iPhone 17 Pre-Orders Surge in China Despite Early Criticism

The buzz around Apple’s latest release has quickly turned into record-breaking numbers: iPhone 17 pre-orders are shattering expectations in China, proving once again that Apple knows how to capture attention even after a turbulent year.

What’s fascinating is the contrast – just a year ago, the iPhone 16 series was stumbling in the same market, struggling against local competitors and weighed down by the absence of Apple Intelligence, a feature heavily promoted but not yet available in the region.

Apple’s decision to cut prices on the iPhone 16 lineup was a rare move for the company, but it worked. Chinese consumers, who had been skeptical, started picking up the discounted models, giving Apple a much-needed rebound. That momentum now seems to have carried into the iPhone 17 launch. According to industry insiders and major Chinese e-commerce platforms, the iPhone 17 has already racked up three times the pre-orders of its predecessor – and those numbers keep climbing.

The surprising twist is that the redesign of the iPhone 17 Pro, which many online critics mocked ahead of launch, doesn’t seem to be turning people away at all. On the contrary, the fresh design appears to have added intrigue. Apple has managed to balance innovation with familiarity, especially through the base iPhone 17 model. Unlike the Pro variant, the standard model retains much of the beloved look of the iPhone 16, while adding meaningful upgrades like a ProMotion display and an anti-reflective coating – features long requested by fans.

That combination of the familiar and the new may be what’s driving the surge. Many analysts believe that the base iPhone 17 is the real star of this launch cycle. It bridges the gap between Apple loyalists who resist change and those who crave cutting-edge features. For everyday consumers, this version feels less like a radical departure and more like the perfected version of the iPhone they already trust.

Meanwhile, the premium lineup – the iPhone 17 Pro and the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air – has also attracted attention. These models push Apple’s design boundaries further, appealing to early adopters who want to showcase the latest tech. Together, the three-pronged approach makes the iPhone 17 family Apple’s most balanced release in years. It’s a calculated strategy: give people variety, maintain a familiar entry point, and still provide aspirational upgrades at the top end.

The success also highlights a larger truth about the Chinese market. Despite economic uncertainty and ongoing trade tensions, Chinese consumers continue to show that luxury technology remains a priority. High pre-order numbers suggest that the appetite for premium smartphones hasn’t gone away – it’s just waiting for the right mix of pricing, features, and branding.

Looking ahead, if these pre-order numbers translate into sustained sales, the iPhone 17 could mark a turning point for Apple in China. After years of mounting pressure from domestic rivals like Huawei and Xiaomi, Apple appears to have found a formula to reclaim ground. Whether the enthusiasm will hold through the next product cycle remains to be seen, but for now, the message is clear: the iPhone 17 has captured the spotlight, and consumers are lining up to be part of it.