Interest among shoppers in China in Apple’s newest iPhone appears to be up this year compared to last year, according to media reports.
The Chinese online retailer JD.com has recorded more than 2 million pre-orders for the iPhone 13, compared to 1.5 million for the iPhone 12 in 2020, per reporting Thursday (Sept. 16) by CNBC and the South China Morning Post.
Consumer interest in the new phone is also apparently high on Albiaba’s Tmall platform, which is due to begin pre orders Friday.
Read more: Apple Unveils New iPhone, iPad, Watch
Apple unveiled the new iPhone — along with the iPad mini and the latest iteration of the Apple Watch — at its annual event earlier this week.
The tech giant has said the newest iPhones — iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max — will “push the boundaries” of how smartphones are used. Both phones come with a Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion, designed to improve the response rate of the touch experience.
Apple has also upgraded its camera, adding new Ultra Wide, Wide and Telephoto cameras powered by A15 Bionic, the fastest chip in a smartphone. The company says this technology is ideal for macro photography and includes a new autofocus system with software integration for sharper, brighter images.
As CNBC notes, China is one of Apple’s key markets, and any indication of strong sales there will be important as the holiday quarter approaches. It’s also a sign that Chinese consumers are still interested in the iPhone, despite the fact that the latest model isn’t that much different from the iPhone 12.
And according to the South China Morning Post, weak competition in China could be driving the pre-orders. Apple’s competitor in the country, Huawei, has struggled under trade sanctions and has yet to put out a premium phone comparable to the iPhone.
Meanwhile, investors don’t seem to have been moved much by Apple’s announcement, as the company’s stock has stayed more or less flat all week.
We’re always on the lookout for opportunities to partner with innovators and disruptors.
Learn More