September 12 - Apple officially unveiled the iPhone 17 series on September 10th, launching four models simultaneously: iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max.
According to the official website, the Chinese market pre-orders will commence at 8 PM on September 12th (tonight), with full sales beginning September 19th.
It's worth noting that Apple informed technology media that while iPhone Air pre-orders will begin simultaneously, the actual release date may be slightly delayed as the company works closely with regulatory authorities to launch in China as soon as possible.
Major e-commerce platforms including JD.com have already listed the new devices. Based on JD.com's reservation data, this year's standard model has proven most popular, with reservation numbers surpassing 3 million and leading all other models.
The iPhone Air appears less favored, with only 288,000 reservations - the only model failing to reach one million.
This outcome was somewhat expected, given it's an entirely new model that sacrifices physical SIM card slots, battery capacity, and camera features for ultimate thinness and lightness. Even the bottom speaker has been eliminated, making many users hesitant to purchase immediately.
If initial user experiences prove satisfactory with minimal impact on overall usage, the device could achieve strong sales thanks to its ultra-thin design.
The Pro models, which commanded larger sales shares in previous years, may be overtaken by the standard version following this year's 120Hz high refresh rate upgrade to the base model.
Most importantly, the iPhone 17 standard model features upgraded specifications at a reduced price. Despite adding high refresh rate display and starting with 256GB storage, it maintains the 5,999 yuan price point - equivalent to the previous generation's 128GB model pricing.
The device also qualifies for government subsidies, offering an immediate 500 yuan discount at launch, bringing the final price to 5,499 yuan - sufficient for most average consumers.
Specific pricing for the four new models: iPhone 17: 256GB - 5,999 yuan; 512GB - 7,999 yuan iPhone Air: 256GB - 7,999 yuan; 512GB - 9,999 yuan; 1TB - 11,999 yuan iPhone 17 Pro: 256GB - 8,999 yuan; 512GB - 10,999 yuan; 1TB - 12,999 yuan iPhone 17 Pro Max: 256GB - 9,999 yuan; 512GB - 11,999 yuan; 1TB - 12,999 yuan; 2TB - 17,999 yuan
Additionally, purchasing guides, buying recommendations, and configuration comparisons are available to assist consumers in their decision-making process.