| Cult of Mac

Mac shipments fall ahead of big refreshes as PC sales grow

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Apple
We're all waiting for brand-new models.
Photo: Apple

Mac shipments fell during the third quarter of 2019 as PC sales continued to grow, according to new estimates from Gartner.

Apple’s market share declined as a result, but the company maintains its fourth spot for now. And shipments will almost certainly be boosted soon by the launch of the all-new Mac Pro and 16-inch MacBook Pro.

iPhone 11 sales estimates rising after surprisingly strong demand

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iPhone 11 colors
iPhone 11 is enjoying stronger demand than analysts anticipated.
Photo: Apple

Analysts have started raising iPhone 11 shipping estimates after surprisingly strong demand for Apple’s newest handsets.

Initial stock of most models quickly sold out after Apple starting accepting preorders on Friday, September 13. It seems fans are particularly interested in the brand new color options.

iPhone shipments will slide in 2019 without 5G support

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The iPhone XS Max screen delivers more of that OLED awesomeness.
iPhone 11 will do little to reverse falling shipments.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

iPhone shipments are expected to slide by a whopping 15% in 2019, thanks in part to a lack of 5G connectivity, researchers say. But it won’t be long before sales are on the up again.

A more significant upgrade to the iPhone lineup in 2020 could allow Apple to enjoy rare growth in an increasingly saturated market.

Apple teams up with Alipay to boost iPhone sales in China

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iPhone XS box gold
Bag yours before they're all gone.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple has joined forces with Alipay in an effort to boost iPhone sales in China.

iPhone fans can now bag one of the company’s latest handsets with up to two years of interest-free finance. The loan allows customers to swap the costly upfront fee for much more affordable monthly payments. It’s available on purchases of 4,000 yuan (approx. $595) or more.

Foxconn cuts 50,000 workers early as iPhone struggles

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Which new iPhone is for you? It really comes down to size.
Apple knows the iPhone is getting too expensive.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Foxconn, Apple’s largest manufacturing partner, has cut 50,000 workers ahead of schedule as a result of weak iPhone demand.

The first cuts came last October, months before Foxconn typically scales back its workforce in preparation for slow season, according to a source familiar with the move. It is believed that Foxconn isn’t the only Apple supplier making cuts, either.

Apple wildly underestimates demand for cheap iPhone batteries

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Right to Repair
Apple's first 5nm chips are expected to ship in iPhone and iPad this year.
Photo: iFixit

Apple reportedly replaced a whopping 11 million iPhone batteries last year — 10 times as many as anticipated.

Apple CEO Tim Cook has already cited this as one of the reasons why new iPhone sales are slowing. It is believed the company expected to perform between 1 and 2 million replacements under its heavily-discounted $29 program.