Vodafone, Telstra and Optus customers have sparked a wave of iPhone X telco pre-orders in Australia, with Spark sparking its own sales in NZ, as the world now waits for 3 November.
After a decade-plus since the first iPhone in 2007, the iPhone X has finally gone on sale, although first deliveries won't start until 3 November, and many people potentially having to wait weeks longer than that for delivery.
At time of publication just under six hours since pre-ordering started, wait times at Apple US and Apple Australia's online sites now say 5-6 weeks.
Whether this time frame will get longer or stay at around this level for some time is yet to be seen, but the time for talking about how popular the iPhone X will or won't be can now be answered by actual sales - and just in time for the fourth-quarter, end-year, Christmas and holiday shopping 2017 season.
{loadposition alex08}1. Vodafone
Vodafone was first to launch its pricing for its new iPhone X Red Plans, allowing payment over 12, 24 or 36 monthly instalments.
For plans $60 and above, Vodafone customers "also receive a loyalty discount on the price of the iPhone X handset across both 24 and 36 months. They can also purchase outright with Vodafone’s SIM-only 12 month or month to month plans."
As is the headline feature of Vodafone’s new Red Plans, if one its customers chooses "to pay off their device early, they simply pay the remainder of the recommended retail price rather than being locked in or paying a heavy exit penalty."
"Vodafone is also giving customers a pre-sale offer which is an additional 10GB bonus data on $60 & $80 plans across 12, 24 and 36 months, available until 2nd November."
Vodafone iPhone X plans here.
2. Telstra
Telstra was second into inboxes with details of its own iPhone X deals.
Telstra is offering iPhone X on its "recently launched Go Mobile Swap Lease, Go Mobile Plus, My Business Lease and My Business Mobile plans."
The company proudly boasts these feature its "most generous data inclusions yet," which naturally mean "the new plans give customers the power to do more on the country’s fastest mobile network (based on national average combined 3G/4G mobile speeds)."
Telstra is tipping in its usual telco tempters, and says that "to support growing demand for premium, on-demand entertainment, selected Go Mobile Swap Lease and Go Mobile Plus plans also include a 12-month Foxtel Now subscription for up to three Foxtel Now Starter Packs, for a truly customised entertainment experience."
There are a range of plans, but one Telstra lists one it expects "to be popular with our customers:"
For $139 a month (inclusive of discounts) customers can receive a new iPhone X 64GB on a lease plan over 24 months with a huge 60GB of data (50GB + 10GB bonus data) and three Foxtel Now Starter Packs
Kevin Teoh, Head of Consumer & Small Business Mobiles, said: “10 years ago the iPhone launched on the smartphone scene and redefined what Australians expect from their mobile and helped to create countless cultural trends – from the selfie to the streaming phenomenon.
“As one of the world’s most iconic devices, there is always huge excitement surrounding a new iPhone launch and the iPhone X marks the most anticipated iPhone release to date. We’re delighted to be able offer our customers access to this next generation smartphone on the country’s best mobile network.”
"To support growing demand for premium, on-demand entertainment, selected Go Mobile Swap Lease and Go Mobile Plus plans also include a 12-month Foxtel Now subscription for up to three Foxtel Now Starter Packs, for a truly customised entertainment experience.
"Telstra customers pre-ordering the iPhone X will get even more value. Customers can pre order the iPhone X 64GB on the $149/mth Go Mobile Swap Plan with $10/mth phone lease payments over 24 months and receive a $20 monthly credit plus a huge 60GB of data (50GB + 10GB bonus data) and three Foxtel Now Starter Packs (min cost $3,336 for when phone returned in working order).
"Small business customers can pre order the iPhone X 64GB on the $149/mth My Business Mobile Lease plan with $10/mth phone lease payments over 24 months and receive a $20 monthly credit plus 60GB of data (50GB + 10GB bonus data) (min cost $3,336 when phone returned in working order). This plan also includes a 12-month subscription to Microsoft Office 365 Business (to be redeemed in the first 3 months of your plan) – which provides access to core Office Apps including Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint and more on up to five devices. $20 credit and 10GB bonus data offer ends 11:59PM November 2.
"Customers wanting more from their mobile can get even more data on Telstra’s Premium plan. Normally $199/mth, for a limited time only customers will receive a $20 monthly credit plus 20GB of bonus data (120GB total) (min cost $4,296 over 24 months). That’s120GB for $179/mth. This is a special offer available for a limited time only.
"For more details on pricing and data plans, please visit Telstra's iPhone X page.
3. Optus
Optus was third to announce its iPhone X pricing, and also has a suite a streaming content to offer as an added differentiator and competitor to Telstra's content.
