Sales of Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max have jumped greatly in China. However, the popularity of the new handsets can’t be tied to new features like camera or AI improvements. Nope, it’s all about that Orange Crush, baby!
The Cosmic Orange finish that is an iPhone 17 Pro lineup-only color option this year has been dubbed “Hermès orange” by Chinese customers who associate the striking color with the French luxury brand’s signature color.
The Financial Times reports that videos showcasing the orange iPhones have gone viral on Chinese social media since the devices launched in September.
“It sounds simple, but it’s the external obvious changes to design, which includes the introduction of a shout-out orange colour, that pulled out early upgraders,” IDC senior research director Nabila Popal told the publication.
It also doesn’t hurt that the Mandarin word for orange sounds somewhat like the word for success, further naking the color more desirable in the minds of Chinese consumers.
Apple reported fiscal first quarter earnings of $26 billion in China, a 38% year-over-year leap, for the company’s best-ever performance in the region. China is said to account for roughly 20% of Apple’s total global sales.
The results are certainly encouraging to Apple, which has long fought lagging iPhone sales in the country, as it faced heavy competition from domestic smartphone rivals like Huawei, Xiaomi, and Vivo.
