The iPhone 17 is resonating with Chinese consumers, with seemingly strong preorder sales volume.
The base iPhone 17 with 256 GB storage was said to be the most popular model.
Strong sales in China will be good news for investors, who have worried that Apple’s marketshare in the region is being eroded by local brands.
However, this only includes a couple weeks of new iPhone sales.
The bulk of iPhone 17, iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro demand will be recognized in the holiday quarter.
The iPhone 17 appears to be a hit with Chinese customers, as evidenced by the high volume of preorder sales. Sales of the iPhone 17 at JD . com, a major Chinese online retailer, surpassed the first day of iPhone 16 preorders last year within the first hour of the preorders opening, according to the South China Morning Post.
The most popular model was reportedly the entry-level iPhone 17 with 256 GB of storage. Apple has postponed the iPhone Air’s release indefinitely while it awaits regulatory approval regarding eSIM.
This year’s upgrades to the base iPhone 17 make it a really good value-for-money premium phone, which contributes to its popularity in addition to being the cheapest model.
Apple increased the screen’s size from 6.1 to 6.3 inches, added a 120 FPS ProMotion refresh rate, and added always-on display mode in comparison to the iPhone 16. The back ultra-wide lens now has 48 megapixels, and the front selfie camera is significantly improved. Along with doubling the base storage to 256 GB, Apple kept the $799 price tag from the previous year.
For investors who have been concerned that local brands are reducing Apple’s market share in the region, strong sales in China will be welcome news.
The iPhone 17’s availability at the Apple Online Store appears to be limited in the US as well; Apple is currently quoting delivery times of two to three weeks for certain configurations. The iPhone 17 Pro appears to be performing well as well.
At its upcoming quarterly investor earnings call in October, Apple will formally release its third-quarter financial results. This only accounts for a few weeks’ worth of new iPhone sales, though. The demand for the iPhone 17, iPhone Air, and iPhone 17 Pro will peak during the holiday season.
