Kuo Indicates iPhone 16 Pro Demand is Below Expectations, While iPhone 16 Plus Sees a 48% Increase in Pre-Orders – 9to5Mac

Kuo Indicates iPhone 16 Pro Demand is Below Expectations, While iPhone 16 Plus Sees a 48% Increase in Pre-Orders - 9to5Mac

Kuo Indicates iPhone 16 Pro Demand is Below Expectations, While iPhone 16 Plus Sees a 48% Increase in Pre-Orders – 9to5Mac


### Examining the Demand for Apple’s iPhone 16 Series: Insights from Pre-Order Analytics

With excitement building in the tech community for Apple’s new releases, the latest pre-order assessment by famed analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reveals insights into the early demand for the iPhone 16 series. While the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus show strong performance, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are witnessing a significant drop in consumer interest compared to their earlier models.

#### Primary Insights from Pre-Order Analytics

Kuo’s report, gathered during the initial weekend of pre-orders, unveiled the following trends:

– **iPhone 16 Pro Max**: Interest has fallen by 16% relative to last year’s iPhone 15 Pro Max.
– **iPhone 16 Pro**: This variant has encountered a steeper decline, with pre-orders down by 27% in comparison to the iPhone 15 Pro.
– **iPhone 16 Plus**: Conversely, this model has experienced an impressive surge in demand, with pre-orders up by 48% over the iPhone 15 Plus.
– **iPhone 16**: The base model has also exhibited a positive trend, with a 10% rise in pre-orders compared to last year.

These statistics indicate a shift in consumer inclinations, with a growing number of buyers leaning towards the standard models rather than the high-end Pro editions.

#### Comprehensive Sales Performance

Overall, the iPhone 16 series has recorded sales of approximately 37 million units during its initial weekend of pre-orders. This marks a decline of around 12.7% compared to the performance of the iPhone 15 series during the same timeframe last year. Despite the notable rise in demand for the iPhone 16 Plus, the overall decrease in interest for the Pro models has heavily influenced the total sales numbers.

#### Influential Factors on Demand

Kuo’s assessment points out several aspects that might be affecting consumer preferences this year. A key highlight is the enhanced production efficiency for the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which benefited from improved yields on its tetraprism camera system (5x telephoto). Apple produced 6 million units of the iPhone 16 Pro Max ahead of its release, reflecting a 106% rise from last year’s output of the iPhone 15 Pro Max. This supply boost may have facilitated access to the Pro Max model, yet it hasn’t resulted in heightened demand.

#### Summary

The early pre-order statistics for the iPhone 16 series present a multifaceted scenario for Apple. While the standard models are thriving, the Pro variants face hurdles that could influence Apple’s overarching sales strategy. As the company continues to innovate and respond to consumer trends, it will be vital to observe how these patterns develop in the upcoming months.

As usual, both Apple fans and market analysts will be keenly observing these dynamics, particularly as the holiday season nears and more consumers finalize their buying choices.