In a quest to be among the first to own the iPhone 18 Pro Burgundy, Indonesian Apple fan Bagus Hernawan flew to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. His trip was not just about tradition; it was also a savvy financial decision as the price in Malaysia was lower than in Singapore.
Why Malaysia for the iPhone 18 Pro?
Bagus visited the Apple Store at The Exchange TRX to pick up his pre-ordered iPhone 18 Pro Burgundy with 512 GB storage. The price tag was 6,499 ringgit, approximately 28.8 million IDR. In contrast, he found that the same model would cost around 30.6 million IDR in Singapore, a difference of nearly 2 million IDR. Additionally, he noted that travel and accommodation costs were more affordable in Malaysia.
Early Bird Arrives at the Store
Bagus arrived at the Apple Store at around 7:15 AM local time on launch day. To his surprise, many eager customers were already in line. He learned that some had been waiting since 5:00 AM. The queue was organized into three sections: influencers and invited guests, customers picking up online orders, and walk-in buyers.
Upon his arrival, the pickup line had about 20 people, while the walk-in line stretched significantly longer, estimated at around 100 individuals. “For pickup, there were about 20 people. The walk-in line was really long—maybe 100 people,” he remarked.
Excitement at the Apple Store Opening
The Apple Store opened its doors at 8:00 AM, welcoming the waiting customers with enthusiasm from the staff. After finally acquiring his coveted iPhone 18 Pro, Bagus noticed that the Burgundy color appeared darker than he had anticipated. “It looks a bit darker than I thought,” he commented.
He also observed the new design of the back panel, which he described as more natural. However, he noted that the camera plateau on the iPhone 18 Pro seemed more pronounced. “The back glass has a natural color, so it doesn’t look odd. The weight doesn’t feel significantly different,” he added.
Exploring New Features
One of the exciting new features that caught Bagus's attention was the Variable Aperture capability of the camera. This function allows for greater control over photography. “It’s interesting; there’s a lot that can be adjusted. However, the bokeh effect isn’t very noticeable here due to the bright lighting,” he explained.
His impressions were still preliminary, having only tried the iPhone 18 Pro during the initial sales atmosphere. More comprehensive testing would be necessary to determine the true impact of the variable aperture on photo quality in various lighting conditions.
Future Purchases and IMEI Registration
In addition to the iPhone 18 Pro, Bagus plans to purchase the AirPods 5 in Malaysia. He intends to buy accessories, like cases, after returning to Indonesia. “I plan to buy the AirPods 5 as well. I’ll get the case and other items in Indonesia,” he concluded.
Upon returning to Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Bagus will register the IMEI of his new iPhone 18 Pro. He wonders how much the registration fee might be.
Source: https://inet.detik.com/consumer/d-8667891/demi-iphone-18-pro-burgundy-apple-enthusiast-ri-terbang-ke-malaysia
