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Apple Announces December Launches for iPhone 5, iPad Mini, and Fourth-Generation iPad in China

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Following word earlier this week that the iPhone 5 had received final certification in China, Apple today announced that it will be bringing not only the iPhone 5 but also the iPad mini and fourth-generation iPad to the country over the next several weeks.

Apple today announced the Wi-Fi versions of iPad mini and fourth generation iPad with Retina display will be available in China on Friday, December 7, and iPhone 5 will be available on Friday, December 14. iPad mini and the new fourth generation iPad with Retina display are currently available in 42 countries, and iPhone 5 is available in 47 countries, including the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and the UK.

ipad mini china
China now accounts for 15% of Apple's revenues, making the new product launches a significant development for the company. Apple's Chinese product launches have typically lagged well behind those in other countries, but the company has been working to shorten those gaps. The iPhone 4S launched in China three months after the device's debut, while the third-generation iPad took four months to arrive in the country.

With today's announcement, the iPhone 5 will be arriving in China roughly two and a half months after the initial round of launches, while the iPad mini and fourth-generation iPad are coming to China just a month after their debut in the U.S. and other first-round markets.

Related Roundups: iPad, iPad mini
Tag: China
Buyer's Guide: iPad (Don't Buy), iPad Mini (Don't Buy)
Related Forums: iPad, iPhone

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Top Rated Comments

K
kcamfork
180 months ago
Low stocks or no stocks. Hard to find anywhere. Long waits for buyers in countries where it's already officially launched...

Let's immediately launch into one of the most populous countries in the world.

Nothing against China but you would think they would want to be able to somewhat keep pace with orders in the markets where it's already launched before going into other HUGE markets and further frustrating more people with longer wait times.

(and yes, I know all about the positive business effect of scarcity marketing).

Now crank up those wait times even more while chunks of production are further split among new markets.

This mode of thinking makes no sense, and is typical entitled-like thinking here in the USA...
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
chriscrk Avatar
chriscrk
180 months ago
I just want the iPhone 5 to arrive in Chile already! I'm tired of my stupid android based phone (if you can even call it that).
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
T
Thunderhawks
180 months ago
Low stocks or no stocks. Hard to find anywhere. Long waits for buyers in countries where it's already officially launched...

Let's immediately launch into one of the most populous countries in the world.

Nothing against China but you would think they would want to be able to somewhat keep pace with orders in the markets where it's already launched before going into other HUGE markets and further frustrating more people with longer wait times.

(and yes, I know all about the positive business effect of scarcity marketing).

Now crank up those wait times even more while chunks of production are further split among new markets.

Never learned to wait for non essential things for life?

Geez! Let's go postal!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
F
FreeRange1
180 months ago
Well said, Apple products are high end luxury in China where the vast majority of the population could not dream of buying any of them.[COLOR="#808080"]

----------

I am an expat living in China and can assure you that 10's of millions of middle class AND lower middle class people are buying Apple products. With an extremely high savings rate, they spend above average amounts of their income on "luxury goods". Further, even those that can't afford Apple products will save for a long time to buy one. They most certainly do dream of owning one.

Final point, the Chinese middle class is now larger than that of the US!
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kalsta Avatar
kalsta
180 months ago
Low stocks or no stocks. Hard to find anywhere. Long waits for buyers in countries where it's already officially launched...

Let's immediately launch into one of the most populous countries in the world.

Nothing against China but you would think they would want to be able to somewhat keep pace with orders in the markets where it's already launched before going into other HUGE markets and further frustrating more people with longer wait times.

If you happened to live in China, would you feel the same do you think?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
K
KirkL
180 months ago
Low stocks or no stocks. Hard to find anywhere. Long waits for buyers in countries where it's already officially launched...

Let's immediately launch into one of the most populous countries in the world.

Nothing against China but you would think they would want to be able to somewhat keep pace with orders in the markets where it's already launched before going into other HUGE markets and further frustrating more people with longer wait times.

(and yes, I know all about the positive business effect of scarcity marketing).

Now crank up those wait times even more while chunks of production are further split among new markets.

Looks like they've caught up with demand if the US is any indication (and with the US contributing to something like 30% of all iPhone sales, I'd say it probably is...).

And just because China is the most populous country doesn't mean the 1.3+ billion population will line up to buy the phone.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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