Turnout for iPhone 8 Launch in Australia 'Bleak' as Customers Hold Out for Upcoming iPhone X

[MacRumors]

Apple's iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus are already available for purchase in countries like New Zealand, Australia, Japan, and China, and in Sydney, one of the first cities where the two devices became available, lines were short and there was little demand for the new smartphones.

The iPhone 8 launch in Sydney saw "a bleak turnout," reports Reuters, with fewer than 30 people lining up outside of the Sydney Apple Store on George Street. In past years, hundreds of people have lined up for new iPhones on release day.

Apple customers on Twitter have also noted shorter lines in other locations.

This is the extent of the line up for the new iPhone in Brisbane. Just a dozen deep. Clearly not as much excitement as in previous years. pic.twitter.com/iJGg6S3k3Z - S Marshall-McCormack (@ShannonMM9) September 21, 2017

The perceived lack of demand for the iPhone 8 and mixed reviews about the device caused Apple stock to fall as low as $152.75 on Thursday. Hints of demand issues first popped up last Friday, when iPhone 8 pre-orders kicked off.

Ahead of a standard launch, pre-order supplies of new iPhones often sell out online, but that was not the case with the iPhone 8 and the iPhone 8 Plus. Hours after the two devices became available for sale, there was still plenty of stock, with September 22 delivery dates available either online or with in-store pickup.

Many customers appear to be waiting for the higher-cost iPhone X, Apple's new flagship device that will become available for pre-order on October 27. Priced starting at $999, the device features an edge-to-edge OLED display, upgraded cameras, and a new facial recognition system.

Supplies of the iPhone X are rumored to be extremely constrained, and it's been suggested that Apple will not be able to supply adequate amounts of the devices to meet demand until well into 2018.

Article Link: Turnout for iPhone 8 Launch in Australia 'Bleak' as Customers Hold Out for Upcoming iPhone X

 

[donster28]

I'm not at all surprised. The iPhone X is most anticipated than the 7s...oh sorry... 8.

 

[HardRain]

Hold out for X, or just not not getting another iPhone this year?

 

[Msivyparrot]

I wonder why... As I see it.. the iPhone X is a meal ticket...yeah wait a couple weeks/months...then you can really get paid when there is a huge multi-million Dollar class action lawsuit against Apple....If I could afford the X I would....

Why buy a safe phone when you will get millions of Dollars next year???

 

[star_nerdy]

Could be worse. I worked for Apple when Verizon first got the iPhone.

I had to setup the displays and get the store ready for want Apple said was going to be a major launch. I had to plan the thing at our store. I spent all night making sure everything was perfect.

We dropped the curtains and there were 4 people at the mall wanting to get iPhones on launch day for the Verizon iPhone. And things didn’t get significantly better over the day.

 

[allenvanhellen]

Slap an OLED panel across the whole front of the iPhone SE and sell it for the price of the 8 and they’d have huge demand.

 

[gadgetgirl85]

Definitely was the smallest crowd I've seen when I went this morning. Rocked up at 7:45 for my pickup, no troubles.

 

[garirry]

Maybe if it wasn't so expensive maybe more people would buy it, especially when considering the iPhone X is coming soon. Oh, wait...

 

[yesjam]

I'm glad. Perhaps this indicates that the 8 Plus will be easier to get ahold of than some models in previous years.

 

[JPack]

CNET | iPhone X: Forget the experts, here’s what real people think

 

[Sevanw]

Hahaaaa, they look embarrassed to be there. Lol. And what happens when the lines for the X are also bleak? You're only assuming everyone is waiting for the X.

 

[joueboy]

There are probably fewer than that to line up to get the iPhone X. People are getting smarter and that $1000 price that's even higher in other countries. It's ridiculous to know sometimes that even countries that make less money than Americans actually pay more to get an iPhone.

 

[Macalway]

I'm rethinking this whole scalping thing.

 

[Msivyparrot]

That is $1000 in Trumpland.. Here that same ifone will retail at least $3000...The same phone, for $2000 more per phone...It works out cheaper to fly via Dubai to New York, stay 1 week in NYC, and fly back with the new ifone than to buy it locally...

 

[redheeler]

There are probably fewer than that to line up to get the iPhone X. People are getting smarter and that $1000 price that's even higher in other countries. It's ridiculous to know sometimes that even countries that make less money than Americans actually pay more to get an iPhone.

The price of an iPhone X may seem high in the US, but in those countries, even the iPhone 8 is very much only for rich people.

 

[Mr. Donahue]

I wanted to upgrade this year but it's too expensive and I don't like the direction Apple is going. I never thought I'd say it but yeah. Maybe if they release an updated SE model I'll upgrade to that from my current launch day iPhone 6.

 

[Tech198]

Maybe if it wasn't so expensive maybe more people would buy it, especially when considering the iPhone X is coming soon. Oh, wait...

lol.. that's a good lesson to learn.... Perhaps someone should tell our government that.

 

[CWallace]

The iPhone X will be the one folks are planning to wait for, but when they find out they'll probably have to wait until 2018 to get one, they'll "settle" for the iPhone 8.

I am still rocking my iPhone 6 Plus and debating whether to wait for the X or just get the 8 Plus. Or just keep with my 6 until it fails (since my AppleCare just expired).

 

[Msivyparrot]

A used ifone 5 costs upwards of $1000 here...

 

[B4U]

Slap an OLED panel across the whole front of the iPhone SE and sell it for the price of the 8 and they’d have huge demand.

Although I am all for that idea.
But they couldn't charge the Apple tax on that...

 

[nikicampos]

I'm not at all surprised. The iPhone X is more anticipated than the 7s...oh sorry... 8.

This shouldn't be a surprise, and yes, this is the 7s, not an 8 model, any way, I'm going tomorrow early morning to get an iPhone 8 Plus, upgrade from my 6s Plus, so used to Touch ID and not liking the notch, keep it a year and see what Apple comes with in 2018, nice little upgrade and got a new phone tomorrow, no line, no waiting.

The demand for the X will be huge and I don't really think is worth it for me, plus the wait time, most people will get their X until 2018.

 

[mj1108]

I'm glad. Perhaps this indicates that the 8 Plus will be easier to get ahold of than some models in previous years.

It's readily available to ship from T-Mobile right now.

I'm sure it's probably similar to other carriers at this time.

 

[Msivyparrot]

The Apple Tax is the repurchase of dongles that you have to buy time and time again.. Apple would still make the same profit if they sold the ifone 8/x for $20!!! It is the dongles that are the profit...

 

[redheeler]

I wanted to upgrade this year but it's too expensive and I don't like the direction Apple is going. I never thought I'd say it but yeah. Maybe if they release an updated SE model I'll upgrade to that from my current launch day iPhone 6.

I'm on a 2015 iPhone 6s Plus now. I too was planning to upgrade to an iPhone X, until I discovered all the shortcoming it has. Screen size downgrade from my current iPhone, more limited in landscape mode, no Reachability feature, and forced to run iOS 11 with its shortcomings (no 32-bit app support, 3D Touch to enter app switcher, easy backup and sync with iTunes 12.6).

It is basically an early adopter sneak-peak product at this point, with a high price to match, and I think that getting one is a decision I would regret next year.

 

[rafark]

Seriously who wants an iPhone 8 though.