Customers Queuing at Shanghai Apple Store on iPhone 15 Launch Day

Sales of the iPhone 15 attract attention in China. (photo: twiytter @BasicAppleGuy)

JAKARTA - More than a hundred customers queued inside the main Apple Store in China's financial center, Shanghai, on Friday, September 22. They are  waiting to pick up iPhone 15 orders on the first day of the product's availability in physical stores.

Sales of Apple's latest iPhone running in China are being closely watched by fans and market observers. Especially in the wake of increasingly widespread restrictions on iPhone use by government staff. There has also been the release of high-end competition from local manufacturer Huawei, which has sparked concerns about demand for the device in Apple's third-largest market.

However, the strength of pre-orders in the world's second-largest economy, which began last Friday, has eased those concerns. That's because shipping times were moved to November and the luxury iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max sold out within a minute on Alibaba's Tmall e-commerce site.

Local media reported queues at the store in Shanghai's East Nanjing Road shopping center began forming at 05.00 a.m (10.00 a.m. GMT).

Among those in the store was social media influencer Zhang Ming, 25, who said he wanted to try the iPhone 15 after failing to place an order online.

"I always like looking at (new devices). When I buy Apple products, I only look at the color. If I like the color, I will buy it," said Ming, quoted by Reuters.

The iPhone 15 range includes a new titanium shell, a faster chip and better video game playing capabilities. Apple also surprised by not raising prices, reflecting a global decline in smartphone sales.

However, some customers at the store lamented the lack of significant improvements over the previous model. Real estate worker Wang Puyu, 29, said he only bought the new model because he had promised to give his iPhone 14 to his nephew.

"I usually change my cell phone every year. But this year, I'm not very satisfied," he said.