Chinese retailers have begun receiving shipments of the new iPhone 15, yet store staff are not permitted to open or activate the devices yet. This information comes from a version of MyDrivers that cites a photo showing one of the fresh Apple models.
The image depicts a 512GB iPhone 15 Pro box whose corners and seals look intact and untouched.
According to MyDrivers, the packaging seals include a notice stating that activation will be blocked until September 13, 2023 at 8:01 AM Beijing time, which corresponds to the conclusion of Apple’s upcoming keynote. If someone bypasses this restriction, a fine of 200,000 yuan could be imposed, roughly equivalent to 2.7 million rubles at the exchange rate from early September 2023.
The same report notes that Apple has already dispatched devices to retailers in order to compete with the Huawei Mate 60 as sales begin. Many journalists observe a highly competitive premium smartphone market in China, where retailers actively work to secure consumer preference and market share.
The iPhone 15 series was scheduled to be unveiled on September 12, 2023, at 20:00 Moscow time. In addition to the iPhone lineup, Apple was anticipated to introduce new Apple Watches and AirPods at the event.
Earlier insider communications had suggested that the iPhone 15 Pro Max would not be released in 2023, a detail that remained part of the broader industry chatter surrounding Apple’s product strategy that year.