Apple Previews New Store With Combined Genius Bar and Pickup Spot - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Previews New Store With Combined Genius Bar and Pickup Spot

Apple today shared photos of its upcoming store at MixC Hefei in China.

Apple Store Combined Genius Bar Apple Pickup
The store features a combined Genius Bar and Apple Pickup station, so customers can receive support and collect their online orders in a single area. This combination now exists at a handful of Apple's new or renovated retail stores, such as Apple Bridge Street and Apple Old Orchard, according to the Retail Archive account.

Today at Apple creative sessions will also be offered at the store, for free.

Apple MixC Hefei opens to the public on Saturday, January 18, at 10 a.m. local time. The store features a wide, curved glass entrance.

Apple Store MixC Hefei
In its press release previewing the store, Apple reminded customers that it is currently offering special-edition AirPods 4 with an engraving for the Year of the Snake in China. They will be available to purchase at the store.

Apple is also opening a new store at the Miami Worldcenter complex on Friday, January 24, and it is renovating two other stores in Florida and Texas.

Popular Stories

iphone 17 pro dark blue 1

Apple Preparing 'Most Significant Overhaul in the iPhone's History'

Sunday March 29, 2026 8:18 am PDT by
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has high expectations for Apple's first foldable iPhone. In his Power On newsletter today, he said the foldable iPhone will be "the most significant overhaul in the iPhone's history." "iPhone 4, iPhone 6 and iPhone X were clearly a big deal, but this is a whole new design," he said. Like Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7, the foldable iPhone will reportedly open up like ...
Apple Event Logo

Apple to Launch These 15+ New Products Later This Year

Friday March 27, 2026 2:03 pm PDT by
March has been an incredibly busy month for Apple, with the company unveiling more than 10 new products and accessories. We said hello to the MacBook Neo at the start of the month, and we bid farewell to the Mac Pro at the end of it. Nevertheless, there is still a lot more to come this year. Beyond the usual annual updates to iPhones and Apple Watches, Apple's all-new smart home hub is...
Apple Apps Grid

Apple Releasing Two New iPhone Apps This Year

Saturday March 28, 2026 8:00 am PDT by
Apple is expected to release two new iPhone apps this year, including an Apple Business app and a Siri app with chatbot-like functionality. With the Apple Business app, employees at businesses using the new Apple Business platform will be able to install apps for work, view contact information for colleagues, and request support. Apple Business is launching on April 14, and it replaces Apple ...

Top Rated Comments

16 months ago
The process of retrieving an item from an Apple Store can be highly perplexing.

Upon arrival, customers are prompted to check in at the front. Afterward, they are randomly directed to a table. Standing there, feeling uncertain, you are approached by an individual who inquires, “May I assist you? I see you have been standing here for a while.” It is important to note that I was standing there because I had assumed that after the initial check-in and being directed to stand by a table, someone in the back would retrieve my item.

After re-checking in with this individual and further waiting, the item is finally brought out. This entire process can take anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes, leaving customers bewildered by the unnecessary complexity.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
groove-agent Avatar
16 months ago
I still find the Apple store concept strange how there's no obvious sales counter to go to if you need help. On one hand I understand the idealistic "just find an Apple store employee and they will help" concept, but when it's busy, you walk in and have no idea where to go or what to do. When that happens (which isn't often), it's frustrating as heck.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
klasma Avatar
16 months ago

the store features a combined Genius Bar and Apple Pickup station
Failed opportunity to rename it to Pickup Bar.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
16 months ago
I will only go to an Apple Store if I have to. It is like a zoo and no one knows what they are doing. Took me 20 mins just for someone to help me get an iPad last month. I should've just done it online.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jakebrosy Avatar
16 months ago
The Apple store is the very worst consumer experience if you just want to BUY something. As said above, you are told to stand by a table and then wait. FOREVER. I did it once.

Now they bring me stuff in 2 hours for $8, which is less time and $$ than subwaying down to Lincoln Center and back and fiddle-farging around at the Apple Store.

I really don’t understand the store as a store. It’s an experience place. Got an afternoon free? Go to the Apple Store.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
16 months ago

Can? You mean will have to wait for pickup until all the people in front of them who need support have been taken care of?

What problem is this solving, exactly?
There is a 0% chance that all of this means that you wait in a line behind Genius Bar customers in order to pick up your online order. This just means that the pickup people and the Genius Bar people use the same very long table. That’s it. Picking up and getting support are two separate things.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)