iPhone 11 preorders officially kicked off in the U.S. yesterday, with Apple selling the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and the iPhone 11 Pro Max in three storage configurations and various finishes. However, according to a report, iPhone 11 Pro sales might not reach an impressive figure, and this includes the iPhone 11 Pro Max too. There could be a lot of reasons to this, but that doesn’t mean Apple’s smartphone lineup for 2019 is looking bleak.
iPhone 11 Could Still Be Apple’s Reigning Champion as It Offers More Upgrades Than iPhone XR and Costs Less
According to a report via Phone Arena, iPhone 11 Pro sales could reach 20-30 percent less volume compared to the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max. Earlier, Ming-Chi Kuo stated that Apple’s 2019 iPhone sales will be disappointing due to ‘lack of innovative selling points’. He stated that Apple is expected to sell 5-10 percent fewer models compared to the same period a year ago, reaching an estimated 65-70 million units for the 2019 range. He still predicts Apple might sell 180 million units this year, most likely due to the previous-generation models getting discounted, and that’s exactly what has happened.
During the iPhone 11 announcement, Apple introduced price cuts for the iPhone XR, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus. With the iPhone XR being the most popular smartphone for the first half of 2019, registering 26.9 million units so far, the price cut can mean Apple’s 2018 offering could reach a new plateau in yearly shipments. However, with the iPhone 11 now official, and at $50 cheaper (starting price of $699) while offering more upgrades than the iPhone XR, it looks like once again, Apple’s champion for this year and the next might be the cheaper version.
iPhone 11 Pro sales for this year might suffer because customers would be holding off on their purchase for next year. In 2020, Apple is rumored to offer the first crop of 5G-ready iPhones, and according to a previous report, these devices will be accompanied by a brand new design, smaller notch, and more camera upgrades. With Qualcomm and Apple back in each other’s good ‘business’ graces, we’re confident of seeing 5G-ready iPhones, which could mean the Calfornia-based giant will see a spike in sales next year.
For this year, just because the iPhone 11 Pro sales aren’t expected to do well in the U.S. doesn’t mean Apple has something to worry about, as there are lots of options to choose from starting with the iPhone 8.
