For the first time ever, South Africans will be able to purchase the latest iPhone from local retailers on the same day as customers in the US and other major Apple markets.

Major tech sellers Takealot, Digicape, Game, and iStore will all have the iPhone 16 series available from 20 September 2024, with pre-orders starting on 13 September.

Considering the time difference between the US and South Africa, locals will actually be able to get their hands on Apple’s latest smartphones a few hours earlier than the Americans.

In previous years, South Africa only got the new iPhone at least a week later than the US and other major Apple markets.

New iPhone models launched in 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2023, were available in South Africa a week after the US launch.

The biggest delay between the US and local availability of iPhones in recent years was in 2020, when Covid-19 severely disrupted supply chains and manufacturing operations.

That year, South Africans had to wait until just before Christmas for the iPhone 12 to be launched locally, about two months after Apple launched the phone in the US and other major markets.

In 2021, chip shortages also impacted tech availability, contributing to the iPhone 13 launching in South Africa two weeks after the US.

Before 2018, the South African launch date for new iPhones was between three weeks and three months after the US and major market rollouts.

The first iPhone to be available in South Africa — 2008’s iPhone 3GS — was available at select Vodacom stores over two months after rolling out in the US.

It is unclear why the launch date for Apple’s iPhones in South Africa now aligns with the US and other major markets.

MyBroadband asked major retailers and distributors for feedback.

Although none provided details about the reasons behind the launch timing, iStore said that it was excited to allow fans to get their hands on the latest iPhone 16 earlier than usual.

The table below summarises the differences in release dates for new iPhone models, from the first that was officially available in South Africa

Model US availability date South African availability date Difference
iPhone 16 20 September 2024 20 September 2024 None
iPhone 15 15 September 2023 22 September 2023 1 week
iPhone 14 (except Plus model) 16 September 2022 23 September 2022 1 week
iPhone 13 24 September 2021 8 October 2021 2 weeks
iPhone 12 23 October 2020 18 December 2020 2 months*
iPhone 11 20 September 2019 27 September 2019 1 week
iPhone XS 21 September 2018 28 September 2018 1 week
iPhone X 3 November 2017 24 November 2017 3 weeks
iPhone 8 22 September 2016 20 October 2016 4 weeks
iPhone 7 16 September 2015 14 October 2015 4 weeks
iPhone 6 19 September 2014 24 October 2014 5 weeks
iPhone 5 21 September 2012 14 December 2012 3 months
iPhone 4 24 June 2010 22 September 2010 3 months
iPhone 3GS 19 June 2009 31 July 2009 5 weeks
iPhone 3G 11 July 2008 26 September 2008 Over 2 months
*Delayed by Covid-19 pandemic

More countries got same iPhone launch date as US

There are several potential reasons for the earlier availability in South Africa.

Firstly, Apple might have upscaled its global supply chain capabilities for earlier new iPhone launches in more markets.

Secondly, the company might be allocating less stock to some of its major markets and focusing on smaller markets like South Africa where it believes potential for sales growth is greater with earlier availability.

It is also possible that it now regards South Africa as a more important market overall than in the past.

However, South Africa is not the only country getting the new model earlier than usual.

Where the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 were launched in around 45 countries on the same day as the US, the iPhone 16 is rolling out to more than 58 countries alongside the US on 20 September.

The South African prices for the new iPhone models have yet to be confirmed.

The US pricing has remained the same as with the iPhone 15 series but the rand has strengthened against the dollar since its release.

Therefore, Apple fans could potentially see a reduction from the launch pricing of the iPhone 15, which started at R21,999 with the dollar-to-rand exchange rate at about R19.

However, a reduction is not guaranteed, as distributors sometimes enter into currency-forwarding contracts that effectively lock product prices with the supplier at set exchange rates.

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