A number of channel operators in the Asia Pacific have voiced their concern that the hefty price of Apple’s latest flagship phone, the iPhone X, could weaken sales across the region.
Channel operators have informed Taiwanese trade publication, DigiTimes, that despite strong pre-orders in the Asia Pacific, the retail price of the iPhone X in the region – almost US$199 higher than that on average in the US – is a concern.
Apple’s tenth anniversary iPhone X is the company’s most expensive smartphone released to date.
In Australia, the new iPhone X will set consumers back AU$1,579 for the 64GB model and AU$1,829 for the 256GB model.
In New Zealand the base model will start from NZ$1,799, and in Singapore from SG$1,648.
Operators are also concerned of ripple down effects, should Apple fail to deliver the higher-than-expected pre-orders in time.
Global pre-orders for the iPhone X have reportedly exceeded 5.5 million units.
Some channel operators are concerned that brisk demand for Apple’s new flagship device may quickly fade away after the first wave, once iPhone replacement demand is over.
Due to supply constraints, some market watchers forecast that Apple may not be able to fulfil all its pre-orders until the first quarter of 2018.
