16 GB White iPhone 3GS Stocks Run Low in Apple Retail Stores

This is just speculation, but... maybe a lot of people who had the more popular black iPhone 3G wanted a white 3GS because they were tired of the black finish. Since the 3GS looks identical, changing to the white one boosts the feeling of getting something new and fresh.

That's hot.

I just don't like the look of the white one. I still wish they could have included an aluminum version. I LOVE the look of my first gen iPhone. I also understand the limitations that an aluminum shell puts on the innards, but still...... THAT was hot.

Perhaps (and this is a stretch), ther WAS something wrong with the white iPhone..... As a result, there's a supply shortage while Apple remakes them.

I know that someone(s) will say "it's the cases!" that cause all this, however, I think that there is an underlying cause that isn't just simple demand....

Low all around

It's not just the white. In the Apple store near me they are out of all 16GB models.

Anuba said:

This is just speculation, but... maybe a lot of people who had the more popular black iPhone 3G wanted a white 3GS because they were tired of the black finish. Since the 3GS looks identical, changing to the white one boosts the feeling of getting something new and fresh.

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+1 I am of this crowd. I think the white is way better looking after having used both.

Walked right in and got my 16gb white 3gs on the 22nd no problem. In and out in 10 minutes

tremlock said:

Walked right in and got my 16gb white 3gs on the 22nd no problem. In and out in 10 minutes

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That's cool and all...but ummm...that was over two weeks ago?? How is that relevant to what's happening right now?

It's because they are shipping all the white ones over to Japan. They love the white ones over there. Can't keep up with demand. They can't keep them stocked. I have a friend that lives in Japan and she said the white ones are huge over there.

Gyrferret said:

Perhaps (and this is a stretch), ther WAS something wrong with the white iPhone..... As a result, there's a supply shortage while Apple remakes them.

I know that someone(s) will say "it's the cases!" that cause all this, however, I think that there is an underlying cause that isn't just simple demand....

Click to expand...

I dunno, the white one has been around for a year now and since they didn't change the design, I doubt that they changed the materials.

I just think the demand is greater than expected. I've heard many owners of the black iPhone 3G saying they wish they would've gotten the white one, and vice versa. Since the black 3G was the most popular one by far the last time around, logically the demand for white should go up with the 3GS, but Apple probably based the manufacturing on the modest demand for the old white 3G.

I have a white 3G myself and for a long time I wish I would've gotten the black one, but after a while I realized I already had the one I would've wanted if I had bought the black one.

Anuba said:

This is just speculation, but... maybe a lot of people who had the more popular black iPhone 3G wanted a white 3GS because they were tired of the black finish. Since the 3GS looks identical, changing to the white one boosts the feeling of getting something new and fresh.

Click to expand...

That described my situation perfectly. However, I ended up going with the black one again.

We have no way of knowing if black was more or less popular than the white one with the 3G. The white had a $100 extra price tag. Consumers did not have the same black/white decision they have with the 3GS.

Now when you go in the store to purchase an iPhone 3GS you can have either color in either size for either price.

Must be a large amount of girls buying the 3GS

Sky Blue said:

Must be a large amount of girls buying the 3GS

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Err... white and black are as gender neutral as any colors can be. If white is a "girlie" color, I suppose only girls bought Macs and iPods between 2003 and 2007 when pretty much all of Apple's products were white.

just sold my white 3g, want a white 16gb 3gs now, pity, both apple stores in melbourne are 100% sold out of iPhones

Sky Blue said:

Must be a large amount of girls buying the 3GS

Click to expand...

Anuba said:

Err... white and black are as gender neutral as any colors can be. If white is a "girlie" color, I suppose only girls bought Macs and iPods between 2003 and 2007 when pretty much all of Apple's products were white.

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I don't agree or disagree but between the years when most apple products were white, There Wasn't A Choice! Give me the choice of any product apple sells and I will get it in black (I know there's more of you out there). But if you do look at the demographics. Most males end up with black and most females end up with white. It's not a big deal especially when everyone puts a case over them anyways. Then you can't even tell the difference.

