THE FAITHFUL UNFAZED BY HIGHER PRICES
This year’s iPhones are some of most expensive, with XS Max model costing US$1,449
THE iPhone XS is up to US$200 (RM826.38) more expensive than last year’s already pricey iPhone X and represents one of the smallest advances in the product line’s history. But that means little to the Apple Inc faithful or those seeking to upgrade their older iPhone.
Hundreds of consumers lined up at Apple stores around the world either the day before or in the early hours before the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max went on sale on Friday.
Many consumers were seen lining up at the Orchard Road store in Singapore despite the hot weather. Other outlets, such as the IFC mall in Hong Kong, had much shorter lines as sales were largely restricted to those that had already ordered.
This year’s models include dual sim-cards for the first time, a popular feature on Android devices in Asia. That’s what appealed to Li Jun, who works for a trading company in Guangzhou and travelled to Hong Kong to pick up an iPhone XS for HK$9,899 (RM5,223.18).
“iPhone XS is expensive for me, but I just can’t resist the new dual SIMs feature,” Li said. “The feature allows me to have a local SIM card installed when I work abroad, without taking out my Chinese SIM card.”
In the US, new online iPhone XS orders aren’t arriving until between October 4 and October 11.
Wait times are similar in Hong Kong and Australia, while deliveries are taking one to two weeks in Mainland China.
This year’s demand isn’t as extreme as the early years of the iPhone, or even last year with the iPhone X.
The iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max have faster processors, camera improvements, and the Max offers a bigger screen.
But none of the enhancements are significant unless a user upgrading a much older iPhone.
This year’s iPhones are some of the most expensive smartphones on the market. In the US, the iPhone XS Max with 512 gigabytes of storage costs US$1,449 (RM5,982.20).
The overall price range is between US$449 and US$1,449 now, up from US$349 to US$1,149 previously.
The focus on pre-orders led to disappointment for some. Cao Zhongqiang from Shanghai was told he couldn’t get any devices on the first day without an existing order.