iPhone 16 Plus Pre-Orders See Significant Yearly Increase, While 'Pro' Models Lag Behind: Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo

Pre-orders for the iPhone 16 series, which began on September 13, have shown strong global demand, according to market analysts. 

The iPhone 16 Plus, in particular, has emerged as Apple's top performer, experiencing the most significant growth in pre-orders compared to its predecessor. 

Conversely, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max have seen lower demand, despite shorter delivery times and a considerable increase in available units for shipment.

Pre-Order Trends for the iPhone 16 Series

In a recent blog post, TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo noted that both the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus have shown an increase in year-on-year (YoY) demand over their previous versions.

 The standard model has reportedly achieved a 10 percent increase in pre-orders during the first weekend, while the Plus variant has seen a remarkable 48 percent surge, despite a longer average delivery time compared to the iPhone 15 Plus.

Despite these figures, the total pre-order sales for the iPhone 16 series during the first weekend are estimated at approximately 37 million units, representing a 12.7 percent decrease from the previous year.

 This decline is largely attributed to the lower demand for the iPhone 16 Pro models. 

Some of the factors influencing pre-order numbers include the introduction of the new tetraprism lens on the iPhone 16 Pro and the continuation of last year’s pricing strategy.

Kuo also mentioned that the absence of Apple Intelligence features (Apple's artificial intelligence suite) at launch may have impacted pre-order volumes. 

Features like enhanced writing tools, a more intelligent Siri, a Clean Up tool, and Image Playground were showcased at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024 in June.

 Although a few of these features are expected to roll out with the iOS 18.1 update next month, others have been delayed until next year.

Nevertheless, Kuo suggests there is potential for Apple to boost iPhone 16 sales following the release of Apple Intelligence features and during the holiday season.

 The tech giant is reportedly considering implementing aggressive strategies to revive market interest in its latest flagship models.

Also Read : Apple India's Website Down Hours Before iPhone 16 Pre-Orders Begin