iPhone 16 Series Faces Tepid Launch: Can Apple Hold Onto Its Throne?

iPhone 16 Series Faces Tepid Launch: Can Apple Hold Onto Its Throne?Cailian Press, September 20th - The iPhone 16 series officially launched today. As Apple's first phone equipped with Apple Intelligence, coupled with the replacement cycle of the previously popular iPhone 12 and 13 series, many institutions expected the iPhone 16 series to outsell the iPhone 15 series, ushering in a "strong cycle

iPhone 16 Series Faces Tepid Launch: Can Apple Hold Onto Its Throne?

Cailian Press, September 20th - The iPhone 16 series officially launched today. As Apple's first phone equipped with Apple Intelligence, coupled with the replacement cycle of the previously popular iPhone 12 and 13 series, many institutions expected the iPhone 16 series to outsell the iPhone 15 series, ushering in a "strong cycle." However, reality seems less optimistic.

Cooling Down in the Second-Hand Market, Pro Series Even Breaks Even

Cailian Press reporters visited Apple's flagship store in Shenzhen's Yi Tian Holiday Plaza and found many people experiencing the products, with long queues for pick-up. However, compared to previous years, the iPhone 16 series' initial launch enthusiasm has noticeably declined. Store staff indicated that the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus were readily available, while the Pro and Pro Max required pre-orders, with potential pick-up dates extending into October. Apple's official website shows that the Pro series currently requires a 10-day wait for orders, while the Pro Max requires 2-3 weeks.

In contrast, on the launch day of the iPhone 15 series, all models in the Yi Tian Holiday Plaza Apple flagship store were out of stock, with basic models requiring a week-long wait for pre-orders and the Pro Max requiring almost two months.

The second-hand market also reflects the declining enthusiasm for the iPhone 16 series. Previously, Pro and Pro Max series phones on the launch day could be sold at a markup of over 500 yuan in second-hand recovery outlets, with popular models even exceeding 1,000 yuan. However, around 11 am today, multiple second-hand dealers on-site stated that they had declined to accept the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, and iPhone 16 Pro, only accepting the Pro Max in gold with 256GB storage at a markup of around 400 yuan. "Business is not good, the Pro has broken even, and this year's market is not as good as last year," lamented one "scalper."

Apple Intelligence Fails to Deliver Surprises, Market Competition Intensifies

Renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously predicted that the iPhone 16 series would have first-weekend pre-orders of around 37 million units, a year-on-year decline of approximately 12.7% compared to the iPhone 15 series' first weekend sales. The key factor lies in the iPhone 16 Pro series' performance falling short of expectations.

Liu Yushi, senior analyst at CINNOResearch, believes that the iPhone 16 series' sales falling short of expectations stem from three primary reasons:

1. Lack of Innovation: Compared to its predecessor, the iPhone 16 offers limited improvements in terms of specifications and software, with certain key technological features failing to materialize. The AI capabilities of Apple Intelligence have not been fully implemented; domestic users will have to wait until 2025 to use these features, negatively impacting the initial launch.

2. Shifting Market Environment: Major competitors hold a clear advantage in areas like AI, with their continuous technological innovation exerting significant pressure on Apple. Currently, multiple smartphone brands like Huawei, OPPO, and Vivo have already launched models equipped with large language models. In terms of AI functionalities, Apple Intelligence resembles those of other manufacturers, failing to deliver a "wow" factor.

3. Unfavorable Global Economic Situation: Consumers are more cautious about purchasing expensive products. Currently, the consumer electronics industry remains in a slow recovery phase. While a 5% year-on-year increase in global smartphone shipments is projected for 2024, this figure still falls significantly short of the peak reached in 2021.

Huawei Mate XT Non-Pro Master Edition Launch a Success, Competitive Landscape Fierce

In addition to the Apple 16 series launch today, Huawei's tri-fold smartphone, the HUAWEIMateXT Non-Pro Master Edition, also officially went on sale. Following its launch, all models were instantly sold out, and the official website channels are now completely out of stock.

However, Cailian Press reporters visiting Huawei's flagship store in Shenzhen's MixC World discovered that the number of customers experiencing the product was not high. Staff members indicated that pre-orders were not supported, and the store was solely for product exploration.

Pressure Mounts on the "Fruit Chain," Transformation Urgent

Facing pressure from both "wolves in front and tigers in the rear," Apple is facing increasing pressure, and the "fruit chain" can no longer "lie down and win" as in previous years. Historically, during Apple phone launches, "fruit chain" companies often experienced a surge in the secondary market. However, this year, the "fruit chain" has not seen a boost.

Liu Yushi stated that exploring new growth points and pursuing transformation is crucial for upstream "fruit chain" manufacturers, particularly in the face of challenges such as declining Apple orders and intensifying market competition. Currently, the transformation focus of fruit chain companies is concentrated in areas like new energy vehicles and intelligent cockpits, XR, and other consumer electronics, as well as other intelligent smartphone brand clients.

Conclusion

The tepid launch of the iPhone 16 series reflects the growing challenges Apple faces. Factors such as a lack of innovation, intensifying market competition, and an unfavorable global economic situation all pose obstacles to Apple's path forward. In the face of fierce competition from both "wolves in front and tigers in the rear," whether Apple can maintain its position as the mobile phone king remains to be seen.