iPhone 17 Pro Max在中国售罄：年度库存一天抢购一空
A smartphone priced at nearly 10,000 yuan has become the bestseller in its series. Behind the frenzied market performance of the iPhone 17 Pro Max lies consumers’ craving for high-end technology and a major shift in consumption attitudes.
At 8:00 a.m. on September 19, the iPhone 17 series officially went on sale. In just one minute, sales volume on JD.com exceeded the full-day sales of last year, setting a new sales record.
By 12:00 p.m. the same day, over 30,000 users across China had successfully received their new phones via JD.com, with delivery covering major cities and 80% of counties nationwide. This delivery speed demonstrates the efficiency of e-commerce platforms and reflects consumers’ eager anticipation for the new models.
Record-Breaking Pre-Sales: 1 Minute Outperforms Full-Day Sales of Last Year
The pre-sale heat for the iPhone 17 series has been staggering. Last Friday, when Apple officially opened pre-orders for the iPhone 17 series, the official website showed delivery times had been pushed to October.
JD.com data reveals that just one minute after pre-orders opened, sales volume of the iPhone 17 series surpassed the full-day sales of last year—an indicator of strong market demand for the new lineup.
In his latest report, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo noted that the iPhone 17 series’ pre-sale performance over the first weekend outperformed last year’s iPhone 16 series. Among them, the Pro Max model remained the most in-demand, with the latest delivery date on Apple’s official website.
Pro Max Takes the Lead; Standard Model Sees Unexpected Growth
In the iPhone 17 series, the Pro Max model unexpectedly became the most popular variant. According to supply chain sources, production of the iPhone 17 Pro Max in Q3 2025 increased by approximately 60% compared to the iPhone 16 Pro Max in the same period last year.
Data from Dewu App is even more straightforward: sales of the iPhone 17 Pro Max were 2.6 times that of the standard iPhone 17 and 3.3 times that of the iPhone 17 Pro. This shows that high-end models have completely outperformed mid-range products in market performance.
In contrast, the newly launched lightweight iPhone Air had a lackluster market performance this year. Due to its eSIM-only design, it failed to launch simultaneously in China, which also affected its global sales.
Strong Demand in China: Delivery Time Extends by 17 Days
Demand for the iPhone 17 series in the Chinese market is particularly robust. Data tracked by Goldman Sachs shows that on the first day of pre-orders, the average delivery time in mainland China soared from 10 days for the iPhone 16 to 27 days—an increase of 17 days, leading all tracked markets.
This growth occurred against the backdrop of Apple having significantly expanded production capacity. Goldman Sachs pointed out that the substantial increase in supply should have shortened consumers’ waiting time, but the actual delivery time lengthened instead.
This leads to only one conclusion: the growth rate of real market demand for the iPhone 17 has far exceeded the growth rate of Apple’s supply chain capacity.
Trade-In Gains Momentum; Subsidy Strategies Prove Effective
JD.com data shows that as of 10:00 a.m. on September 19, trade-in sales of the iPhone 17 were 4 times that of the same period last year—reflecting a shift in consumers’ purchasing methods.
The 2025 iPhone New Product Consumption Research Report indicates that 31% of consumers prefer to buy new iPhones through trade-in programs. JD.com invested 1 billion yuan in subsidies, allowing users to receive a maximum subsidy of 2,100 yuan, along with a 24-month interest-free payment option.
These subsidy policies have significantly lowered the purchase threshold for consumers. Some users paid less than 2,000 yuan out of pocket to get the iPhone 17 by combining trade-ins with various subsidies.
Notable Product Upgrades: 120Hz Refresh Rate for All Models
The enhanced product strength of the iPhone 17 series is another key factor behind its sales success. The biggest highlight this year is that all models come standard with a 120Hz refresh rate and start with 256GB of storage.
The Pro series features a horizontal “camera bar” design, replacing titanium frames with aluminum alloy, and adds new orange and dark blue color options—bringing a fresh look to the product line.
In terms of performance, the Pro series is equipped with 12GB of RAM for the first time, significantly enhancing multitasking and AI processing capabilities. The Pro Max adopts a dual-heat dissipation system of “vapor chamber + graphite sheet” to address overheating and throttling issues under heavy loads.
Clear Consumption Polarization; Solid High-End Market Position
The strong sales of the iPhone 17 series—especially the dominance of the Pro Max model—reflect the high-end trend in the consumer electronics market. Consumers are no longer simply pursuing low prices but are more focused on product value and user experience.
Demand is growing in all major global markets except Japan, and Apple’s global market share continues to consolidate. This stands in sharp contrast to the “sluggish high-end model performance” of the Android camp, confirming Apple’s moat in the high-end market.
Meanwhile, the new color options for the Pro series this year have become “blockbusters.” Their delivery cycles are 1-2 weeks longer than other colors, indicating that Apple’s design decisions have been recognized by the market.
Beyond the Pro Max, the standard iPhone 17 also achieved remarkable growth—with Q3 production increasing by approximately 25% compared to the iPhone 16 in the same period last year.
Apple seems to be undergoing an unexpected shift: it is not the cheapest model nor the most innovative Air, but the most powerful Pro Max that has become the market leader. This consumption upgrade trend may reshape the product lineup of next year’s iPhone 18.