Slow resales of Apple’s iPhone 6s during debut in Hong Kong amid same-day launch in mainland China

Resales of the brand-new iPhone 6s were lacklustre this morning near Apple’s flagship store in Hong Kong, where the gadget made its debut on the same day as in mainland China.

Apple fans and speculators had turned out in force outside the store at the IFC Mall in Central, with many having an eye to making a quick buck from resales of the new devices, which featured faster mobile connections.

But one speculator who had a couple of the new smartphones to resell lamented how the latest models were no longer as appealing as before.

“[Business] is no good. No people like this phone. There is no more new feature,” said Sushil Kumar, who hoped to sell the smaller iPhone 6s for HK$6,500 and the bigger iPhone 6s Plus at HK$7,000.

Official retail prices start at HK$5,588 for the iPhone6s with a 4.7-inch display and HK$6,388 for the iPhone6s Plus with a 5.5-inch display, according to Apple’s Hong Kong webpage.

Early in the morning, more than 300 people who had reserved appointments to buy the new smartphones weeks ago queued up in an orderly manner, assisted by cheerful Apple staff members dressed in grey shirts.

Without bothering to unwrap their purchases, many then made a beeline for a nearby footbridge, where at least 50 electronics speculators had taken up position to trade and bargain.

The bridge became so congested with traders and sellers at one point that IFC security staff members had to ask people to leave. The scene was largely peaceful, nevertheless.