Apple fans eagerly anticipating the iPhone 15 Pro Max in countries like China, Japan, and the United States may need to exercise patience as delivery dates have been pushed back to November, signaling strong demand for the device. This delay comes as a relief for Apple, addressing concerns about demand for their flagship product following a slowdown in iPhone sales earlier in the year.
The four-to-five-week wait for the Pro Max in China, in particular, eases concerns about the smartphone's performance in a highly competitive market. In the United States, the wait extends to six to seven weeks for the Pro Max, while it's five to six weeks in Japan. However, analysts suggest this delay is also due to initial supply constraints, particularly regarding the Pro Max's specialized displays with thinner bezels.
Strong Demand in China
Demand for the high-end iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models was exceptionally high in China, with both models selling out on Alibaba's Tmall marketplace within a minute of becoming available. On JD.com, another prominent sales channel for Apple in China, over 3.4 million reservations were made for the four iPhone 15 models ahead of their official release.
This strong demand in China comes as the decline of Huawei, once a dominant player, has left room for Apple to capture a substantial portion of consumers in the $600+ price segment. Analysts believe that the new iPhone 15 series, particularly the Pro models, will appeal to existing iPhone 11 and 12 users seeking an upgrade. However, Huawei's recently launched Mate 60 series with advanced chips poses a challenge to Apple's market position.
Huawei's Potential Comeback
Huawei's Mate 60 series, introduced with advanced chip technology, could mark a comeback for the Chinese tech giant after its business was severely affected by US export controls. Huawei's unexpected sales success prompted the company to raise its second-half shipment target for the Mate 60 series by 20 percent and increase its forecast for new smartphone shipments in 2023 to at least 40 million units.
Despite a low-key launch without pre-marketing or extravagant events, Huawei's strategy seems to be resonating with consumers. The company is set to hold an event on September 25 to further discuss its new smartphone offerings.