Big iPhone change for South Africa
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 Computer Mania, Takealot, Digicape, Game, iStore, and Makro 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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