Mixed views on iPhone 8 at Beijing launch

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Opening time at Apple's stores in Beijing on Friday and dozens of customers lined up for the newly launched iPhone 8 and 8 Plus. The company has been taking China as an anchor to its global revenue, but the relatively low turnout compared to previous hyped iPhone releases matched media reports of a muted launch for the company’s latest smartphone.

Certainly, the scenes in Beijing were nothing compared to 2012, when Beijingers thronged the Apple Store for the iPhone 4s, a firm favorite in China.

With the iPhone 8 reportedly only offering a minor upgrade from the 7, many people may be waiting for the launch in November of the special-edition iPhone X, radically redesigned with an edge-to-edge screen, no home button, and face recognition unlocking.

What did people at Apple's stores in Beijing make of the new phones on Friday? At the flagship branches in the Sanlitun and Wangfujing districts, CGTN found long-term iPhone users with mixed opinions.

iPhone 8 buyers queuing at Apple’s Sanlitun store on September 23, 2017. /CGTN Photo

People wait outside an Apple Store overnight before the release of the iPhone 4s on January 13, 2012 in Beijing, China. /VCG Photo

Hold out for the iPhone X

“People are probably waiting for the iPhone X, with more advances. I plan to exchange my iPhone 7 for an iPhone X,” said Ms. Mu in her 20s, who had taken delivery of an iPhone 8 but had decided to return it.

“I queued for a long time last year to get a new iPhone, but this time I only had to wait for 10 minutes to return my pre-ordered iPhone 8,” she said.

No big difference

“I couldn’t see a big difference between the iPhone 8 and the previous ones. I wanted to see an iPhone X, but there aren’t any samples available yet,” said a man who did not wish to be named.

“I used to buy iPhones online, but this time I’ve come to the store. I guessed there would not be many people coming here for the new product,” he explained.

A girl buys an iPhone 8 in Apple’s Wangfujing store on September 23, 2017. /CGTN Photo

Solid on hardware

“I bought an iPhone 8 because of the hardware upgrade,” a 24-year-old man told CGTN.

He continued, “I felt this year a lot of people lost interest. I’ve heard that people had to queue overnight in previous years, but I waited for less than an hour before I got my phone this time.”

IPhone 4s, the best

“I came to buy an iPhone 8 for my grandson, but now I would like to wait for the upcoming iPhone X with Face ID, though I don’t like the fancy design,” a 75-year-old man told CGTN.

“I think the iPhone 4s is the best. I have an old one at home, and it still works well. I constantly use it for taking photos and listening to the radio,” he added.

iPhone 8 buyers queuing in Apple’s Wangfujing store on September 23, 2017. /CGTN Photo

Shorter queues for better experience

“We’ve controlled the number of buyers this time, because we want to offer a better experience for both shoppers and shop assistants,” a member of staff named Ma Ding at the Apple Store in Sanlitun told CGTN when asked about the low turnout.

“We want to guarantee that buyers spend only a short time queuing. They can pre-order the new product online and come in at an appointed time, so that they can avoid peaks,” according to Ma.

“We have a limited number of staff to serve shoppers, and we make sure they are not exhausted.”

(Video made by CGTN's Chen Shi)

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