iPhone 17 Series Outshines iPhone 16 Line-up with Record-Breaking Pre-Orders for 17 Pro Max Model: Report

The iPhone 17 series has seen an overwhelming response in India and China, with preorders surpassing previous records. Despite a 60% increase in production compared to last year, delivery times remain tight. The iPhone 17 Pro Max is particularly in demand, leading the sales surge. Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 Air has experienced a softer launch but boasts a tripled production rate year-on-year, ensuring better availability.

Launched on September 9, the new iPhone 17 lineup brings notable enhancements in design, performance, and camera capabilities. In India, preorders have exceeded expectations, resulting in limited initial stock at Apple Stores and retailers. Many customers who pre-booked their devices are now experiencing delays in delivery timelines. Walk-in buyers are also finding it challenging to secure their preferred models.

Record-Breaking Preorders

In China, the demand for the iPhone 17 series was unprecedented. According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), sales on JD.com surpassed the first-day preorder numbers of the iPhone 16 series within just one minute. The most sought-after configuration is the iPhone 17 with 256GB storage. Apple's official website also faced heavy traffic, with some customers waiting up to five minutes for payment processing.

In Shanghai, all in-store pickup slots for the iPhone 17 Pro Max were filled within 20 minutes. Meanwhile, in Guangzhou, new buyers were informed they would have to wait until October 15 for deliveries. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo noted that first-weekend preorder demand for the iPhone 17 series outpaced last year's iPhone 16 lineup.

Production and Availability

The planned Q3 2025 production for the Pro Max, Pro, and standard models is approximately 25% higher year-on-year. However, delivery times are only about one week longer than before. The new iPhone 17 Air has been readily available at launch compared to last year's iPhone 16 Plus.

Kuo highlighted that the Air's Q3 2025 build plan is roughly three times higher (~+200% YoY) than that of the 16 Plus in Q3 2024. This increase explains its early availability despite softer launch sales compared to other models.

Global Demand and Impact

The global demand for the iPhone 17 Pro Max continues to lead sales figures worldwide. Production builds for this model have increased by approximately 60% year-on-year compared to the previous generation's Pro Max model. Despite this significant increase in production capacity, delivery times remain similar due to high demand.

Kuo further shared insights into how these record-breaking preorders will positively impact Apple's Q3 2025 financial results. The strong performance of the iPhone 17 series is expected to provide a substantial boost to Apple's earnings during this period.