iPhone 17 sets a record.

Pre-orders for the iPhone 17 in China broke all records just one minute after sales opened, demonstrating the strong appeal of the new iPhone line.

Pre-order sales of the iPhone 17 in China show promising signs for Apple, amidst a backdrop of many competing brands having already launched or about to launch new products. Photo: Tom's Guide .

Apple's new iPhone 17 series has created an unprecedented frenzy in the Chinese market. Within the first minute of sales opening at 8 PM on September 12th, sales on JD.com surpassed the entire first-day pre-order volume of last year's iPhone 16 series, according to SCMP .

The standard iPhone 17 version with 256GB of storage became the most popular choice. This record is even more impressive considering the iPhone Air has not yet been released in China due to a delay in its launch. Apple is working with Chinese regulators to resolve issues related to the use of eSIM on the iPhone Air.

Demand exceeds supply.

The massive number of pre-orders made it difficult for customers to access Apple's pre-order website. One lucky customer who managed to get a device on launch day, September 19th, said it took 5 minutes for the system to process the payment.

In Shanghai, all in-store pickup slots for the iPhone 17 Pro Max were booked up within 20 minutes. On the morning of September 13th, all customers in Guangzhou wanting to buy an iPhone 17, regardless of the version, had to wait until October 15th.

"Apple has cleverly segmented its product line, ensuring each model caters to the distinct needs of users. Combined, these devices will drive a strong wave of purchases for the company," said Nabila Popal, senior research director at IDC.

Both the iPhone 17 Pro and the regular models quickly sold out on pre-order sites in China. Photo: 9to5mac.

The iPhone Air, the replacement for the Plus models in this launch, is expected to sell much better. IDC estimates that the iPhone Air will contribute between 5% and 7% of Apple's total global shipments compared to previous Plus models. However, the lack of iPhone Air support in the Chinese launch, due to the limited eSIM support, meant the launch was largely absent.

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

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

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

The iPhone Air has not yet gone on sale in China due to regulations related to eSIM. Photo: CNN.

It appears that eSIMs in China will have specific technical requirements. iPhone Air models purchased outside of China will not be able to install eSIM profiles from Chinese carriers.

A host of 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 triple-folding smartphone. Xiaomi also moved the launch of the Xiaomi 16 from October to the end of September. Two other companies, Vivo and Oppo, are also ready to launch their X300 and Find X9 series in October.

In early September, Huawei also upgraded its Mate XTs triple-folding 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 iPhone 17 upgrade not being attractive enough to stimulate demand," predicts Ivan Lam, senior analyst at Counterpoint Research.

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

Market research shows that customers worldwide are demanding thinner devices. The Samsung S25 Edge, with a thickness of 5.8 mm, sold over one million units in its first month, becoming the sixth-best-selling smartphone globally in the premium segment priced between $1,000 and $1,600 .

A closer look at the Space Orange iPhone 17 Pro Max, priced at a top 64 million VND. The new orange shade of the iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max is striking and much brighter than the safer options like gold, green, and gray from previous years.

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