a place suddenly and unexpectedly”举个🌰：The family was overtaken by tragedy several years ago, and they still haven't recovered. 几年前这家人突遭不幸，到现在还没恢复过来。

ship
ship /ʃɪp/ 作动词，1）表示“运输，运送”，英文解释为“to send something, usually a large object or a large quantity of objects or people, to a place far away”举个🌰：We ship books out to New York every month. 我们每个月都往纽约运书。
2）表示“上市；把…推向市场”，英文解释为“to be available to be bought; to make sth available to be bought”举个🌰：The software is due to ship next month. 这个软件定于下月上市。

volume
volume /ˈvɒl.juːm/ 作名词，1）表示“总数；总量；总额”，英文解释为“the number or amount of something in general”举个🌰：It's the sheer volume of traffic in the city that is causing the problems. 造成这些问题的就是城里的交通流量。
2）表示“容积；体积；容量”，英文解释为“the amount of space that is contained within an object or solid shape”举个🌰：Which of these bottles do you think has the greater volume? 你认为这些瓶子中哪个容积最大？
3）表示“卷；册”，英文解释为“one in a set of related books”也可以表示“书”，英文解释为“a book”如：如：a volume of poetry 一本诗集，举个🌰：She took a slim volume down from the shelf. 她从书架上取下一本很薄的书。
4）表示“音量；音量调节钮”，英文解释为“the level of sound produced by a television, radio, etc., or the switch or other device controlling this”举个🌰：Could you turn the volume down, please, I'm trying to sleep. 你能把音量调低些吗？我要睡觉。

“Apple's ongoing success and resilience is in large part due to the increasing trend of premium devices, which now represent over 20% of the market,” said Nabila Popal, an analyst at IDC.
IDC分析师Nabila Popal说：“苹果公司的持续成功和韧性在很大程度上归功于高端设备日益增长的趋势，目前高端设备占整体手机市场的20%以上。”

resilience
resilience /rɪˈzɪliəns/ 表示“快速恢复的能力；适应力”，英文解释为“the ability of people or things to feel better quickly after sth unpleasant, such as shock, injury, etc.”
- 词汇盘点 - beat sb/sth back、 high-end、 giant、 promotion、 equivalent、 customary、 downturn、 wane、 intensify、 rival、 gain ground、 quantity、 advertise、 eye-popping、 premium、 segment、 sluggish、 transmission、 make inroads、 flagship、 overtake、 ship、 volume、 resilience
- 词汇助记 By ChatGPT - In a downturn, the resilient giant advertised its high-end flagship's eye-popping promotion, overtaking sluggish rivals by beating back sluggish transmissions, intensifying gains in volume and quantity shipping, while its premium segments made inroads, gaining ground with customary resilience. - 推荐阅读 - 为了这个合集，准备了整整三年
「LearnAndRecord」2023年度盘点
有人听写吗？我用AI做了个听力小程序
3000天，我是怎么坚持下来的 「合集」2023政府工作报告双语注释笔记
- END - LearnAndRecord 2015年2月8日
2024年1月17日 第3266天 每天持续行动学外语