Optus MD of Marketing and Product, Ben White said, “Optus is really excited to be selling the highly anticipated iPhone X. With its innovative new features, we know iPhone X will deliver an amazing experience for consumers, especially when accessing Optus’ exciting entertainment content including the Premier League and the world first National Geographic app experience.”
When it comes to pricing, we're told that "New or re-contracting customers can sign up to one of Optus’ 24 month plans.
"Customers can lease iPhone X on the $120 My Plan Flex plan with $0 upfront payment, which includes 100GB of data to share with up to five other eligible devices on the same billing account.
"This plan is usually $160 per month, and customers will receive $40 off per month for the life of the plan if they sign up by 3 December 2017, saving $960 over 24 months.
"Minimum total cost over 24 months $2880, including handset repayments.
Optus reminds us that, in addition to the iPhone X, it "also offers Apple’s latest products including the new generation iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, Apple Watch Series 3 with built-in cellular and Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS)."
More detail at the Optus iPhone X page here.
4. Spark in NZ
We also received an email from NZ telco, Spark, which at 2 hours later than AEDT in Australia saw Spark pre-orders start at 8.01pm local time, as opposed to 6.01pm for us in Australia.
Spark GM of Customer and Marketing, Clive Ormerod said: "We’re thrilled that Spark is one of the first providers in the world to offer customers the chance to get their hands on the iPhone X.
“This revolutionary iPhone will be perfect in combination with Spark’s unbeatable Unlimited mobile plan or one of our refreshed Rollover plans and packs.”
Full detail on Spark's pricing and data plans are here.
5. Apple
You can, of course, always pre-order an iPhone X direct from Apple, which offers its own financing and outright purchase options. Here's Apple Australia's iPhone X page with all the details.
6. iPhone X Comment and my own iPhone X purchase via Vodafone in Australia
As for all the reports of yield issues with certain components, or the since officially denied report that Face ID accuracy has been lowered to accommodate less accurate components notwithstanding, the time for delivery has come, and the world will see how well Apple does it.
If there are hiccups, it all has to be put into perspective - there are always delays in getting the brand new flagship iPhone every year with delays that could be weeks or even months in years gone by after the official sales period started.
AirPods were at six weeks delivery time for months. They're now down to 1-3 days shipping after ordering.
iPhone X pre-order ship times at Apple are at 5-6 weeks, but the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, with all three using the same A11 Bionic processor, and at cheaper prices than the iPhone X models, are available with a 3-5 day shipping wait time, and are available for immediate pickup at the listed Apple Stores in I searched for in Canberra, Sydney and the 90210 zip code I entered for US pick-up check.
So, Apple has done something it wasn't able to do before - have wide availability of two of its flagship new iPhones to anyone that wants one rather than making you wait for weeks before enough stock is available.
Sure, that's mostly because people who really want the best new iPhone are waiting for the iPhone X to come, and now that it is here at long last, at least in the form of being able to officially order, can order one.
We'll see the inevitable sales reports early in the new year, and especially if they're impressive, we'll hopefully see Apple announce how well pre-orders have been going since their Friday 27 October 2017 launch, and first-batch 3 November availability for the lucky few that don't have to wait 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 weeks and beyond depending on where and when the order took place.
So... the era of the iPhone X takes its final step from officially being unleashed unto the world, and if previous flagship iPhone launches are any guide, we're about to see what it means when ten out of ten delivers a giant X that truly marks the spot when iPhone X arrived with intensity.
As for me, I ordered a Silver iPhone X with 256GB via Vodafone, and while it took a phone call to finish the order process, which did entail waiting on hold as Vodafone's call centre handled a lot of similar calls, I pre-ordered one on launch night.
I chose the 36 month plan, which you can pay off sooner if you want without paying phone plan exit fees, and even though I plan on paying it off much sooner than 36 months, you get the practicality of a low monthly payment that has no interest so you can at least get it and comfortably pay for it.
I received an addition 5GB bonus data for each of the first two months on the plan that I chose, with more expensive plans offering more bonus data.
I also took up the insurance option against theft, accidental damage or loss.
I haven't purchased AppleCare+ yet but expect to as well for the benefits it provides which has included much lower screen replacement costs, I presume it would be similar for iPhone X, but will have to wait and see.
So, I'm hoping my iPhone X arrives in the 1-3 week timeframe that I've been given, hopefully in the 1-week part rather than two or three weeks, but I'll just have to wait and see, and will let you know when it arrives and how long it took.
Until then, we'll soon see just how popular iPhone X becomes, but I'll be surprised if iPhone X demand doesn't spike off the charts to become the most popular must-have device of this year that, through sheer demand, is possible but still hard to get all the way through Christmas and into the new year - yet again.
