This is how Apple's first simultaneous launch in Colombia and the United States came about.

“We've been working with Apple for almost 12 years, building trust and demonstrating that Colombia is a strategic market. We've grown double-digit year after year; last year, we increased our pre-sales by 40% . All of this gave Apple the certainty that our country deserved to be on the same launch date as the United States,” explains Jorge Rubio, CCO of Mac Center, as he recalls the path that led Colombia to enter the tech giant's so-called “Wave 1.”

Until this year, new iPhones and other devices would arrive in Colombian stores weeks after their North American debut. That delay became history with the launch of the iPhone 17 series , the new iPhone Air, the Apple Watch Series 11 , and the AirPods Pro 3 , all available in Colombia since September 19, the same day they were released in New York or Los Angeles.

Behind the leap is not only Apple's confidence, but also the creation of a financial ecosystem that allowed thousands of Colombians to access premium devices.

Rubio sums it up this way: “We all know that prices for these products are high. What we did was build a real access model: agreements with six banks and several fintech companies that offer plans of up to 24 months with 0% interest. That opened the door to many people who previously viewed an iPhone as something distant.”

Thanks to this formula, Mac Center consolidated its position as an Apple Premium Partner in the country, with more than 40 stores and a digital channel that now represents 12% of its sales, even more than its largest physical store. “Online sales are growing rapidly—its own website, Rappi, partners—but people still want to come in, touch the device, try out the camera. Physical stores remain key,” Rubio adds.

The path wasn't without risks. In July, two months before Apple's official announcement, Mac Center had to blindly place a bid for 10,000 units of the new iPhone , without even knowing which models would be arriving. The initial allocation was between 3,000 and 4,000 units... which sold out in pre-orders.

“They sent us about 30% of what we ordered, and everything sold out before launch. Now we're pushing for more units. We've already received another wave, and another significant one is arriving this week,” Rubio says.

Among the most sought-after models are the iPhone Pro in cosmic orange and the iPhone Air in sky blue , both of which sold out in a matter of hours.

The unexpected star of the season is the iPhone Air, a new line launching this year. With a titanium body, just 5.6 millimeters thick, and a 48-megapixel camera , it arrives as a mid-range alternative between the base model and the Pro.

“At first, we didn't know how to position it, but it was clear to us that it was aimed at a young professional niche: young executives looking for a sleek, powerful design, but not necessarily an all-rounder like the Pro Max. For us, the Air is the most important announcement of the year,” Rubio says.

The most symbolic detail is that this is the first iPhone in Colombia without a physical SIM tray, operating solely with an eSIM, a change that anticipates the brand's future direction.

The simultaneous launch also brought the Apple Watch Series 11 to the country, which debuts hypertension notifications, a more detailed sleep score, and up to 24 hours of battery life.

Along with it came the AirPods Pro 3, which maintain the design of the previous generation but incorporate live translation, new hearing health features, and a sensor to measure heart rate during workouts.

According to Rubio, "These headphones are no longer just about music: Apple is starting to turn them into health and productivity devices. And that makes them very attractive in a market like ours."

The shared "day one" with the United States isn't just a logistical achievement: it means closing the technological gap and preventing thousands of Colombians from resorting to informal imports to immediately access the product. For Mac Center, it's also a sign of maturity: "We earned it with numbers, with work, and with the trust of users," Rubio concludes.

With pre-orders sold out, new allocations on the way, and a payments ecosystem that sustains demand, Colombia hasn't just caught up with the United States: it's climbed to the forefront of Apple's global stage.