Analysts say iPhone 6s initial sales did not actually increase

This article is transferred from: NetEase Technology

Original title: "Analysts say iPhone 6s initial sales did not actually increase"

September 29 news, according to foreign media reports, Apple announced on Monday that the sales of the new iPhone 6s exceeded 13 million units in the first weekend of sales, setting a new record. This level exceeded analysts' expectations.

However, analysts are divided on whether this is good or bad for Apple, depending on how they view the performance of the Chinese market.

Analysts had predicted that iPhone 6s sales would be between 12 million and 13 million units in its first weekend. The increase in sales of the new iPhone is due to the product's first launch in China this year. Because of this, Timothy Arcuri, an analyst at investment bank Cowen and Co, said that the prospects for iPhone 6s are "not as bright" as they first appear.

iPhone 6s sales have increased by about 3 million units since the iPhone 6 was released in 2014. The previous iPhone sold 10 million units in its first weekend last year.

Arcuri noted that excluding China, iPhone sales were actually roughly the same as last year.

"After checking the situation in Asia, we believe that iPhone sales at the end of this year and in the first quarter of 2016 are not optimistic," Arcuri wrote in the report. "From the supply point of view, there is no sign of an increase on the weekend, which is different from previous years."

But to Daniel Ives, an analyst at FBR Capital Markets, the record sales are good news for Apple and a good sign for those who have long worried about slowing economic growth in China.

Ives estimated in a research note on Monday that sales in China were between 2 million and 2.5 million units, which means sales in markets outside of China increased by 5% to 10%.

The figure is in line with previous forecasts by Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster, who said markets outside of China would grow 10%.

Ives said pre-order sales looked "very strong" "outside of the key Chinese market."

However, if Ives, like Arcuri, believes that sales in the first weekend in the Chinese market were very strong, then his conclusion should actually be that overall sales of the new iPhone did not increase.

Sales in China reached 3 million units, which is enough to prove that overall sales have not increased. But even so, Munster still thinks this is a good thing for Apple.

“People are always worried about how Apple’s replacement products will sell,” Munster said in an interview on Monday. “As long as it meets expectations, I’m satisfied and investors are satisfied.”

"Some people will say it's good because it's in line with expectations. Others will say it's bad because for Apple, flat is bad," he said.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.