iPhone 16 Series Starts Slower Than iPhone 15: Analyst Reports Lower Pre-Orders

Apple's newly launched iPhone 16 series, touted for its innovative features like AI-powered Apple Intelligence, appears to be facing a slower start than its predecessor, the iPhone 15 series. This is according to renowned Apple analyst Ming-chi Kuo, who has reported a decline in pre-orders for the new iPhone lineup.

Lower Pre-Orders for iPhone 16 Series

Kuo estimates that approximately 37 million iPhone 16 units were pre-ordered globally from September 13th to 19th. This figure falls short of the total pre-orders recorded for the iPhone 15 series during the same period last year. Notably, iPhone 16 sales experienced a 12.7% decrease compared to the iPhone 15 pre-orders during the first weekend. This decline can be attributed to lower pre-orders for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max models.

Factors Contributing to Lower Demand

Kuo identifies several key factors responsible for the lower-than-expected demand for the iPhone 16 Pro series:

1. Apple Intelligence Not Available at Launch:

The highly anticipated Apple Intelligence feature was not available at launch, potentially dampening consumer interest in the Pro models.

2. Intense Competition in the Chinese Market:

Increased competition in the Chinese market, a significant market for iPhones, may be contributing to the lower demand.

Strong Performance of iPhone 16 Plus

Despite the overall decline, Kuo's data highlights a positive trend for the iPhone 16 Plus model. This model saw a significant 48% increase in sales compared to its predecessor, with an estimated 2.6 million units pre-ordered.

What are the reasons for lower pre-orders for the iPhone 16 Pro series?

Apple Intelligence, the new AI feature, was not available at launch and the increased competition in the Chinese market might be affecting the demand.

What was the estimated number of iPhone 16 Plus units pre-ordered?

Kuo estimates around 2.6 million iPhone 16 Plus units were pre-ordered.

How many units of the iPhone 16 series is Apple planning to produce this year?

Apple is reportedly planning to produce up to 88 million iPhone 16 units in total this year.

What was the percentage decrease in iPhone 16 sales compared to the iPhone 15 pre-orders?

The iPhone 16 sales saw a 12.7% decrease compared to the iPhone 15 pre-orders during the first weekend.

Apple's Production Plans

While the iPhone 16 Pro series witnessed a decrease in pre-orders during the initial weekend, Kuo anticipates that Apple's supply chain production plans will not be significantly adjusted in the near future. Apple is reportedly planning to produce up to 88 million iPhone 16 units in total this year. It's important to note that all data presented is based on estimates provided by Ming-chi Kuo and has not been officially confirmed by Apple.