Sai Jai
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After seeing production delays initially, sales of Apple’s tenth anniversary iPhone saw a slow start and failed to pick up momentum ever since. After estimating 20 - 30 million units for the first quarter of 2018, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has once again revised the estimate, which now brings it down to 18 million units.
Kuo says that the disappointing numbers of the iPhone X could also lead to it being cancelled. The biggest reason behind this comes from China as consumers there feel that the notch cut out on the iPhone X removes too much usable area compared to phones with 5.5-inch displays. While the iPhone X does sport a 5.8-inch display, its actual surface area is less when compared to the 5.5-inch iPhone 8 Plus. This along with longer smartphone replacement cycles among Chinese users has meant lower numbers in a market Apple was relying on. Despite launching three new iPhone models late last year, consumers especially from emerging markets found the iPhone 7 series and iPhone 6s series far more appealing, which only made things worse for the iPhone X.
While the iPhone X sees an uncertain future, it is unlikely to hurt Apple much as Kuo expects a 5 per cent growth in the first half of 2018 thanks to Apple selling three premium iPhone models - iPhone X, iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus - for the first time. The analyst also sees a 10 per cent growth by the end of the year as the Cupertino giant is expected to launch three more iPhone models this year. All three upcoming iPhones are expected to sport iPhone X-like design with bigger batteries as per Kuo past investor notes.
Apple may discontinue iPhone X within a year of launch, says analyst
Kuo says that the disappointing numbers of the iPhone X could also lead to it being cancelled. The biggest reason behind this comes from China as consumers there feel that the notch cut out on the iPhone X removes too much usable area compared to phones with 5.5-inch displays. While the iPhone X does sport a 5.8-inch display, its actual surface area is less when compared to the 5.5-inch iPhone 8 Plus. This along with longer smartphone replacement cycles among Chinese users has meant lower numbers in a market Apple was relying on. Despite launching three new iPhone models late last year, consumers especially from emerging markets found the iPhone 7 series and iPhone 6s series far more appealing, which only made things worse for the iPhone X.
While the iPhone X sees an uncertain future, it is unlikely to hurt Apple much as Kuo expects a 5 per cent growth in the first half of 2018 thanks to Apple selling three premium iPhone models - iPhone X, iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus - for the first time. The analyst also sees a 10 per cent growth by the end of the year as the Cupertino giant is expected to launch three more iPhone models this year. All three upcoming iPhones are expected to sport iPhone X-like design with bigger batteries as per Kuo past investor notes.
Apple may discontinue iPhone X within a year of launch, says analyst
