iPhone 16 series won't see big demand surge, says analyst
As Apple prepares to unveil its latest iPhone 16 series today, supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has shared his predictions for the new model's shipments. Kuo anticipates that around 89 million units of the iPhone 16 lineup will be shipped in 2024, a slight decrease from the previous year's figure of 91 million units for the iPhone 15 series. This forecast suggests that Apple is not expecting a significant surge in customer demand for its upcoming phones.
Shipments to be more front-loaded
Kuo's analysis also indicates a shift in Apple's distribution strategy for the upcoming iPhones. He predicts that more units will be delivered in August/September compared to the same period last year. However, this change is not due to an increase in demand but rather a response to initial lower yields of the 5x zoom lens introduced for the Pro Max model in 2023.
Apple prepares for preorder launch with 15-17 million iPhones
For the pre-order launch period, Kuo estimates that Apple is preparing between 15 to 17 million phones across all models. In terms of popularity, he predicts that the iPhone 16 Pro Max will lead with a 38% share of shipments. The iPhone 16 Pro is expected to follow closely behind with a 30% share, while the base model iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16 Plus are projected to hold a smaller market share at just six percent.
Leaked prices for the upcoming iPhone 16 series
The Apple Hub has leaked the potential prices for the next-generation iPhones. The base model, iPhone 16, is expected to start at $799, while its larger counterpart, the iPhone 16 Plus could be priced at $899. The Pro models are tipped to be more expensive with the iPhone 16 Pro potentially costing $1,099 for the 256GB variant and the top-tier iPhone 16 Pro Max starting at a hefty $1,199.