BTW Im just throwing this out there. Would most of you say the white is more "flashy" then the black? or do most of you think the black is more "flashy"?

iphones4evry1 said:

It's because they are shipping all the white ones over to Japan. They love the white ones over there. Can't keep up with demand. They can't keep them stocked. I have a friend that lives in Japan and she said the white ones are huge over there.

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Agreed... I live in Japan and everybody digs them here!

Back to the original post, when are new phones due to arrive in the states?

Anuba said:

This is just speculation, but... maybe a lot of people who had the more popular black iPhone 3G wanted a white 3GS because they were tired of the black finish. Since the 3GS looks identical, changing to the white one boosts the feeling of getting something new and fresh.

Click to expand...

I just got mine today that I ordered from an AT&T store over a week ago. I went with white for exactly this reason. I had the black 3G, and the 1st gen before, so I wanted some variety looks wise. I wasn't too sure about white at first, but now after having it I know I made the right choice

Sky Blue said:

Must be a large amount of girls buying the 3GS

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Seriously "Sky Blue" I'm glad that I'm secure enough with my masculinity that I can rock a white iPhone

There is a strong possibility that the white iPhone heating issue rumor, which was resolved the very next day by Apple, was not damped down to assist with inventory control issues while they ramp white this week.

Rocketman

Pure speculation.

Jony Ive = white iPhone

Perhaps the white model became the popular choice once it got out that Apple's head of design Jonathan Ive uses a white iPhone. (As revealed in the recent documentary "Objectified".)

Blacklabel34 said:

But if you do look at the demographics. Most males end up with black and most females end up with white.
BTW Im just throwing this out there. Would most of you say the white is more "flashy" then the black? or do most of you think the black is more "flashy"?

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I definitely agree with you that although black and white do not seem gender specific (like pink vs blue), when the only choices are black and white, I have noticed that most girls choose white and most guys choose black. I'm sure a psychologist could try and give us an explanation, but I definitely agree that the statistics show girls with white and boys with black.
Although there are exceptions, back when I was a kid in school, boys almost never wore white shoes and girls frequently had white shoes (remember Vans and Etnies?). I don't know what the psychology was, but that's the way it was. Maybe it has to do with dominant/bold/masculine versus pretty/feminine. Black is bold and dominant and white is more "cute." I don't know, but I think that's a good guess. That is the natural way, but it seems that fashion has changed in the last few years and it's perfectly acceptable for a guy to have white today (although EVERY guy that I know has a black iPhone).

Anuba said:

Err... white and black are as gender neutral as any colors can be. If white is a "girlie" color, I suppose only girls bought Macs and iPods between 2003 and 2007 when pretty much all of Apple's products were white.

Click to expand...

My friend had a white Mac back then. He said he hated the white, but it was the only color they made. So, there is an example of a guy who bought a white Mac but really wanted a different color. He had a blue case over it most of the time.

Leiachen said:

it seems that white iphone is more popular than black iphone. there are 41 iphone retail stores in US, while among them, 30 has no 16GB iphone in stock. it is really very crazy.

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I think they're just shipping all the black ones to U.S. stores and all the white ones over to Japan.
Take a look at inventories and you will see that this makes sense.
.

TheSlush said:

Perhaps the white model became the popular choice once it got out that Apple's head of design Jonathan Ive uses a white iPhone. (As revealed in the recent documentary "Objectified".)

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Yeah, white has made a strong comeback in industrial design (Apple were a few years ahead with their white era). In the 90's it was the most shunned automotive color but nowadays every car ad uses a white one. Audi, VW and BMW are crazy about white at the moment and have been for the last couple of years.

In my line of work (graphic design, advertising) the white iPhone is far more popular, I guess those people are slightly more sensitive to trends. Black is a bit 90's if you ask me. As for white being more "ghey", well, those associations go both ways. Maybe those who prefer the shiny black version secretly want to look like this guy:

shortages spread....now 16gb black is pretty much tough to find in many states....shipments needed badly...