TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s leading telecom operators expressed confidence that Apple’s iPhone 17 series will become the best-selling 5G iPhone to date as the devices launched worldwide Friday.

The iPhone 17 continues Apple’s 5G lineup, which began with the iPhone 12 series in 2020.

Apple devices account for roughly one-third of Taiwan’s smartphone market. Analysts estimate the iPhone 17 could drive up to 1.6 million replacement sales nationwide this year, according to CTEE.

Chunghwa Telecom Chair Chien Chih-cheng (簡志誠) said the iPhone 17 offers strong incentives for users with older models. Chien predicts it “will outsell the iPhone 16.”

He highlighted key upgrades, including the new A19 chip built on TSMC’s 3 nm process, enhanced performance, improved artificial intelligence computing, advanced cooling solutions, and longer battery life. Chien also noted the upcoming release of the traditional Mandarin version of Apple Intelligence and upgraded storage options — all at unchanged prices.

Taiwan Mobile Chief Consumer Business Officer Lin Tung-min (林東閔) forecast a larger replacement wave than last year, with annual sales expected to surpass 2024 levels. Lin said iPhone 17’s supply in Taiwan is the most ample in 17 years of Apple sales, projecting initial sales growth of 20–30% compared with last year.

Far Eastone Telecommunications President Ching Chee (井琪) noted that certain models could face temporary shortages due to color, storage, or specification variations. However, he expects supply and demand to stabilize shortly after launch.

Far Eastone Senior Executive Vice President Zhao Yi-nan (趙憶南) added that customers typically upgrade devices every 2.4–2.5 years, fueling replacement demand among iPhone 14 and older users.