Apple lovers in China will not have to wait much longer to avail the iPhone 6 and its sibling iPhone 6 plus. According to the reports, a top Chinese government regulator said on Tuesday that apple’s latest smartphones are in the final stages of approval. Apple has had plenty of success in the country with its iPhone releases, selling a record number of 5S units last year in China.
“The iPhone 6 has entered the final stage of the approval process, now it is just a matter of time,” said Miao Wei, chief of China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. “Netizens, please wait patiently.” He didn’t specify that how much time it will take to review the device but said that he expects the launch “very soon”.
The delay in the release led to an increase in black marketing of the smartphones in China. The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 plus were launched in ten countries on Friday, and most of the people who stood in lines bought the iPhones just to resell them. These black marketers are selling the devices in China for “upwards of 300 percent” of their retail price.
In China, the iPhone 6 plus is reportedly being sold for around $3,250 and the iPhone 6 is currently commanding about $1,900. The most famous colors are gold and space gray. These colors command up to a $500 premium in sales. However, Chinese government officials are cracking down on the illegal sales or black marketing; some importers have been creative with the smuggling process. They store the devices inside empty Twinkie boxes but store the other goods in empty toothpaste boxes or coffee cans.
The reason behind the delayed approval is still unknown. According to one recent local report, the iPhone 6 may not be released in China until 2015. It also cited Apple’s problem reaching an agreement with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
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