Apple reportedly wants to ship 90 million iPhone 16 units in 2024. The company hopes Apple Intelligence and other AI features will fuel the demand for its new iPhones.
For comparison, Apple shipped about 81 million iPhone 15 units in H2 2023.
Apple Intelligence could help boost iPhone 16 demand
Apple unveiled its AI features as part of Apple Intelligence with iOS 18 at WWDC24 in June. The features will be available to the public following iOS 18’s release this September.
As of now, Apple Intelligence is only coming to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, with all older iPhones missing out on it. However, the entire upcoming iPhone 16 series will likely support the company’s AI suite, including the non-Pro models. Apple hopes this will encourage many older iPhone owners to upgrade, boosting demand.
A Bloomberg report claims the company has reportedly set a target to ship 90 million iPhone 16s in H2 2024. That’s 10% higher than the iPhone 15 units it shipped in 2023.
Apple Intelligence will bring a host of AI-powered features to the iPhone, including a revamped Siri and Writing Tools. Other upgrades include AI-powered summaries for Priority Notifications, Image Playground, and ChatGPT integration.
Some Apple Intelligence features, like the smarter Siri, won’t arrive at launch, though. They will debut later in the year or in the spring of 2025.
iPhone demand recovery in China will also boost demand
Another reason behind Apple’s optimism is the increase in demand for iPhones in China. While iPhone sales heavily declined at the beginning of the year, they have since recovered thanks to heavy discounts and overall market recovery.
However, the company has not found a partner for Apple Intelligence in China. Apple is talking to local Chinese companies like Baidu but has yet to ink a deal. It will likely try to finalize a partner before the iPhone 16’s launch in September.
