iPhone 17 Preorders Break Records in China on JD.com

 Apple’s iPhone 17 launch sees record-breaking preorders in China, while India buyers get early cashback discounts through select bank offers. 

New Delhi (Gramshasan sources) : Apple’s iPhone 17 launch is making headlines across Asia. In China, preorders shattered sales records within minutes, according to South China Morning Post (SCMP). Meanwhile in India, the iPhone 17 has seen an early effective price cut through attractive bank cashback offers, making it one of the most competitively priced iPhones at launch.

Record-Breaking Preorders in China

Preorders for the iPhone 17 series opened at 8 p.m. local time on JD.com, one of China’s largest e-commerce platforms. Within one minute, preorder volumes exceeded the entire first-day total of the iPhone 16 launch, SCMP reported. The iPhone 17 with 256GB storage emerged as the most popular configuration among early buyers.

Reports from retailers suggest constrained delivery slots and fully booked in-store pickups in major Chinese cities, with some temporary website slowdowns during the preorder rush.

Why the Base iPhone 17 Model Is Popular

Apple doubled the base storage to 256GB while keeping the $799 U.S. starting price. The model also features a larger 6.3-inch ProMotion display with 120 Hz refresh rate, an always-on screen, and iOS 26 out of the box. Apple confirmed these upgrades in its press release, highlighting improved value compared to last year’s iPhone 16.

Early Price Cut in India via Cashback Offers

Apple launched the iPhone 17 in India at a starting price of ₹82,900 for the 256GB variant. However, authorised resellers are already advertising pre-booking deals that make the device more affordable. Customers using select ICICI Bank and SBI credit cards can avail of a flat ₹6,000 cashback, effectively reducing the entry price to ₹76,900.

With premium features like a 3000-nits Super Retina XDR display and adaptive 1–120Hz ProMotion refresh rate, the offer positions the iPhone 17 as one of the most competitively priced Apple flagships at launch in India—especially compared to the iPhone 16, which carried a higher starting price for the same storage option.

Regulatory Delay for iPhone Air in China

In contrast, Apple has postponed the iPhone Air launch in mainland China due to pending eSIM regulatory approvals. While Apple says all three state-owned carriers are technically ready, its China website now displays a message stating that “release information will be updated later.”