According to well-known Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the much-anticipated iPhone 16 series launch has not lived up to the hype. Based on data from supply chain reports and pre-order numbers from Apple’s official websites, the numbers show a drop in demand. Pre-orders for the iPhone 16 series during the first weekend totalled around 37 million units. This marks a drop of 12.7% compared to the iPhone 15 series in the same timeframe last year. Even though the standard iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus had better year-on-year sales, it wasn’t enough to stop the overall decline. The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max models have not seen the same level of interest.
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Ming-Chi Kuo, who has a long history of predicting Apple trends, claims that demand for the Pro versions is weaker than Apple hoped. This is a surprise, especially since Apple was confident that the Pro Max would perform better than the previous year’s iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Why Sales Are Lagging
Kuo believes one key reason for the poor performance is due to the new Apple’s new Intelligence feature. These features were supposed to make the Pro models more appealing but are not launching right away. Instead, Apple will roll them out in stages, starting in October and continuing into next year. This delay has likely dampened enthusiasm for the Pro and Pro Max.
Another challenge for the iPhone 16 series is fierce competition in the Chinese market. Local brands are offering more attractive alternatives, which is making it harder for Apple to keep up with demand in one of its key regions. This competition is possibly another reason for the dip in sales.
Despite the slower-than-anticipated sales, Kuo doesn’t foresee Apple reducing production for the Pro models at this time. He anticipates that sales will improve once Apple introduces its new features, with the holiday season likely contributing to a boost in numbers. While the iPhone 16 series is currently underperforming, there remains potential for stronger sales in the near future.
