This year, the iPhone 17 series comes with notable changes: while the standard version only saw incremental updates, the Pro models underwent a major redesign. Altogether, the iPhone 17 lineup is expected to trigger a significant upgrade cycle.
At $Apple(AAPL)$ Beijing Sanlitun store, long lines had already formed early in the morning. By 9 a.m.—nearly an hour after opening—the queue was still just as long.
Outside the store, scalpers crowded the entrance, waiting to scoop up the first batch of products. One scalper said they were mainly buying and reselling the Pro series, with the orange model fetching a ¥500 premium and other colors going for ¥200 more.
It’s much weaker than in previous years. With only ¥200–¥500 of profit margin, scalpers are unlikely to make much money this time. As for the standard model, since it’s already priced lower and heavily promoted on e-commerce platforms, scalpers aren’t buying it at all—there’s simply no profit to be made.
The iPhone 17 series is indeed generating strong buzz this year. With subsidies from major Chinese platforms, the standard version is driving sales online, while offline stock is focused on the Pro and Pro Max models. The iPhone Air has yet to appear in physical stores.
For those eager to upgrade, it’s recommended to buy at launch. But if saving money is the priority, waiting for Singles’ Day could be wiser, as there seems to be ample room for price cuts.
The iPhone 17 officially goes on sale today.
Are you planning to upgrade?
Will iPhone 17 really deliver the expected upgrade boom?
Next week, sales forecasts will be released—can Apple turn around its year-to-date loss?
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