According to well-connected KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is likely to disappoint on its total number of iPhone shipments this year — with numbers set to fall below 200 million, compared with 232 million handsets last year.
Kuo predicts Apple’s total number of iPhone shipments will be between 85 million and 95 million handsets in the first half of 2016, while numbers will increase slightly to 115 million in the second half of the year. If true, these numbers — while massive by the standards of any other company — are likely to not measure up to Wall Street’s high expectations, which are for Apple to ship 210 million to 230 million iPhones in 2016.
Kuo puts his low estimates on a few factors, with the biggest one being that he claims the rumored dual-camera setup for iPhone 7 will be available for the larger 5.5-inch Plus model only, which could cost sales of the more popular 4.7-inch size. He also thinks a number of other smartphone rivals are racing to put out similar camera setups before Apple does, which will leave customers disappointed when Apple finally gets around to announcing its new iPhone.
Beyond this, Kuo thinks there’s a slowing demand for large-display handsets, and that the iPhone SE put off many customers by not boasting a new form factor.
We’ll have to wait to see if this is accurate, but Apple has been steeling industry watchers for the end of the iPhone’s meteoric, record-breaking sales increase each year. Supply chain sources, meanwhile, have suggested that Apple’s chip orders have been lower than expected so far this year.
Do you think Apple’s seen the end of massive iPhone growth? Leave your comments below.
Via: Apple Insider
Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.
3 responses to “2016 iPhone shipments may fall well below expectations”
I’ve owned Apple for ten years, and haven’t ever seen an analyst with any real facts. The only moment of truth is quarterly reports, and most of the facts like sales come out. This guy who doesn’t like the new SE is just hot air, I’m buying one to replace my 5 (which is still just fine, even the battery life is good enough for my needs) because I like the smaller form in a phone but want a better camera, which I use a lot. Neither my purchase or Kuo’s dislikes will have any effect on Apples sales. I think the stock will be at $170 by the end of the year and I have been watching it for a long time…
Right on, tech brother. Couldn’t agree more.
“2016 iPhone shipments may fall well below expectations”
Here we go again. A “well-connected KGI Securities analyst” is pulling Apple numbers out of his… “wherever”, with a negative spin, of course. Please, Luke, save us from the specious prognostications from these ANALysts. Just say no!