Apple is launching its new iPhone 5 in more than fifty countries this month and China is among them. Apple Inc. announced its China launch last Friday (November 30), almost three months after it went on sale in the US.
The China launch has been long awaited, after Apple lost about half of its smartphone market share in the mainland during the second quarter, to about 10%. Analysts say part of the reason is the time lapsed between the iPhone 4 and iPhone 5.
But other factors may be affecting launch, officially slated for December 14.
[Chinese Resident]:
“I’m not very interested in iPhone 5 because I don’t think it’s worth what it costs.”
[Chinese Resident]:
“I don’t see much point in spending so much money on a cellphone.”
[Chinese Resident]:
“We won’t consider buying it.”
The cheapest model of the new iPhone 5 costs almost $850 (5,288 yuan).
What’s more, the new device is only available through China Telecom and China Unicom. It will not be sold by China’s largest mobile network, China Mobile.
One week before the iPhone 5 launch, Apple’s latest iPad and iPad mini will also go on sale in China.