iPhone 18 Pro Series Launch Draws Crowds and Chaos in Jakarta
The official release of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in Indonesia on Friday, October 16, 2026, sparked intense consumer demand, long overnight queues, and physical scuffles at pickup locations across Jakarta, according to reports from detikInet, CNBC Indonesia, CNN Indonesia, Compass, and Happy.
Pre-Order Demand Surpasses Previous Generation Despite Price Increases
Retail data from official distributors indicates that consumer enthusiasm for Apple’s latest flagship lineup remains exceptionally strong. Andre Tanudjaja, Deputy CEO of Erajaya Active Lifestyle, stated during the launch event at Urban Republic in Grand Indonesia, Jakarta, that pre-order numbers for the iPhone 18 Series exceeded those of the iPhone 17 Series, as reported by detikInet. Tanudjaja noted that customers continue to prioritize upgrading to the latest technology despite ongoing price hikes across the premium smartphone market. This sales momentum aligns with broader financial projections from PT Sinar Eka Selaras Tbk (ERAL), which expects the iPhone 18 launch to anchor double-digit business growth through the fourth quarter of 2026, according to Happy.
Queues and Crowd Surges at iBox Pickup Events
While retail locations like Urban Republic managed steady pre-order pickups, official iBox events in Jakarta experienced severe congestion and crowd disorder. and Compass documented that crowds began forming outside the Royal Glasshouse at Park Hyatt in Jakarta Pusat as early as Thursday night, October 15, 2026, ahead of the Friday morning opening. Video footage shared across social media platforms captured chaotic scenes of buyers pushing forward, resulting in damaged metal detectors and broken garden signage. Security personnel interviewed by Compass reported that many individuals in line were professional queue-holders, or jockeys, sent to secure spots on behalf of buyers.
Ini dia antrean pertama dan kedua di iBox Pick & Win Jakarta.Dapat bonus MacBook Neo! 😍👏🏽 pic.twitter.com/XLyIEpX1on
Promotional Giveaways Fuel Early Morning Rush
The intense overnight crowding was largely attributed to aggressive promotional incentives tied to the early morning pickups. According to Compass and CNBC Indonesia, official reseller iBox offered high-value door prizes for early arrivers, including MacBook Neo units for the first ten participants, iPads for numbers 16 through 25, Apple Watch models for numbers 26 through 75, and AirPods for numbers 121 through 220. Similarly, Urban Republic offered 50% discounts on AirPods and smartwatches, alongside promotional cases priced at Rp 18,000 for customers picking up their devices on launch day, as detailed by detikInet.
Hardware Upgrades and Model Preferences
Consumer preferences heavily favored the top-tier hardware configurations of the new lineup. and Happy reported that the iPhone 18 Pro Max—particularly units featuring larger storage capacities of 1 TB and 2 TB, alongside the new Burgundy colorway—sold out significantly faster than the standard iPhone 18 Pro model. From a hardware perspective, CNN Indonesia noted that the iPhone 18 Pro introduces a smaller Dynamic Island, a 48-megapixel main camera with a variable aperture, the A20 Pro chip with a GPU claimed to be up to 40 percent faster than its predecessor, and accelerated battery charging capabilities reaching 50 percent in approximately 15 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions About the iPhone 18 Launch
How much did iPhone 18 Pro pre-orders compare to the previous year?
Erajaya Active Lifestyle reported that pre-order numbers for the iPhone 18 Series were higher than those for the iPhone 17 Series, though exact sales figures and percentage growths were not disclosed, according to detikInet and Happy.
What caused the crowd congestion and damage at the Jakarta Pusat pickup location?
The chaotic scenes at the Park Hyatt in Jakarta Pusat stemmed from hundreds of buyers and queue-jockeys arriving as early as 02:00 WIB on Friday, October 16, 2026, to secure front-row positions for exclusive promotional doorprizes such as MacBook Neo and iPad units, as reported by Compass.
Which specific model and color variant sold out the fastest?
Urban Republic confirmed that the iPhone 18 Pro Max, particularly in high-capacity storage tiers and the Burgundy colorway, experienced the fastest sell-out times among all available options, according to detikInet.
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