Apple’s flagship store in Shanghai is booming as the iPhone 15 goes on sale

SHANGHAI/BEIJING (Reuters) – More than a hundred customers lined up inside Apple’s flagship store in Shanghai, China’s financial hub, on Friday, waiting to pick up their iPhone 15 orders on the store’s first day. Availability.

How Apple’s latest iPhones are sold in China is under close scrutiny by fans and market watchers alike, after expanding restrictions on iPhone use by government employees and the release of a high-end competitor from local manufacturer Huawei (HWT.UL) raised concerns about… Demand for the device is in its third largest market.

But strong pre-orders in the world’s second-largest economy, which began last Friday, have eased concerns, with delivery dates pushed back to November and the premium iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max selling out in just a minute on Alibaba (9988.HK) commerce site Tmall. e.

Local media reported that the queue in front of the store located on East Nanjing Road in Shanghai began forming at five in the morning (1000 GMT).

Among those at the store was social media influencer Zhang Ming, 25, who said she wanted to try out the iPhone 15 after having no success with an online pre-order.

“I always like to look (at new devices). When I buy Apple products, I just look at the color. If I like the color, I will buy it,” she said.

iPhone 15 includes a new titanium casing, a faster chip and improved video game capabilities. Apple was also surprised by not raising prices, which reflects the decline in smartphones globally.

But some customers at the store lamented the lack of major upgrades over the previous model. Real estate worker Wang Boyu, 29, said he was only buying a new model because he promised to give his iPhone 14 to his nephew.

“I usually upgrade every year. But this year, I’m not very satisfied.”

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