The iPhone 15’s debut in the Chinese market has raised concerns for Apple as initial sales have dipped by 4.5% compared to the previous year, causing a 1.5% drop in Apple’s pre-market stock, according to the latest data from Counterpoint.
Insiders in Shenzhen’s Huaqiangbei had been warning about the lack of demand for the iPhone 15 series, with substantial inventory remaining unsold and few rushing to make purchases. Third-party sources indicate that prices for the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus have fallen below their launch prices.
But is it fair to place all the blame on Apple’s shoulders? Perhaps not.
Challenges Mount as iPhone 15 Faces Tough Competition from Huawei
The resurgence of Huawei‘s flagship smartphones, particularly the Mate60 series, has added to Apple’s challenges. Huawei’s sales have been steadily growing, and the company aims to ship 60 to 70 million smartphones in 2024, a substantial increase from the 30 million in 2022.
Additionally, the iPhone 15 series has encountered various issues since its launch, including overheating and burn-in problems, especially in the iPhone 15 Pro series. Users have reported excessive heat during demanding tasks and software-related problems with apps like Instagram and Uber. Apple has released software updates to address some of these issues, but concerns persist in the user and tech community.
In the US market, iPhone 15 sales also appear lackluster. A special annual survey suggests that many Apple customers are holding onto their older phones and not upgrading to the new iPhone 15, which could lead to stagnant sales next year.
Despite declining iPhone sales, Apple may still see an increase in revenue due to consumer preference for higher-priced models, such as the Pro Max, which starts at $1199.
In India though, the iPhone 15 is the most popular model in the new iPhone 15 series, followed by the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The iPhone 15 Plus has lower demand but still performs better than its predecessor, the iPhone 14 Plus, which faced delays. The base iPhone 15 has a shorter waiting time due to local assembly, about 1 week, while the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, manufactured exclusively in China, have longer waiting times of nearly 3 weeks or more. The higher demand for the Pro Max is driven by its premium features, despite being pricier in India compared to the US.
RELATED:
- Apple could launch M3 MacBook Pro and MacBook Air next year
- Apple reportedly working on a more affordable Vision Pro alternative
- Apple Watch Series 1 Is Now Vintage
- Samsung Galaxy S23 FE vs Xiaomi 13T Pro: Specs Comparison
- iPhone 15 Pro vs Google Pixel 8 Pro: Specs Comparison
- Redmi Note 13 vs Redmi Note 13 Pro: Specs Comparison
