Apple’s iPhone 17 series is generating unprecedented demand in China! JD.com, one of China’s largest online retailers, has recorded over 5 million reservations for the new iPhone models, with the series reportedly three times more popular than the iPhone 16 series.

iPhone 17 China: Massive Pre-Launch Interest

The reservation numbers from JD.com alone indicate massive consumer interest ahead of the official pre-order launch on September 12, 2025, at 8:00 PM China time.

Reservation Timeline Overview

Date/Time	Event	Details
Through Sept 12, 7:30 PM	Reservation Period	Over 5 million registered on JD.com
Sept 12, 8:00 PM China	Pre-orders Begin	Official sales start
Sept 19, 2025	Public Availability	Worldwide launch date
Pricing Starts	5,999 Yuan ($841)	Base model in China

Record-Breaking Demand Signals

According to prominent leaker UniverseIce, the iPhone 17 series “has already reached three times” the reservation volume compared to the iPhone 16 series. This indicates exceptionally strong consumer appetite for Apple’s latest flagship lineup.

iPhone Air eSIM Challenge

Interestingly, the new iPhone Air’s ultra-slim design makes it eSIM-only, marking China’s transition away from physical SIM cards for this model. While this could potentially limit availability due to carrier support concerns, the strong reservation numbers suggest consumers are embracing the change.

Key iPhone 17 Features Driving Demand

Enhanced Camera System:

New Center Stage front camera and 48MP Fusion Main camera with 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide camera
Significant photography improvements over previous generation

Design Innovation:

iPhone Air introduces ultra-thin profile
Mainline series retains physical SIM slots in most regions
Premium build quality across all models

Market Competition Context

The strong reservation numbers come as Apple faces intense competition in China from domestic brands like Huawei. However, these impressive reservation figures suggest that Huawei and other local brands are about to find themselves in quite a battle for market share.

Global Production Plans

Apple reportedly aims to produce around 100 million iPhone 17 units in 2025, with the iPhone 17 Pro Max expected to make up the majority of this production volume, indicating confidence in global demand matching China’s enthusiasm.

The 5 million reservations from just one Chinese retailer demonstrate Apple’s continued strong brand appeal in one of its most competitive markets.