Quiet Hong Kong launch for iPhone SE 2020 amid coronavirus retail woe
- Previous kick-off events have attracted hordes of superfans to Apple stores across the city
- But with social distancing and economic troubles, sentiment is dampened
The new iPhone model had its Hong Kong launch without the usual queues and fanfare on Friday, with just two dozen customers making their way to Apple’s Causeway Bay store before it opened amid the coronavirus pandemic.
At about 10am, staff at the tech giant’s store opened the doors, clapping and cheering to welcome customers interested in getting the new iPhone SE 2020 – a smaller, mid-market model intended to address complaints about the company’s pricier devices.
The dampened sentiment – amid a bleak citywide retail outlook caused by the health crisis – was in stark contrast with previous Apple kick-off sales, such as last year’s launch of the iPhone 11, when superfans queued overnight to get their hands on the new model.
Most buyers the Post spoke to on Friday morning – who all donned surgical masks – said they wanted the new device simply because their current phones were ageing and losing functionality.
The first outside the shop, who only gave his surname, Wong, arrived about 20 minutes before opening time.