iPhone 16 Series Sales Start Slow: Analyst Reports Lower Pre-Orders Than iPhone 15

Despite debuting with captivating new features like AI-powered Apple Intelligence, the iPhone 16 series appears to be experiencing a slower start compared to its predecessor, the iPhone 15 series, launched last year. This observation comes from prominent Apple analyst Ming-chi Kuo, who reports that pre-orders for the new iPhone lineup fell short of expectations.

Kuo's estimates indicate that approximately 37 million iPhone 16 units were pre-ordered globally during the period of September 13th to 19th. This figure falls below the total pre-order numbers recorded for the iPhone 15 series last year.

Lower Pre-Orders for Pro Models Impact Overall Sales

According to Kuo's analysis, iPhone 16 sales experienced a decline of 12.7% compared to the pre-order figures for the iPhone 15 during the initial weekend. This dip is attributed to lower pre-order numbers for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max models, compared to their predecessors last year.

The iPhone 16 Pro Max, the flagship model, witnessed a shorter shipping delay of 3-4 weeks, contrasting with the 7-8 week wait for the 15 Pro series in the previous year. This shortened delay suggests a lower volume of orders.

Unexpected Demand for iPhone 16 Plus and iPhone 16

Kuo's data reveals a contrasting trend with increased sales for the iPhone 16 Plus and iPhone 16 models. The iPhone Plus, in particular, saw a remarkable 48% surge in sales compared to its predecessor. Kuo estimates that around 2.6 million iPhone 16 Plus units were pre-ordered.

Factors Contributing to Lower Demand for Pro Series

Kuo pinpoints several factors contributing to the lower-than-anticipated demand for the iPhone 16 Pro series:

• Absence of Apple Intelligence at Launch: The highly anticipated Apple Intelligence feature was not available at the time of the iPhone 16 series launch. This absence may have dampened consumer interest in the Pro models.
• Intense Competition in the Chinese Market: Heightened competition in the Chinese market might be impacting iPhone demand in the region.

Production Plans Unchanged Despite Lower Pre-Orders

While the iPhone 16 Pro series experienced a decrease in pre-orders during the initial weekend, Kuo anticipates that the supply chain production plans will not undergo significant adjustments in the near future. Apple is reportedly planning to manufacture up to 88 million iPhone 16 units in total this year.

It's crucial to acknowledge that all the data presented is based on estimates provided by Ming-chi Kuo and has not been officially confirmed by Apple.