Good news for Apple fans in China. The Chinese government has given the 'go-ahead' to the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.
Apple has confirmed that the pre-orders for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in China begin Oct. 10. Consumers can pre-order the phones online from Friday, Oct. 10 from the Apple Online store. In-store reservations begin Oct. 14 and the pick-ups start Oct. 17.
After conducting "rigorous security testing" Chinese regulators have finally given the green signal to the launch of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in the region. On Tuesday, Sept. 30, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) revealed via its website that it had given the Apple devices the necessary approval after the company addressed the probable concerns pertaining to security.
Now that the regulatory approval is in Apple's bag, the question concerning eager buyers is when the latest smartphones will make their way to Chinese shelves. Judging by leaks, it seems the wait is soon going to be over.
According to a leaked internal Apple memo meant for employees, which Techweb managed to lay its hands on, "prototype" iPhone 6 Plus and iPhone 6 will be put on display in store shelves from Oct. 7. This will allow consumers to get a hands-on experience with the two devices before its goes on sale after three days i.e. Oct. 10. Why the three-day gap you ask? So that Apple employees get the necessary training in this period per the internal memo.
Previous rumors have indicated that the iPhone 6 Plus and iPhone 6 may not release in China prior to 2015. However, the current leak will pacify Chinese consumers who have been eagerly waiting for the new iPhones. Such is the demand for the latest smartphones in the region that smuggled iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus models are selling in the black market for $1,900 and $3,250, respectively.
China is a profitable market for Apple as the company sold a large number of iPhone 5S units in the country in Q4 2013. The world's biggest economy accounted for nearly 16 percent of Apple's sales for Q2 2014.
Apple released the iPhone 6 Plus and iPhone 6 in several parts of the world on Sept. 19 and the smartphones garnered 10 million unit sales in the U.S. in the launch weekend alone. Given the hype and excitement surrounding the iPhones, it will be interesting to see how the devices perform in China especially with rival Samsung's Galaxy Note 4 hitting the shelves in September instead of October.
With "Bendgate" dogging Apple and "Gapgate" troubling Samsung's Galaxy Note 4, which smartphone will win over Chinese consumers remains to be seen.
