dexinwin Apple's iPhone 18 Pro series officially went on sale in China on September 18, but the resale market showed a noticeably different picture from the crowds seen outside Apple stores.
While consumers lined up to collect their newly purchased devices, some scalpers said they were reluctant to buy the standard iPhone 18 Pro because resale margins had become extremely thin. Several traders reportedly described the model as difficult to sell, with some saying they would not accept the device at all.
The situation has highlighted a sharp difference in demand between the iPhone 18 Pro and the more expensive iPhone 18 Pro Max.
More Than 100 People Queue Outside Apple Store
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max went on sale in China at 8 a.m. on September 18.
At Apple's retail store on Century Avenue in Shanghai's Lujiazui financial district, more than 100 consumers were reportedly waiting outside before the store opened.
Apple staff told reporters that customers needed advance reservations to collect the new devices, and the two Pro models had no walk-in inventory available at the store.
The scene showed that Apple's latest flagship phones still attracted significant attention among consumers despite the unusual conditions in the resale market.
Scalpers Say the Standard Pro Has Little Resale Value
The biggest surprise on launch day came from the response of scalpers and second-hand phone traders.
Several traders interviewed by Chinese media said demand for the standard iPhone 18 Pro was weak compared with the Pro Max.
One trader quoted by local media simply described the situation as: “Nobody wants the Pro.”
Other traders reportedly said they would not buy the iPhone 18 Pro because the device had already fallen below the price at which they could make a profit in the resale market.
Sina Finance, citing21st Century Business Herald, reported that some traders were refusing to purchase the standard Pro altogether, describing it as already “below market price.”
The comments reflect the views of individual resellers rather than an official measurement of overall consumer demand for the product.
Pro Max Performs Better in the Resale Market
The iPhone 18 Pro Max presented a different picture.
According to reports from Apple's retail stores and nearby resale traders, the 256GB and 512GB versions of the Pro Max attracted more interest, while the new Burgundy color was particularly sought after.
Some traders were offering premiums of several hundred yuan for certain Pro Max configurations.
However, even the Pro Max resale market showed signs of weakening during the day.
Chinese technology media reported that some Pro Max models were initially being purchased by scalpers at premiums of around 800 yuan, but the premium later fell to approximately 300 yuan.
One trader reportedly warned that prices could fall further if more supply entered the market.
Prices Vary Significantly by Configuration
The resale market has also become highly differentiated by storage capacity and color.
According to reports from traders interviewed in Beijing and Shanghai, certain Pro Max models could still command premiums, while high-capacity 1TB and 2TB versions attracted comparatively less interest.
At one Shanghai market, traders reportedly offered different purchase premiums depending on the model, color and storage configuration.
The situation suggests that the resale value of a newly launched smartphone cannot necessarily be judged by its retail price alone.
For scalpers, the key issue is the difference between the purchase price and the price at which another buyer is willing to pay for immediate availability.
Launch-Day Demand and Resale Demand Are Not the Same
The contrasting scenes surrounding the iPhone 18 Pro launch illustrate an important distinction.
Long queues at Apple stores indicate that consumers are interested in obtaining the new devices, but that does not necessarily mean every configuration will have strong demand in the secondary market.
A customer purchasing an iPhone for personal use may value a particular color, storage capacity or new feature differently from a reseller.
Scalpers, meanwhile, are primarily concerned with turnover speed and potential profit.
If the official price is already close to the price consumers are willing to pay, there may be little room for resellers to earn a premium.
That appears to be one reason some traders were unwilling to take the standard iPhone 18 Pro on launch day.
Early Resale Premiums Have Changed Rapidly
The iPhone 18 Pro series had already generated strong activity before its official release.
During the initial preorder period, some versions of the Pro Max were reportedly listed on third-party platforms at premiums of up to several thousand yuan.
However, as official inventory reached consumers and more devices entered the market, resale prices began changing rapidly.
A product that commands a large premium before launch can see that premium disappear quickly once supply increases.
This is particularly important for scalpers who purchase large quantities of devices in anticipation of higher resale prices.
If market prices fall faster than expected, unsold inventory can quickly turn into a loss.
The Foldable iPhone Factor
Another factor being discussed in the market is Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone Duo.
The company has introduced the new foldable product alongside the iPhone 18 Pro lineup, with its sales scheduled for a later date.
Some market observers have suggested that consumers interested in Apple's latest technology may postpone an upgrade while waiting for the foldable model.
However, it remains too early to determine how much of the current resale-market weakness can be attributed to this factor.
A Changing Smartphone Resale Market
The launch-day situation demonstrates how quickly China's smartphone resale market can change.
The iPhone 18 Pro series remains available through Apple's official sales channels, while the secondary market is driven by short-term differences between supply, demand and configuration preferences.
For consumers, buying directly from official channels avoids the additional risks associated with unofficial resale transactions.
For scalpers, meanwhile, the sharp change in premiums illustrates the risks of relying on launch-day price differences.
As more iPhone 18 Pro devices enter the market in the coming days, resale prices are likely to become increasingly dependent on actual consumer demand rather than the scarcity surrounding the initial launch.
For now, the message from China's resale market is clear: while the iPhone 18 Pro series has attracted customers to Apple stores, not every model has created the kind of resale opportunity that scalpers had hoped for.
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