Ukraine may see a temporary shortage of certain iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models, memory configurations and new colors when sales of the devices begin, according to Ivan Pavlik, general director of Asbis-Ukraine, Apple's official distributor in the country. Pavlik shared the assessment with LIGA.net.
He said high demand in the first weeks after a launch is typical not only for the Ukrainian market but for the global one as well, meaning the most popular smartphone versions could temporarily run short of stock.
Distributor's role in the launch period
Pavlik said one of a distributor's tasks during this period is to analyze actual demand along with the structure of pre-orders and sales, assess market capacity, and pass that information on to the manufacturer. He said the volumes and composition of supplies in the following weeks and months depend on this analysis.
Asbis-Ukraine is the official distributor of Apple products in Ukraine, acting as an intermediary between Apple and retailers that sell its devices in the country.
Ukraine and Apple's global launch schedule
According to the report, Ukraine is increasingly moving closer to Apple's global rollout schedule. This year, the new iPhones will become available to Ukrainian buyers only a week after sales begin in the United States and Western Europe, a shorter gap than in previous launches.
Apple's iPhone launches have historically staggered availability across different regions, with some markets receiving devices weeks or even months after the initial release countries. A narrowing gap suggests Ukraine is being treated more like a first-wave market for Apple's product rollouts.
Context: Apple's foldable iPhone Duo
The report also noted that Apple recently presented its first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, priced at $2,000. Apple has faced competition from other manufacturers that have offered foldable phones for several years, and the Duo marks the company's entry into that segment.
Samsung, a longtime maker of foldable smartphones, responded to the presentation of the foldable iPhone Duo with a series of sarcastic posts on social media, according to the report.
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max represent Apple's latest flagship smartphone lineup. Pricing and availability details for Ukraine beyond the one-week delay were not specified in the report.
