Apple iPhone 5 officially launches in China

China is an absolutely huge smartphone market. So big that even though the iPhone currently only has the access rights to China's 3rd largest mobile carrier, and has less than 10% of the smartphone market share, China is the second largest market for Apple. And, today market the release of the iPhone 5 in the country.

Retail stores opened at 8AM today with the iPhone 5 in stock, and China Unicom reported earlier this week that it had received more than 300,000 pre-orders for the iPhone 5. Apple currently has about 100 million iPhone users in China, and is looking to take more. The country represents 15% of Apple's revenue for 2011.

The global release won't be stopping in China. Apple has plans to release the iPhone 5 in fifty more markets by the end of the year.

source: The Next Web

17 Comments

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posted on 13 Dec 2012, 21:00 5

1. Thephonegeek (Posts: 118; Member since: 22 Nov 2012)

Xiaomi mi1s recieved more orders than that in several hours. Apple huh? You lost the battle with Android.

posted on 14 Dec 2012, 00:58

6. PhenomFaz (Posts: 1236; Member since: 26 Sep 2012)

If the chinese wanted something like an iPhone they would've made it themselves! Apple you lost in china a long time ago....90% of the country uses android...and that's the smarter choice!

posted on 14 Dec 2012, 04:15

9. darkkjedii (Posts: 24444; Member since: 05 Feb 2011)

Choice is usually personal bro, and based on some ones needs. My go to device is an ip5, not cuz it's better than competing android devices but simply cuz I'm vested in the iOS Eco system, and like a lot of the ways the ip5 works. It has its short coming believe me, but so does my one x. Choose wisely is all I can say. Hope all is well bro

posted on 14 Dec 2012, 04:32

10. PhenomFaz (Posts: 1236; Member since: 26 Sep 2012)

long time mate! I've been keepin busy.
Choice is personal...very well put. But why the delay in launching the iP5? And not only in china but in India as well (I was there on seminar). Thats what I dont get the south east asian markets have more than half of the world's population and anyone who delays launching an international product is making a big mistake...is all what I am sayin. And thats the reason the south east asian markets have become vested in the android ecosys. My personal fav is the Note 2 though..not because of android but because of the sheer number of productivity features and experiences it brings :)

posted on 14 Dec 2012, 07:20 1

11. darkkjedii (Posts: 24444; Member since: 05 Feb 2011)

I'm looking into buying one of those I'm in awe of it, but unfortunately I have to pay full price and in addition to it being Christmas time I'm also saving for a wedding since I just got engaged. Hopefully after the holidays I can find a cheap one on Craigslist. I think apple had to wait for approval in parts of china, but don't quote me.

posted on 15 Dec 2012, 01:58

17. PhenomFaz (Posts: 1236; Member since: 26 Sep 2012)

screw apple and sammy for the moment....
Congrats on the big day bro! `

posted on 13 Dec 2012, 21:36

2. mercorp (Posts: 1043; Member since: 28 Jan 2012)

The iPhone fans often tend to be wealthier urban citizens,which is a bit of a niche.
The more common people will head to Lenovo,zte,huawei and the like.
If apple is only concerned about profit margins,they will find themselves in a very niche position.

posted on 14 Dec 2012, 04:12

8. darkkjedii (Posts: 24444; Member since: 05 Feb 2011)

I don't know why people don't understand that. Apple model is based on profits, not market share and apple makes this clear all the time. From specs, to os, to business model apple isn't trying to play googles game, or beat them at it. Google is open source apple is proprietary both of them simply go about their business. It's the fans of these companies that act like little kids on tech sites dissing each other while apple, google, Samsung etc take OUR money.

posted on 14 Dec 2012, 11:43

15. lolioslol (banned) (Posts: 182; Member since: 10 Dec 2012)

right, apple likes to sue sue sue and block products from ever being released. That's how they "win". They don't need to have the BEST product available, just the ONLY product available. Disgusting.

posted on 14 Dec 2012, 17:56

16. darkkjedii (Posts: 24444; Member since: 05 Feb 2011)

I'm not gonna argue, and have childish rants with u dude. I've seen ur other posts, and have no time for u.

posted on 13 Dec 2012, 22:08

3. tusshharish (Posts: 342; Member since: 23 Oct 2012)

damn s**t...........

posted on 13 Dec 2012, 23:16

4. prakesh (Posts: 92; Member since: 13 Sep 2012)

its launching day here in the Philippines too.

posted on 13 Dec 2012, 23:43 1

5. freebee269 (Posts: 539; Member since: 10 Aug 2012)

bad thing about the iphone in the chinese market is to get 3g coverage on it, it will only run on 1 carrier. iphone 5 doesnt support china mobile td-scdma, which is the countries largest carrier. so if you buy your iphone from china telecom, you are stuck on china telecom. if you took your iphone to china mobile you'd only get EDGE speeds and thats not good. the lumia 920T released this week will sell more than the iphone 5 because its radio supports all of china's carriers. lumia 920T is also 20% cheaper in china. another big thing in china is your phone number. ppl dont like to lose their phone number at all. so getting an unlocked lumia 920T to work on whatever carrier you want it on and being able to keep your number is alot more attractive than getting an iphone and being stuck to 1 carrier or taking your iphone to another carrier and losing your number while being knocked down to EDGE speeds.

posted on 14 Dec 2012, 03:21 1

7. Topcat488 (Posts: 1396; Member since: 29 Sep 2012)

If Apple was smart... They would release their hardware on Android!!! Then they would see how many Fandroids are hungry for that "Logo",on their smartphone, in a open source operating system... If I were a Apple manager, I'd have them produce different size phones, from 3.5"-->4.5"--> 5.5" Hardware for all platforms ios, windows, and android software.

posted on 14 Dec 2012, 07:27

12. darkkjedii (Posts: 24444; Member since: 05 Feb 2011)

Not a bad idea. Most android fans actually like apples hardware it's the software they don't care for