In two neighboring markets that opened sales earlier than Vietnam, the most expensive iPhone model quickly sold out.
iPhone 16 Pro Max new Desert Titan color. Photo: ZDNet.
Apple’s first-tier markets officially began taking pre-orders for the iPhone 16 series on the evening of September 13. Vietnam’s neighboring countries, Thailand and Singapore, are among these markets and will officially begin sales a week later. Many Vietnamese buyers have chosen these locations to purchase iPhones early, either for personal use or resale for profit.
According to Apple’s recent policies, pre-orders through their website are prioritized, with delivery depending on availability. Lining up outside Apple Stores has little impact, as the number of devices available for immediate purchase is typically minimal.
However, the iPhone 16 Pro Max model quickly sold out on Singapore’s Apple Store just minutes after pre-orders opened online. Customers now have to wait until September 25-30 for their devices to be delivered. Moreover, the option for in-store pickup is no longer available for any of the iPhone 16 Pro Max colors or storage options. A similar situation is occurring in the Thai market.
The largest iPhone 16 model is sold out in Singapore and Thailand, and will not be delivered until October. Photo: Apple.
Notably, Desert Titanium and Natural Titanium models have had their delivery dates pushed back to mid-October, showing that these new options remain highly attractive to Southeast Asian consumers.
In addition to the Apple Store, Apple Authorized Resellers (AAR) in Thailand and Singapore, such as Switch, iStudio, Studio7, and True Shop, have also run out of iPhone 16 Pro Max stock. Those placing orders now must wait until at least October 4 to receive their devices.
This situation is unique to the iPhone 16 Pro Max model, as other versions in the series have not seen the same level of demand. As of now, customers who pre-order other models can still receive their devices on the official launch date of September 20. Speaking to Tri Thuc – Znews, Phuc Buu from Vung Tau City shared that he successfully ordered four iPhone 16 Pro Max units through two accounts after logging onto Apple’s website early. “Two devices are scheduled for delivery at 8:00 AM on September 20 at the Orchard Apple Store. The other two will be ready two hours later,” he said.
Meanwhile, Tuan Thanh, the owner of a retail store specializing in imported iPhones in District 10, Ho Chi Minh City, mentioned that it has become difficult to place bulk orders due to the limited stock. “I don’t dare to take deposits from customers for the Desert Titanium version because the supply isn’t guaranteed,” Thanh noted.
Compared to the pre-COVID-19 era, the business of importing iPhones from Singapore has become more challenging. Apple’s requirement for pre-ordering and pre-payment means buyers can no longer claim tax refunds at the airport. Additionally, the number of available units is limited and evenly distributed, rather than being concentrated on the first day of sales.
Moreover, Vietnam’s official launch date for the product is only seven days later than these markets. As a result, if imported iPhones aren’t sold quickly, they may need to be discounted to compete with the official versions.
This year, the activity of promoting and taking deposits for imported iPhone 16s to bring them to Vietnam early has not been as lively as in previous years. The number of posts and discussions in online forums and groups on this topic has also decreased significantly.
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Source: Vietnam Insider