iPhone 16 Pre-orders Fall Short of Expectations, Analyst Guo Ming-chi Identifies Reasons

iPhone 16 Pre-orders Fall Short of Expectations, Analyst Guo Ming-chi Identifies ReasonsApple's new iPhone 16 series is set to launch on Friday, September 20th, with four models starting at 5999 yuan, 6999 yuan, 7999 yuan, and 9999 yuan respectively. However, a recent prediction report by Apple analyst Guo Ming-chi suggests that iPhone 16 pre-orders during the first weekend reached approximately 37 million units, marking a year-on-year decline of about 12

iPhone 16 Pre-orders Fall Short of Expectations, Analyst Guo Ming-chi Identifies Reasons

Apple's new iPhone 16 series is set to launch on Friday, September 20th, with four models starting at 5999 yuan, 6999 yuan, 7999 yuan, and 9999 yuan respectively. However, a recent prediction report by Apple analyst Guo Ming-chi suggests that iPhone 16 pre-orders during the first weekend reached approximately 37 million units, marking a year-on-year decline of about 12.7% compared to the iPhone 15 series.

Guo Ming-chi attributes this underperformance to several factors:

1. Lower-Than-Expected Demand for iPhone 16 Pro Series: The iPhone 16 Pro series faced significant shipment delays compared to the 15 Pro series, leading some consumers to adopt a wait-and-see approach, thus impacting initial sales.

2. Delay in Apple Intelligence Release: Apple Intelligence, touted as a major selling point for the iPhone 16 series, was initially intended to launch alongside the new iPhones but ultimately faced a delay. This dashed the hopes of many consumers anticipating the new features, negatively impacting their purchase intentions.

3. Intense Competition in the Chinese Market: The fiercely competitive Chinese market, characterized by domestic manufacturers offering high-value smartphones, has continuously put pressure on iPhone demand.

Despite the decline in iPhone 16 Pro pre-orders, Guo Ming-chi maintains that the supply chain production plans are unlikely to undergo major adjustments in the short term. He expects the iPhone 16 shipments to improve in the coming months, driven by the official launch of Apple Intelligence in the fourth quarter and promotional efforts during the peak season.

Furthermore, Guo Ming-chi believes that Apple will adopt a more aggressive product strategy in 2025 to revitalize demand. While the details remain undisclosed, the strategy is expected to incorporate innovative features and captivating product designs.

Overall, while the iPhone 16 series has seen a less-than-anticipated start, Apple continues to boast a vast user base and a strong brand presence. With the upcoming launch of Apple Intelligence and planned adjustments to Apple's product strategy, iPhone 16 shipments are projected to rebound in the coming months.