iPhone 17 sets record

iPhone 17 pre-order sales in China broke all records just one minute after going on sale, showing the strong appeal of the new iPhone line.

iPhone 17 pre-orders in China are a positive sign for Apple, as many competing brands have or are about to launch new products. Photo: Tom's Guide .

Apple's new iPhone 17 series has created a fever in the Chinese market. In just the first minute after going on sale at 8pm on September 12, sales on JD.com surpassed the entire first-day pre-orders of the iPhone 16 series last year, according to SCMP .

The base iPhone 17 with 256GB of storage was the most popular option. This record is all the more impressive because the iPhone Air has not been released in China due to a delay in its launch. Apple is working with Chinese regulators to address issues related to the use of eSIM on the iPhone Air.

Demand exceeds supply

The huge volume of orders has caused customers to have trouble accessing Apple's pre-order website. One lucky customer who placed an order on launch day, September 19, said it took five minutes for the system to process the payment.

In Shanghai, all the pick-up times for the iPhone 17 Pro Max at Apple stores were booked within 20 minutes. On the morning of September 13, all customers in Guangzhou who wanted to buy the iPhone 17, regardless of the version, had to wait until October 15.

“Apple has cleverly segmented its product line, ensuring each model caters to a distinct user need. Together, these devices should drive a strong wave of purchases for the company,” said Nabila Popal, senior research manager at IDC.

The iPhone 17 Pro and the regular model both quickly "sold out" on pre-order sites in China. Photo: 9to5mac.

The iPhone Air, which replaces the Plus model in this launch, is expected to sell much better. IDC estimates that the iPhone Air will account for 5% to 7% of Apple's global shipments compared to previous Plus models. However, the lack of eSIM support means the iPhone Air will be absent from the China launch.

Apple has changed its iPhone Air pre-order information in mainland China, replacing the original launch schedule with the words "launch information will be updated later."

An Apple representative said the company is "working closely with regulators to bring products to China as soon as possible." The three state-owned carriers China Unicom, China Mobile and China Telecom will support eSIM "with specific timing subject to regulatory approval."

Shortly after Apple launched the eSIM-only iPhone Air globally, SCMP reported that sales staff at some authorized Apple resellers in Foshan and other major cities in Guangdong province had not yet received training on eSIM support. In contrast, staff at European resellers were required to complete the relevant course early.

iPhone Air has not been released in China due to regulations related to eSIM. Photo: CNN.

It seems that eSIMs in China will have special technical standards. iPhone Air models purchased outside of the country will not be able to install eSIM profiles from Chinese carriers.

Chinese brands are ready to "welcome" Apple

Despite the success of the iPhone 17, Apple still faces fierce competition from Chinese brands. Huawei is actively targeting the high-end segment to compete directly with Apple.

Just days before Apple launched the iPhone 17, Huawei introduced its second-generation tri-fold smartphone. Xiaomi also moved the launch of the Xiaomi 16 from October to late September. Two other companies, Vivo and Oppo, are also ready to launch the X300 and Find X9 series in October.

In early September, Huawei also upgraded its Mate XTs tri-fold phone in China. Photo: Lei Technology.

"iPhone sales in China will struggle in the second half of 2025 due to weak consumer spending and the lack of attractiveness of iPhone 17 upgrades to stimulate demand," Ivan Lam, senior analyst at Counterpoint Research, predicted.

Consulting firm TrendForce predicts global shipments of the iPhone 17 series will be 3.5% higher than last year's iPhone 16 series. The Pro series will still be the main driver of sales.

Market research shows that customers around the world are demanding thinner devices. The 5.8mm thick Samsung S25 Edge sold more than a million units in its first month, becoming the sixth best-selling smartphone globally in the premium segment of $1,000- $1,600 .

Close-up of iPhone 17 Pro Max in Cosmic Orange, highest price 64 million VND The new orange color of iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max stands out, brighter than safe choices like yellow, blue, gray of previous years.

Source: https://znews.vn/iphone-17-lap-ky-luc-post1585168.html