Apple Inc’s AAPL latest flagship, the iPhone 15 Pro Max, has experienced delivery delays of up to three weeks in China, indicating a strong demand for the premium device.
The Pro Max, starting at $1,199, saw its delivery times pushed into October shortly after pre-orders began on September 22.
These delays affected all available colors and most storage capacities, according to Bloomberg. However, many of Apple’s 270 U.S. retail stores still offer day-one availability for in-store pickup.
In China, where iPhone sales represent nearly 20% of Apple’s total sales, the shipment delays for the iPhone 15 Pro Max are four to five weeks, and two to three weeks for the Pro model, as reported by Reuters.
Unlike the U.S., Apple has chosen to raise prices for premium models in key markets like China, Japan, and India. This strategy is driven by the fact that consumers in these markets are not deterred by price increases for premium devices.
The pre-order demand for the iPhone 15 Pro Max suggests that Apple’s pricing strategy is successful, despite the higher starting price compared to the previous year.
In contrast, the standard iPhone 15 Pro, with a smaller screen, experiences more limited delays, primarily for the natural titanium model in specific storage capacities. The lower-end iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus models do not show immediate delays on Apple’s website.
During the pre-order availability, some users reported temporary difficulties in placing orders and occasional crashes of Apple’s mobile store app, highlighting the significant initial demand for the new iPhone models.
The iPhone 15 Pro series offers notable upgrades from the previous year, including a titanium casing, improved camera zoom capabilities, and a faster processor built on 3-nanometer architecture.
Price Action: AAPL shares traded lower by 0.35% at $175.23 on the last check Friday.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
