Apple’s Flagship Store in Shanghai Buzzing as iPhone 15 Hits Shelves
Shanghai, China: Apple’s flagship store in the financial hub of Shanghai witnessed over a hundred eager customers queuing up as the iPhone 15 became available for in-store purchase on its debut day.
The performance of Apple’s latest iPhone in China is drawing significant attention from fans and market observers. Concerns had arisen due to increased restrictions on iPhone use by government officials and the release of a high-end competitor from domestic manufacturer Huawei. These factors raised questions about the demand for the device in its third-largest market.
However, strong pre-orders in the world’s second-largest economy, which commenced the previous Friday, have alleviated some of these concerns. Delivery times have extended into November, and the premium iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models sold out within just one minute on Alibaba’s Tmall e-commerce platform.
Reports from local media indicated that the queue at the Shanghai store, located on the prominent East Nanjing Road shopping district, started forming as early as 5 a.m. (1000 GMT).
Among those waiting was 25-year-old social media influencer Zhang Ming, who expressed her desire to try out the iPhone 15 after facing difficulties with online pre-ordering.
“I always like to see the new devices. When I buy Apple products, I focus on the color. If I like the color, I will buy it,” she remarked.
The iPhone 15 boasts a new titanium shell, a faster chip, and improved gaming capabilities. Apple’s decision to keep prices steady has also been surprising given the global decline in smartphone sales.
However, some customers at the store noted that the upgrades from the previous model were not significant. Wang Puyu, a 29-year-old real estate worker, revealed that he was only buying a new model because he had promised to give his iPhone 14 to his nephew.
“I typically upgrade annually, but this year, I’m not very satisfied,”
