Tim Cook admitted back in January that Apple’s growth wasn’t going to be at usual stratospheric levels during the first three months of 2016. And, based on a new report, things aren’t likely to pick up too much in the April-June quarter, either.
Citing “industry sources,” chip orders placed by Apple to its suppliers are allegedly slower in the year’s second quarter than in the same three month period in previous years.
Chip orders placed by Apple will be only slightly higher than those in the January-March quarter, despite Apple introducing the new iPhone SE and 9.7-inch iPad Pro. As we’ve reported previously, neither device is likely to set the world on fire in terms of sales. The iPhone SE is likely to ship 4-5 million units this quarter.
Numbers are also impacted by a fall in iPhone 6s and 6s Plus orders — which are roughly half those shipped in the first quarter of 2016.
Of course, there’s no reason to break out the “end is nigh” banner just yet. Orders typically slow for Apple’s suppliers during the first part of the year, only to pick up during the second when the major new devices are launched in the fall.
Gauging order levels based on supplier reports can also be inaccurate, although this relative lack of interest for Apple’s new devices is seemingly backed up by other research data — including a poll conducted by Cult of Mac, which suggests that 75 percent of readers aren’t interested in either the iPhone SE or new iPad Pro.
Source: Digitimes
