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

MacRumors · Nov 30, 2012

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.

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.

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

kingping14 · Nov 30, 2012

about damn time!

izyreal · Nov 30, 2012

I hope this means that the supply chains for these devices are rock solid now.

HobeSoundDarryl · Nov 30, 2012

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.

iapplelove · Nov 30, 2012

the Chinese black market is gonna take a hit. maybe that also means less scalpers in US lines.

KirkL · Nov 30, 2012

HobeSoundDarryl said:
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.

chriscrk · Nov 30, 2012

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).

PracticalMac · Nov 30, 2012

Chinese characters are "Part, Part, inch, inch". I guess it is Apples way of saying Mini.

HobeSoundDarryl · Nov 30, 2012

KirkL said:
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.

Don't need many to line up to be a lot when the overall pool is that large.

And I'm not seeing U.S. demand "catch up" for products like iPad Mini. I just ordered one a few days ago and found it was out of stock almost everywhere. Still showing "2 weeks" (shipping) in the Apple store.

KdParker · Nov 30, 2012

That is going to be on hell of a launch day.

So many products at once.

kalsta · Nov 30, 2012

HobeSoundDarryl said:
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?

chaoskun · Nov 30, 2012

PracticalMac said:
Chinese characters are "Part, Part, inch, inch". I guess it is Apples way of saying Mini.

yeah, and it actually means "every inch an iPad".

kcamfork · Nov 30, 2012

HobeSoundDarryl said:
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...

UmbraDiaboli · Nov 30, 2012

They can't even keep up with demand in the Western world and already decide to launch it in China... GREED.

everything-i · Nov 30, 2012

KirkL said:
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.

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.

----------

UmbraDiaboli said:
They can't even keep up with demand in the Western world and already decide to launch it in China... GREED.

Are you serious?

M-O · Nov 30, 2012

Are Apple Stores in China like Build-A-Bear Workshops?

HobeSoundDarryl · Nov 30, 2012

kcamfork said:
This mode of thinking makes no sense, and is typical entitled-like thinking here in the USA...

kalsta said:
If you happened to live in China, would you feel the same do you think?

I explicitly said, "nothing against China." I wasn't making a "fair" argument. If we want to make "that's not fair" arguments, then Apple should launch to every country in the world on the same day and we can all enjoy 20+ week wait times together. Would we like that?

Thunderhawks · Nov 30, 2012

HobeSoundDarryl said:
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!

j.applewood · Nov 30, 2012

UmbraDiaboli said:
They can't even keep up with demand in the Western world and already decide to launch it in China... GREED.

Go ahead and never start your own business.

Allenbf · Nov 30, 2012

Who cares? Where are the iMacs and iTunes 11?!

Oh wait...we did that already...

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UmbraDiaboli said:
They can't even keep up with demand in the Western world and already decide to launch it in China... GREED.

Actually, with Apple now offering an unlocked iPhone 5, I think that pretty much says they're catching up with demand and feel they're able to produce enough.

ogun7 · Nov 30, 2012

iapplelove said:
the Chinese black market is gonna take a hit. maybe that also means less scalpers in US lines.

Amen to that!

PracticalMac · Nov 30, 2012

chaoskun said:
yeah, and it actually means "every inch an iPad".

Thanks! Happy to know I made a good estimate.

I had a Japanese Kanji dictionary on my iPhone, and I made an assumption those kanji where close in meaning to Chinese ones (not all are).

JHankwitz · Nov 30, 2012

UmbraDiaboli said:
They can't even keep up with demand in the Western world and already decide to launch it in China... GREED.

No, it's called "Backorder Syndrome". Many companies gage their success on the size of their back orders. And wanting to make more money is not considered greed, unless you consider wanting to make more money for what you do as greed.

haruhiko · Nov 30, 2012

PracticalMac said:
Chinese characters are "Part, Part, inch, inch". I guess it is Apples way of saying Mini.

It is a translation of "Every inch an iPad"

分 "fen" is a traditional Chinese length measurement unit
寸 "cun" is longer than 分, which is similar to an "inch" in imperial units.

"fen fen cun cun" means "Every fen and cun" ~"Every inch"

HiRez · Nov 30, 2012

It's funny to hear about Apple products "arriving" in China, since most of us are waiting for them to leave there when we track our packages.

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

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