Apple iPhone 17 goes on sale globally as questions remain over China market and AI strategy

On Friday morning, enthusiastic customers converged on Apple stores worldwide to purchase the latest generation of iPhones, despite ongoing concerns regarding the company's artificial intelligence strategy and intensifying competition in the tech industry. In China, eager buyers formed long lines, some waiting overnight, to acquire the new iPhone models. At the flagship Apple Store in Sanlitun, Beijing, Liu, a customer who chose not to disclose his full name, shared that he had been in line since 11 p.m. the previous night, waiting for the chance to buy the iPhone 17 Pro Max. He expressed his excitement over the smartphone's new color and design, which Apple claims enhances heat dissipation. The launch featured the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air, along with new iterations of the Apple Watch and AirPods. While preorders began in the U.S. on September 12, the global release of the iPhone 17 series is particularly significant as Apple faces mounting competition in international markets. Liu noted that he switched from Huawei to Apple in recent years, finding the iPhone more suitable for his daily life and entertainment needs. Another customer, Yang, a former Xiaomi user, echoed similar sentiments, preferring Apple's operating system. Both Liu and Yang anticipate that many first-time iPhone buyers in China will be drawn in by the new features, including increased internal storage. This potential surge in sales would be a boon for Apple, as the company has seen its market share in China dwindle to about 10%, overtaken by local brands like Oppo, Huawei, and Xiaomi, according to Omdia data. Early indicators are promising for the iPhone 17 series in China. JD.com, one of the largest e-commerce platforms in the country, reported that the first minute of preorders for the iPhone 17 series exceeded the first-day preorder volume of last year's iPhone 16 series. In Singapore, the enthusiasm was similarly palpable, with long queues forming outside Apple stores. Young professionals Iman Isa and Daniel Muhamed Nuv, who waited hours to purchase their iPhone 17 Pros, cited the fresh designs, extended battery life, and enhanced camera as key reasons for their loyalty to the Apple brand. In Singapore's Orchard shopping district, even longer lines formed, with separate queues for customers who had preordered. According to Le Xuan Chiew, a research manager at Omdia, initial global demand for the iPhone 17 series seems largely positive, particularly for the base model, which has outperformed expectations while maintaining its launch price despite upgrades. Additionally, shoppers were eager to get their hands on the new AirPods Pro 3, drawn by the product's live translation feature. A successful launch of the iPhone 17 could help bolster investor confidence in Apple, especially following a lackluster rollout of its AI capabilities last year. Ben Wood, chief analyst at CCS Insight, praised Apple's recent product launches but emphasized the urgency for the company to advance its AI initiatives, which have faced delays. "Apple needs to catch up in AI," he remarked, while acknowledging that the company's current product strategy seems to provide a buffer during this transitional period.