Local mobile operators and IT retailers have expressed confidence that the new iPhone 13 will encourage more people to switch to 5G handsets and propel smartphone sales in the final quarter of this year, after sales of the new models began on Friday.
Mobile carriers have launched major discount campaigns in a bid to draw new users with low upfront payments for postpaid subscribers and monthly instalments stretching to 60 months
The latest iPhones have arrived in Thailand earlier than usual. Apple typically announces new models in September and they are available in the US within days, but Thai consumers normally have to wait until late October or November, sometimes longer.
iPhone fans queue outside the Apple store at CentralWorld on Friday morning. (Photo by Somchai Poomlard)
Apple recently launched its official store on LazMall, a premium-brand-focused feature of the e-marketplace Lazada.
“We believe iPhone 13 line-up will help people upgrade from 4G handsets similar to last year when many switched to the 5G-enabled iPhone 12,” said Pratthana Leelapanang, chief consumer business officer of Advanced Info Service (AIS), the country’s largest mobile operator by subscribers.
iPhone 13 promotion is also attractive to encourage customers to switch to 5G-enabled handsets, he said.
Apple customers are heavy data users and the number of iPhone customers using AIS mobile network continues to increase, he said. “We truly believe customers will get best benefit of new iPhones using the best 5G network.”
On Friday, AIS organised a drive-through event at Stadium One in Pathumwan district, where K9 robots were used to deliver iPhone 13 handsets to customers to support social distancing.
(Photos: AIS)
True Corporation, the country’s second biggest mobile carrier, offered drone delivery services as well as a drive-through event at Lan Khon Mueang outside City Hall.
Third-ranked Total Access Communication (DTAC) deployed a delivery caravan to bring handsets to customers.
Apple stores at Iconsiam and CentralWorld on Friday opened at 8am, two hours earlier than usual, to welcome hard-core fans.
However, the long queues seen in previous years were not evident due to the pandemic, and stores had to limit the number of visitors inside at any given time.
Fifteen people were in the queue at the Apple store at CentralWorld shortly before it opened at 8am.
Sura Khanittaweekul, chief executive of SET-listed Com7, an IT retail chain, said the early sales of new iPhone series would likely help push the company’s operating results to record high in the fourth quarter.
(Photos: DTAC)
This is the best year ever for IT, he said, thanks to the upcoming high season, new product launches and government economic stimulus programmes.
The number of pre-orders for iPhone 13 models is higher than those for the iPhone 12 last year, he added.
“The blue iPhone 13 handsets and best-ever video cameras are attractive to users and now owners of iPhone 10 or 11 models may want to upgrade their phones,” Mr Sura said.
iPhone users are normally those with medium to high incomes and they have been less affected by the economic slowdown. They are not troubled by relatively higher prices of iPhone 13 handsets than iPhone 12.
Starting prices range from 25,900 baht for the iPhone 13 Mini to 42,900 baht for the iPhone 13 Pro Max.
In 2021, sales of 5G-enabled smartphones are expected to share 35% of the total smartphone market of 15 million units, he added.
(Photos: True)