Apple Announces December Launches for iPhone 5, iPad Mini, and Fourth-Generation iPad in China - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Apple Announces December Launches for iPhone 5, iPad Mini, and Fourth-Generation iPad in China

Following word earlier this week that the iPhone 5 had received final certification in China, Apple today announced that it will be bringing not only the iPhone 5 but also the iPad mini and fourth-generation iPad to the country over the next several weeks.

Apple today announced the Wi-Fi versions of iPad mini and fourth generation iPad with Retina display will be available in China on Friday, December 7, and iPhone 5 will be available on Friday, December 14. iPad mini and the new fourth generation iPad with Retina display are currently available in 42 countries, and iPhone 5 is available in 47 countries, including the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and the UK.

ipad mini china
China now accounts for 15% of Apple's revenues, making the new product launches a significant development for the company. Apple's Chinese product launches have typically lagged well behind those in other countries, but the company has been working to shorten those gaps. The iPhone 4S launched in China three months after the device's debut, while the third-generation iPad took four months to arrive in the country.

With today's announcement, the iPhone 5 will be arriving in China roughly two and a half months after the initial round of launches, while the iPad mini and fourth-generation iPad are coming to China just a month after their debut in the U.S. and other first-round markets.

Related Roundups: iPad, iPad mini
Tag: China
Related Forums: iPad, iPhone

Popular Stories

HomePod minis Apple TV and iPad mini Leak Feature

iPad Mini With A20 Pro, New HomePod Mini Colors, and New Apple TV 4K All Just Leaked

Friday September 25, 2026 8:18 am PDT by
The next iPad mini, HomePod mini, and Apple TV 4K models have all leaked, just a few weeks before the devices are expected to be announced. Specifically, MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris discovered a few of Apple's official images of the devices, confirming their existence and some new features that are planned. The most notable iPad mini details revealed in today's leak include an A20 Pro ...
iPad mini 7 feature

iPad Mini 8 Leaked: A20 Pro Chip, Landscape Camera, and More

Friday September 25, 2026 8:18 am PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPad mini will feature the A20 Pro chip, a rearranged front-facing camera, and a new speaker system, leaked code reveals. The information originates from Apple's own code (spotted by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris) and also shows clear product images of the new iPad mini. Although images of the device only show the front, leaving any design changes of the rear or ...
ipad peach

Apple Code Confirms iPad 12 Specs: A19, 8GB RAM, N1, C1X Modem

Friday September 25, 2026 10:12 am PDT by
The next low-cost iPad will be equipped with an A19 chip, C1X modem, N1 networking chip, and 8GB RAM, according to details found in Apple's code by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris. We've heard some of these same specifications in prior rumors, so this is more of a confirmation than a new leak. The iPad 11 has an A16 chip, so the upgrade to the A19 in the 12th-generation iPad will bring a...

Top Rated Comments

181 months ago
Low stocks or no stocks. Hard to find anywhere. Long waits for buyers in countries where it's already officially launched...

Let's immediately launch into one of the most populous countries in the world.

Nothing against China but you would think they would want to be able to somewhat keep pace with orders in the markets where it's already launched before going into other HUGE markets and further frustrating more people with longer wait times.

(and yes, I know all about the positive business effect of scarcity marketing).

Now crank up those wait times even more while chunks of production are further split among new markets.

This mode of thinking makes no sense, and is typical entitled-like thinking here in the USA...
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
chriscrk Avatar
181 months ago
I just want the iPhone 5 to arrive in Chile already! I'm tired of my stupid android based phone (if you can even call it that).
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
181 months ago
Low stocks or no stocks. Hard to find anywhere. Long waits for buyers in countries where it's already officially launched...

Let's immediately launch into one of the most populous countries in the world.

Nothing against China but you would think they would want to be able to somewhat keep pace with orders in the markets where it's already launched before going into other HUGE markets and further frustrating more people with longer wait times.

(and yes, I know all about the positive business effect of scarcity marketing).

Now crank up those wait times even more while chunks of production are further split among new markets.

Never learned to wait for non essential things for life?

Geez! Let's go postal!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
181 months ago
Well said, Apple products are high end luxury in China where the vast majority of the population could not dream of buying any of them.[COLOR="#808080"]

----------

I am an expat living in China and can assure you that 10's of millions of middle class AND lower middle class people are buying Apple products. With an extremely high savings rate, they spend above average amounts of their income on "luxury goods". Further, even those that can't afford Apple products will save for a long time to buy one. They most certainly do dream of owning one.

Final point, the Chinese middle class is now larger than that of the US!
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kalsta Avatar
181 months ago
Low stocks or no stocks. Hard to find anywhere. Long waits for buyers in countries where it's already officially launched...

Let's immediately launch into one of the most populous countries in the world.

Nothing against China but you would think they would want to be able to somewhat keep pace with orders in the markets where it's already launched before going into other HUGE markets and further frustrating more people with longer wait times.

If you happened to live in China, would you feel the same do you think?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
181 months ago
Low stocks or no stocks. Hard to find anywhere. Long waits for buyers in countries where it's already officially launched...

Let's immediately launch into one of the most populous countries in the world.

