iPhone 16 preorders could be about 12.7% YoY decrease than the primary weekend gross sales of iPhone 15 from 2023. Nonetheless, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims there’s larger demand for the iPhone 16 and its Plus sibling.
The analyst blames the lower-than-expected demand on Apple Intelligence being unavailable at launch.
Increased demand for iPhone 16 than iPhone 16 Professional
Apple stopped publishing the preorder numbers and opening weekend gross sales figures of latest iPhones a couple of years in the past. So, we should depend on supply-chain analysis from reputed analysts to get an concept concerning the demand for brand new iPhones. Based mostly on a be aware from TF Worldwide Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 16 is off to a sluggish begin.
The analyst estimates Apple obtained 37 million preorders for brand new iPhones within the launch weekend. That is about 12.7% decrease than the iPhone 15‘s opening weekend gross sales. Extra importantly, Apple obtained fewer iPhone 16 Professional preorders, with customers preferring the iPhone 16/Plus as a substitute. Nonetheless, the upper demand for the latter shouldn’t be sufficient to spice up the general iPhone shipments.
As per Kuo’s analysis, iPhone 16 Professional and Professional Max preorders are down by 27% and 16% from final 12 months. iPhone 16 Plus demand is outwardly up by a whopping 48%, whereas that of the iPhone 16 is up by 10%.
In contrast to final 12 months, Apple additionally had sufficient iPhone 16 Professional Max shares earlier than preorders. That is because of the improved yield of the 5x periscope digicam and Apple’s expectations of upper client curiosity in it.
Apple Intelligence launch would possibly increase iPhone 16 demand
Kuo speculates that one of many causes for the decrease demand for the brand new iPhones is the shortage of Apple Intelligence. The iPhone 16’s greatest promoting level will solely arrive with iOS 18.1 in October and isn’t obtainable at launch. Moreover, in China, Apple faces stiff competitors from native gamers like Oppo, Vivo, Huawei, and Xiaomi.
Regardless of the decrease demand, the analyst claims Apple is not going to alter the manufacturing for the brand new iPhones within the brief time period.
The corporate would possibly see a lift within the demand for the iPhone 16 following the discharge of Apple Intelligence. Plus, engaging promotions through the vacation season and year-end would possibly assist increase the demand for the brand new iPhones. And if that doesn’t work, the corporate would possibly undertake a extra aggressive product technique in 2025 to spice up demand.