IPhone 16 Pro and its bigger variant, iPhone 16 Pro Max, are more popular among customers, matching the sales figures of their previous generations, while the standard iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus have not been doing well in the first few weeks since the launch, a new report said.
Renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has revealed that Apple has asked the supply chain to maintain iPhone 16 Pro shipments based on strong demand for iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max models, much like last year’s iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. He also highlighted that the shipping times for the iPhone 16 Pro models are currently shorter compared to those of last year’s models. Apple has also reportedly asked its supply chain in China to continue iPhone 16 Pro production during the National Day holiday, hinting at a strong initial demand.
On the other hand, the standard iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus demand looks bleak, causing Apple to order a 3 to 5 per cent cut in production of components. The reasons behind the slow demand for the regular iPhone 16 models are unclear. Still, Kuo said the rollout of additional Apple Intelligence features may spark a renewed interest in customers, especially in the US. The regular iPhone 16 series is compatible with Apple’s new AI tools, much like the Pro models, while only the Pro models will support Apple Intelligence from last year’s launches.
Kuo mentioned that Apple expects iPhone 16 shipments in the fourth quarter of 2024 to be around 88-89 million units — a marginal decline from 90-91 million units of last year’s iPhone 15 series during the same period. However, the drop in shipments will not cause a major disruption in current supply or derail the company’s overall production plans. Kuo said the assembly orders for the iPhone 16 models are still in line with previous orders.
