The iPhone 17 reached stores around the world on Friday, drawing Beijing lines to London.
But beyond the launch of Buzz, Apple It is under pressure to demonstrate your worth, deal with questions about your artificial intelligence plans, as well as increase competition.
Exhibition products for the first time include the iPhone 17 PRO, iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone Air, as well as new Apple Watch and Airpods models.
Although they were available for advance orders in the US. As of September 12, the global launch has a particular meaning as Apple assumes the growing competition in foreign markets.
China competition
One of those markets is China, where customers waited for hours, and even during the night, to have the new iPhone in their hands
First in the row at the Apple flagship store in Sanlitun, Beijing, this morning, was Liu, did not want to be identified by his full name, who told CNBC that he had been queuing from 11 pm local time on Thursday for his opportunity to collect the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
A client shows its new iPhone 17 at the Apple Recent Street store on September 19.
Arjun Kharpal | CNBC
He said he was excited about the new color and exterior design of the smartphone, which Apple says that the heat dissipation of the phone has improved.
In particular, Liu also said that he has changed Apple from Huawei in recent years, saying that he preferred the iPhone for daily use and entertainment.
Another person, who wanted to be identified only by his last name, Yang, a former Xiaomi user, said he had been waiting to have the last iPhone in his hands, preferring his operating system.
Both Liu and Yang expect many Chinese residents to buy their first iPhone this year due to new features, including the largest internal storage.
If that trend would work, it would be good news for Apple, which has lost market share in China with players like Huawei and Xiaomi.
After years of leadership in the region, the iPhone manufacturer now only has 10% of the Chinese smartphone market, following local players such as Oppo, Huawei, Xiaomi and others, according to OMDIA data.
Apple’s latest iPhone models are shown in its Recent Street store, London, the day of launching of the iPhone 17.
Arjun Kharpal | CNBC
Until now, the signs are positive for the iPhone 17 series in China. Last Friday, JD.com, one of the largest electronic commerce platforms in China, saw the first minute of orders from the iPhone 17 series to overcome the early ordering volume of the first day of the iPhone 16 series last year, the company reported.
At 10 am local time on Friday, JD.com said iPhone 17 exchange sales were four times higher than last year.
Other markets
In the market much smaller but rich in Singapore, the redesigned iPhone 17S also found fervor, with long lines that were formed outside Apple’s exits throughout the city.
Iman Isa and Daniel Muhamed Nuv, two young professionals in Singapore, were queued for hours at Apple’s exit in the city’s iconic marine shopping center to buy Pros from the iPhone 17, which according to them were their first new phones in years.
Citing fresh design, the longest duration of the battery and the improved camera, they said that the new phones offer enough to keep them loyal to the Apple ecosystem.
According to early ordering times and consumer feedback, the initial global demand of the iPhone 17 series seems to a positive extent, said Le Xuan Chiew, OMDIA Research Manager.
The basic model of the iPhone 17 in particular has exceeded expectations, since the price at the launch remained unchanged in its predecessor despite the updates in memory storage, Chief said.
In Singapore, customers who arrived at Apple’s points of sale had also been looking to catch some of the company’s new Airpods Pro 3, citing the live translation function of the product as an important point of sale.
In London, the lines were remarkably longer than they were at last year’s launch of the iPhone 16, and customers seemed more interested in premium offers, Pro and Pro Max models, this time.
People aligned on the outskirts of the Recent Street store, London of Apple, on September 19 to have the last iPhone 17 in their hands.
Arjun Kharpal | CNBC
“During the last five years, I have been in a constant update pattern of my phone, because every year Apple brings something new to the table,” said a client, Jasmine. “I love having that experience of Apple every year.”
Meanwhile, Michael, who described himself as a content creator, said he was attracted to the battery and the camera.
“I thought about going for the [iPhone] Air, but I don’t know if the battery can endure or not. And that individual chamber? I don’t know, it’s a bit unpleasant on the back, “he said about the thin offer of Apple iPhone 17.
Apple intelligence
A successful launch of the iPhone 17 could help reassure Apple investors after a somewhat disappointing launch of its artificial intelligence characteristics, which began at the end of last year.
In statements to “CNBC Europe” Squawk Box “last week, Ben Wood, Chief Analyst of CCS Insight, praised Apple’s latest products, but said the company now needed to meet artificial intelligence.
“There is no doubt that Apple needs to meet the AI,” he said, and said that the company had “left the ball” last year making great promises that did not materialize.
“Apple has to catch up [in AI]But at this time, I think they have enough clue to face the intermediate period. “
– Arjun Kharpal and Eunice Yoon of CNBC contributed to this report
