About a week ago, the renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo stated that iPhone 16 sales were considerably below expectations. According to Kuo, the initial demand for the new model had decreased compared to last year’s figures, and he based his conclusions on delivery time data. At that time, we did not have figures to refute his conclusions, but now we do.
“Buying the most advanced versions of the iPhone at a higher rate than last year”
In a recent interview with Jim Cramer for CNBC (via PatentlyApple), T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert categorically denied initial reports suggesting that iPhone 16 sales were below expectations. According to Sievert, the company is seeing an increase in sales of the new devices compared to last year’s launch, as the iPhone 16 series is already performing better in its first weeks.
Sievert assures that Ming-Chi Kuo’s information was incorrect, pointing out that sales of the Pro and Pro Max models, in particular, have surpassed those of the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max in the same period last year. “People are buying the more advanced versions of the iPhone and are doing so at a higher rate than last year,” stated the CEO.
One key to Sievert’s optimism lies in the potential to extend the sales cycle of the iPhone 16 due to the incorporation of new functionalities based on artificial intelligence that, as he recalls, are not yet fully available. Apple has announced that these AI services will play a vital role in the purchase decision, especially when the impact of Apple Intelligence begins to be seen in our daily lives.
This delay in the arrival of AI features —although Apple has already welcomed it in its stores— could, in fact, act as an additional incentive in the coming weeks, as word of mouth about these artificial intelligence capabilities could increase interest in the phones. “The interesting thing is that this cycle could be longer than last year’s. We still have ahead the expectation about artificial intelligence in the devices, which could maintain the sales momentum for a longer time,” added Sievert.
Sievert, with direct access to sales data, is confident that the current positive trend could further consolidate as the true potential of the new features and capabilities of the iPhone 16 is discovered. This reminds us that, without knowing the number of units Apple has manufactured and the amount of stock available in each country and region, the waiting times for the arrival of an iPhone model are not a sufficiently clear indicator of sales.
Although Kuo’s initial conclusions painted a pessimistic picture of the iPhone 16, reality is proving quite the opposite. Sales are exceeding expectations, and with AI about to arrive on the devices, success is likely to go much further.
