Apple has begun taking pre-orders for its next-generation iPhones, but as reported that day, demand for these devices is lower than expected.
This is completely unexpected for a new generation of iPhone and now top Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo acknowledges that pre-orders are not particularly high.
Kuo revealed that the iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR are likely to record the highest sales, highlighting that the 5.8-inch iPhone XS is the one recording the weakest demand.
The iPhone XR, the most affordable model in the series, will be released in late October and is expected to be the top-selling iPhone of 2018. Kuo says it is expected to account for up to 60% of all new iPhone sales, estimating that total shipments could reach 80 million units by the end of the year, showing a slight improvement from the previous year.
The iPhone XR starts at $749, but the device comes with a single camera, lacks 3D Touch, and is equipped with an LCD display, while the more expensive models feature OLED.
And while the new iPhones are seeing relatively lower expectations in top markets, the same can't be said for China, where demand is still strong. The gold version and dual-SIM mode are the top sellers, and the analyst says that about 30% of customers are expected to opt for the Max version.
The Apple Watch Series 4 has been a huge success, thanks in large part to its ECG support, with shipments of the entire series set to reach 18 million this year. However, the analyst notes that higher sales are expected if Apple can get ECG support approved in other major markets outside the US.
