At long last, after countless hearsays and leaks, Apple will finally open its first ever store in Malaysia this Saturday on 22 June 2024 at 10am, which is located at The Exchange TRX mall in Kuala Lumpur. While not yet open to the public just yet, the company has invited Lowyat.NET along with other local media to preview the new establishment, as well as brief us on what visitors would expect this weekend.
For starters, the Apple store at The Exchange TRX is vast, and consists of three floors for visitors to explore. Much like its other outlets across the globe, everything is laid out in a minimalist approach, with plenty of breathing room. What sets this particular store apart from the rest is its unique windowed roof, which also provides generous natural lighting for the second and third floors during the daytime.
Interestingly, Apple claims that the store is powered by 100% renewable energy, which is quite intriguing. This is especially given the fact that it is located within the The Exchange TRX mall which, by right, uses its own power generators to power all stores. It is unclear whether Apple uses its own source of energy, and it did not elaborate further when we asked for more details regarding this.
What’s There?
The store’s first level is where you’ll find the first set of experience zones. These are divided into multiple islands for different products including iPhones, iPads, Macs, AirPods, and Apple Watches, as well as their respective accessories. Additionally, showcases for the company’s subscription services (the ones available in Malaysia, that is) such as Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade can be found on the left and right sides of the store, whereas a pickup point for items ordered online is also situated on this floor.
The second batch of experience zones is located on the second floor, but to a lesser extent. Reason being that most of the space is allocated for a space called The Forum, where Apple will hold its Today at Apple presentations and workshops that are hosted by staff and content creators. As for the third floor, there isn’t much here except for a windowed area with an elevator and a flight of stairs that connects all three floors, as well as a door which you can use to enter the store through the TRX park.
Available Services
Over a hundred on-location staff, known as Geniuses, will be present to help you out with a variety of things. This could range from tech support, as well as product introduction, demonstrations, and recommendations. Apple says these individuals are well versed in all of its devices and services, with some fluent in 10 different languages to assist customers that hail from different parts of the world.
Additionally, the Apple store at The Exchange TRX offers customers a 14-day returns and refunds policy for its products. It is also a direct way to purchase its devices at educational prices, which was previously only available exclusively via the brand’s website.
Besides offering a customer-friendly retail experience, the tech giant’s first ever Malaysian retail store is also designed to be a space for learning. As mentioned earlier, The Forum space located on the second floor is intended to host Today at Apple workshops and presentations, with the first few scheduled to happen this Saturday. All sessions are free of charge to visitors.
Potential Happenings
First, a disclaimer. All of the following are just speculations, so don’t take our word for it.
One of the few things that could happen, now that Malaysia has its own Apple store, are local product launches. Not the keynote-style approach that we usually see in the company’s virtual events, but rather the “day one” drops where customers would line up for hours just to be one of the earliest in the country to own a shiny new Apple device.
The next one is more likely, but only if Malaysia makes the cut. The thing we’re referring to is the Apple Vision Pro, and where else can you try out the new RM16K mixed reality headset other than an official Apple store? With its US and select European outlets as examples, interested visitors are given a 30-minute guided demonstration to experience what the Vision Pro has to offer. Whether or not you’ll walk out of the store with one all depends on you.
Apart from those are the more wishy-washy types of speculations, such as an official visit by Apple CEO Tim Cook and so on. Unlikely, but not entirely impossible.
Anything Special On Opening Day?
Unfortunately, there won’t be special offers or promotions happening on opening day, but visitors who do plan to purchase products this Saturday will walk away with a limited edition Apple The Exchange TRX tote bag. It’s not much, but it is a nice memento to commemorate the occasion.
Then there’s the special Today at Apple sessions mentioned earlier, dubbed the “Jom Discover” series, which will run daily from 22 June to 6 July 2024. This includes a performance by local music group De Fam, as well as Workshop and Spotlight sessions by local content creators and more.
To learn more about the Apple Store at The Exchange TRX and the services it offers, do check out its official page on Apple Malaysia’s website via this link.
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