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Apple announced tonight that the company has sold over two million of the new iPhone 5 in China, just three days after its launch.
“Customer response to iPhone 5 in China has been incredible, setting a new record with the best first weekend sales ever in China,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “China is a very important market for us and customers there cannot wait to get their hands on Apple products.”
The most recent launch on Friday included 32 other new countries as well, though the announcement specifically covers China's opening weekend sales.
The original iPhone 5 launch weekend took place in September and saw over 5 million sales to the initial 9 countries including the U.S.
Top Rated Comments
(View all)2 million out of a population of 1.35 billion, doesn't look impressive... but it's a huge number. Now if they could get the phone on China's largest network that has close to 500 million subscribers.
800 million out of 1.35 billion people are relatively poor peasants or workers. I say the number is very impressive given the recent report about Android's 90%+ market share in China. Back here in Macrumors a lot of people were bashing Apple in the other thread about the non-existence of waiting lines outside Apple Stores in China :D;).the majority does not pay income tax or capital gain tax, there is no real estate tax either.
Under such condition, a mere restaurant worker can easily afford these gadgets.
You're kidding right?
2 million out of a population of 1.35 billion, doesn't look impressive... but it's a huge number. Now if they could get the phone on China's largest network that has close to 500 million subscribers.
China is a Germany or UK attached to a dirt poor country of over 1 billion. Unless Apple releases a $99 phone (unsubsidized) they will get Western European sales results from China.
Keep in mind China has a population of 1.3 billion...
And most of the Chinese population live in conditions like this:
So 2 million the first weekend is fine considering their addressable market.
And don't forget... this was just the first weekend. Apple will keep selling iPhones in China from now on.
China will be a good market for Apple.