Apple Begins Accepting iPhone 5s Reservations in China, Multiple Models Sold Out

Customers in China and Hong Kong who are aiming to purchase an iPhone 5s or iPhone 5c in an Apple Store are now able to make reservations for the device on Apple's website.

Reserve iPhone 5s or iPhone 5c online today for pickup at an Apple Retail Store beginning September 20. When you come in, we'll help you pick the right rate plan, transfer your contacts, set up your email, and more.

Apple's reservation system, which was revamped last year, is designed to thwart would-be scalpers, an issue that has plagued Apple releases in China for years.

Under the system, consumers are able to reserve a phone for pickup, but are still required to visit an Apple Retail Store on launch day to purchase and setup the device.

It appears that initial supplies of the iPhone 5s are limited, and multiple stores have sold out of all models of the iPhone 5s, though some are still offering the "Space Gray" 16GB version. Most models of the iPhone 5c remain in stock.

iphonechina

Apple is not accepting pre-orders for the iPhone 5s. Instead, U.S. customers will be able to purchase the device online beginning at 12:01 AM Pacific Time on Friday, September 20 and at 8:00 AM in retail locations. Order periods for the rest of the world appear to be staggered, with online ordering times varying based on local time.

Top Rated Comments

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haruhiko

83 months ago

This year Apple implemented a new SMS confirmation system that requires customers to send an SMS to a designated local number by a local registered mobile phone number, and a confirmation code will then be sent back to that phone and the code is required on the reservation webpage, practically blocking out mainland Chinese who try to reserve all iPhones in Hong Kong.

The reservation opened at 6am in Hong Kong and the server was instantly overloaded probably by traffic from mainland China and was not accessible until after 7:30am when the mainland Chinese realised that they could not simply reserve phones by automated process ("bots").

Rating: 12 Votes

techpr

83 months ago

no one wants the small black one.

Apple must to Kill the 16GB model already :mad:

32, 64, 128.

Rating: 7 Votes

krewger

83 months ago

I'm still laughing as people whine that the 5c is not cheap. Apple isn't a cheap brand just like Porsche isn't. Porsche does not compete with Baseline Toyota. It's not Porsche's focus to make entry level cars and it's not Apple's focus to do that with their product lines either. That doesn't mean that a entry level Toyota isn't a good reliable product. Those sell well. Apple and Porsche just aren't interested in catering to the low end, yes there is missed sale opportunities because they do this but long as they are making a profit and have a loyal customer base that keeps spending money with high profit margins then it's not a problem. Analysts need to shut up and go get a real job. Selling one premium product with a high profit margin is way better than having to produce five or ten low profit margin items to make the same money.

Rating: 4 Votes

JarJarThomas

83 months ago

Best quote of the day ... Hope it will be tanked soon and makes Apple learn what "cheap" means.

"We dont make cheap phones" Tim Cook.
5C is not a CHEAP phone. It is better than most androids out there. It is a improved iÜhone5 in a new case.

Rating: 4 Votes

Buttersbottom

83 months ago

no one wants the small black one.

Rating: 4 Votes

QCassidy352

83 months ago

For $100 more, you get SOOOOOO much more in the 5s!

Same was true when they were selling the 4s as the premium product and the 4 for $100 less, and even more so with the 5 and the 4s. People continue to buy the cheaper one in large numbers, even when it's the older model, not a "new" model.

Rating: 3 Votes

macs4nw

83 months ago

Best quote of the day ... Hope it will be tanked soon and makes Apple learn what "cheap" means.

Apple themselves never once said they were coming out with a 'cheap phone'. That was all speculated by rumor sites, columnists and bloggers. You know better, they don't market 'cheap' products. Perhaps it was also wishful thinking on our part.

Still I believe there is a healthy market for the 5C; let's face it, it's not even released yet, pre-orders only. Way too early to write it off as a failure.

Rating: 3 Votes

spazzcat

83 months ago

The black one is most prone to [edit: visible coloring altering] scratches

Which is why I'm guessing it's no longer black.

Rating: 2 Votes

Sodner

83 months ago

Ya I like the way Apple gets blamed for the 5c not being "inexpensive" when they never said it would be. Analysts said it. And they were wrong.

The 5c is a redesigned iPhone 5. Slightly improved internals and a new outer shell. And yes it's plastic, like 99% of the phones that are manufactured are. But from what we are hearing, its a well made, solid feeling phone that bests most others.

As always if you like it, buy it. If not, move along.

Rating: 2 Votes

Rogifan

83 months ago

The issue is that Apple made it cheaper yet still charges the same $100 on contract price. Why not just leave the iphone 5 alone and tweak the colors for the 5s (which they did for 2 out of the 3 phones). If HTC can release a blue and red metal Htc One why not do the same? Why take steps backwards with plastic when there's no advantage to the customer?
It's very obvious that the iphone 5c is not working.

To some customers there might be an advantage with the 5C in terms of durability. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Rating: 2 Votes

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