Apple launched the iPhone 16 collection on September 9 and the brand new telephones went on pre-order on September 13. These are the corporate’s first AI-infused smartphones however when the telephones go on sale tomorrow, these new capabilities, dubbed Apple Intelligence, will solely be out there in beta. On high of that, Apple goes to take its candy time to roll out the total suite of options.
Preliminary analyst stories counsel that pre-orders are decrease than final 12 months. Different indicators, resembling Apple dolling out worker reductions sooner than common, additionally level to weak iPhone 16 gross sales.
Moreover, the Professional fashions, which have traditionally offered higher than the usual fashions, are reported to have carried out worse than their non-Professional counterparts throughout the pre-order interval this 12 months.
Apparently, even some iPhone diehards who improve yearly are skipping the iPhone 16.
Even Apple loyalists have turned their again on the iPhone 16 apparently. | Picture Credit score – Mark Gurman, X
Is that this simply not Apple’s 12 months?
T-Cellular‘s CEO painted a special image throughout an interview with CNBC. He mentioned that his firm was seeing an enchancment in gross sales in comparison with final 12 months. Sievert additionally took goal at rumors that indicated Professional fashions weren’t catching eyes of many patrons, stating shoppers are buying all fashions at a higher charge than final 12 months.
The primary week was higher than final 12 months. Not solely good, however higher than final 12 months, and individuals are shopping for Execs, they’re shopping for Maxs, so that they’re shopping for up the meals chain, and so they’re shopping for at a higher charge than final 12 months.
Mike Sievert, T-Cellular CEO, September 2024
Since T-Cellular is barely one of many solely channels by which the iPhone 16 might be purchased, the knowledge supplied by Sievert is not consultant of the broader market.
That mentioned, T-Cellular is America’s second-largest service, and if its prospects are displaying higher enthusiasm than final 12 months for the iPhone 16, it may be taken as an indication that demand for Apple’s new telephones just isn’t sluggish.
In addition to, not like provide chain specialists and monetary analysts, T-Cellular would not depend on tip-offs to make statements like this. As an alternative, it has direct perception into numbers, so it may be considered a extra dependable supply relating to deducing advertising and marketing efficiency.
Sievert is not completely optimistic about the best way issues stand proper now and does suppose that the delay within the rollout of AI options may lengthen the shopping for cycle. Since Apple Intelligence will probably be formally launched subsequent month and the total slate of options will not arrive till mid-2025, he thinks that it might take longer for patrons to share their experiences “by phrase of mouth.
