iPhone 16 Not Supporting WeChat? Talks Ongoing Between Apple and Tencent Over "Apple Tax" Fees

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Apple’s iPhone 16 Launch Sparks Controversy Over WeChat Support

Next week, Apple is set to unveil its highly anticipated iPhone 16 series. However, recent rumors circulating on Chinese social media platforms claim that the new iPhone models may not support WeChat, leading to widespread discussion. Major Chinese media outlets, including Beike Finance, have since debunked these claims as false.

An Apple technical consultant from the company’s China hotline explained that any decisions regarding the compatibility of the iOS system or Apple devices with WeChat, including its continued availability in the App Store, require ongoing communication and negotiations between Apple and Tencent, WeChat’s parent company. This indicates that the ongoing tension between Apple and Tencent is far from resolved.

The consultant noted that developers may need to pay fees to Apple for software listed on the App Store. As negotiations progress, Apple is actively discussing with Tencent whether they will continue to offer software downloads on Apple’s platform while maintaining revenue-sharing agreements. Given WeChat’s popularity, both companies are likely to seek solutions that benefit their respective interests.

Official customer service from Apple stated that no notification regarding WeChat’s potential removal from the iOS environment has been received. Similarly, Tencent employees mentioned that they have not been informed of any such issues. Additionally, other reputable outlets like Daily Economic News and First Financial have also labeled the claims about WeChat’s functionality with the upcoming iOS 18.2 as rumors.

Reports emerged in August suggesting that Apple was considering imposing a so-called “Apple tax” on WeChat and Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok. It was reported that Apple was increasing pressure on both Tencent and ByteDance, requiring them to close payment loopholes in their apps. If these developers do not eliminate their users’ ability to bypass Apple’s ecosystem, updates for WeChat may be withheld.

During Tencent’s earnings call on the 14th, the management team addressed the “Apple tax,” asserting that they currently do not monetize mini-programs via in-app transactions on iOS. They believe that establishing such monetization would benefit all parties involved, including developers and users. However, they emphasized that achieving this goal must remain economically sustainable and fair.

Apple’s annual fall product launch event is scheduled for 1 AM on September 10, where the iPhone 16 series is expected to be revealed.