Nothing against China but you would think they would want to be able to somewhat keep pace with orders in the markets where it's already launched before going into other HUGE markets and further frustrating more people with longer wait times.

(and yes, I know all about the positive business effect of scarcity marketing).

Now crank up those wait times even more while chunks of production are further split among new markets.

Looks like they've caught up with demand if the US is any indication (and with the US contributing to something like 30% of all iPhone sales, I'd say it probably is...).

And just because China is the most populous country doesn't mean the 1.3+ billion population will line up to buy the phone.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Latest Stories
Apple's All-New Home Hub Rumored to Launch in These Four Colors
Apple's All-New Home Hub Rumored to Launch in These Four Colors
16 minutes ago
iPhone 18 Pro Aperture Control Goes Fully Manual in Halide 3.2
iPhone 18 Pro Aperture Control Goes Fully Manual in Halide 3.2
1 hour ago
Apple Stores Receive 'Do Not Open' Boxes Ahead of Smart Home Products Launch
Apple Stores Receive 'Do Not Open' Boxes Ahead of Smart Home Products Launch
2 hours ago
iPhone 18 Pro Sales Jump in China Ahead of iPhone Duo Launch
iPhone 18 Pro Sales Jump in China Ahead of iPhone Duo Launch
2 hours ago
Apple TV Still Down for Some Users Following Apple Services Outage
Apple TV Still Down for Some Users Following Apple Services Outage
3 hours ago
PSA: Apple Mail on Mac May Stop Syncing Microsoft 365 Accounts Today
PSA: Apple Mail on Mac May Stop Syncing Microsoft 365 Accounts Today
4 hours ago
Apple's Smart Home Hub: Everything We Know So Far
Apple's Smart Home Hub: Everything We Know So Far
14 hours ago
Apple's Home Hub Borrows From the iPhone Duo's StandBy Mode
Apple's Home Hub Borrows From the iPhone Duo's StandBy Mode
15 hours ago
Apple Invites App Updated With Three New Features
Apple Invites App Updated With Three New Features
19 hours ago
Apple Event on October 13?
Apple Event on October 13?
20 hours ago
Apple Watch SE 3 vs. Series 12 Buyer's Guide: Which Should You Buy?
Apple Watch SE 3 vs. Series 12 Buyer's Guide: Which Should You Buy?
22 hours ago
iPad Mini 8 to Offer These 10 New Features
iPad Mini 8 to Offer These 10 New Features
22 hours ago
DoorDash Unveils AI Food Ordering Through Apple's Messages App
DoorDash Unveils AI Food Ordering Through Apple's Messages App
1 day ago
Amazon Takes Up to $150 Off Select M5 MacBook Air Models
Amazon Takes Up to $150 Off Select M5 MacBook Air Models
1 day ago
Apple Still Plans to Release a New Full-Sized HomePod
Apple Still Plans to Release a New Full-Sized HomePod
1 day ago
Apple Working to Expand HomeKit
Apple Working to Expand HomeKit
1 day ago
Apple Smart Home Hub to Feature iMac G4-Style Design
Apple Smart Home Hub to Feature iMac G4-Style Design
1 day ago
Three New Apple Smart Home Products Coming on October 13
Three New Apple Smart Home Products Coming on October 13
1 day ago
Apple Pay Now Available in India With Axis Bank Cards
Apple Pay Now Available in India With Axis Bank Cards
2 days ago
OpenAI Launches Always-On 'Dots' Agents to Rival Meta's Muse
OpenAI Launches Always-On 'Dots' Agents to Rival Meta's Muse
2 days ago
AirPods 5 Teardown: Batteries Removable, Case Still Tough
AirPods 5 Teardown: Batteries Removable, Case Still Tough
2 days ago
iPhone 18 Pro Owners Complain of Speaker Crackling or Popping
iPhone 18 Pro Owners Complain of Speaker Crackling or Popping
2 days ago
You Can 'Get Ready' for iPhone Duo Pre-Orders on October 12
You Can 'Get Ready' for iPhone Duo Pre-Orders on October 12
2 days ago
Apple Pay Reportedly Launching in India Today
Apple Pay Reportedly Launching in India Today
2 days ago
Apple Releases New AirPods Beta Firmware
Apple Releases New AirPods Beta Firmware
2 days ago
Apple Shares New Guide for Using iOS 27 Parental Controls
Apple Shares New Guide for Using iOS 27 Parental Controls
2 days ago
Apple Creator Studio and Final Cut Camera Get New Features
Apple Creator Studio and Final Cut Camera Get New Features
2 days ago
Apple Explains Why It Removed ICE Tracking Apps Last Year
Apple Explains Why It Removed ICE Tracking Apps Last Year
2 days ago
Amazon Expands $779.99 Apple Watch Ultra 4 Deal to More Models
Amazon Expands $779.99 Apple Watch Ultra 4 Deal to More Models
2 days ago
Switch Siri AI for ChatGPT on Your Mac
Switch Siri AI for ChatGPT on Your Mac
2 days ago

🔗 Related Apple News & Rumors

Stay updated with the latest Apple ecosystem news and verified rumors