Apple: We are on pace to beat last year's iPhone first-weekend 10M record

[jakebrennan]

"Customer response to iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus has been extremely positive and preorders this weekend were very strong around the world," the company said in a statement to CNBC. "We are on pace to beat last year's 10 million unit first-weekend record when the new iPhones go on sale Sept. 25."

I have been tracking the Apple Store worldwide ship dates of the iPhone 6S & 6S Plus here:

http://iphone-inventory.blogspot.com/2015/09/iphone-6s-pre-order-tracker.html

So far the iPhone 6S inventory seems to be holding up. Most configurations are still available for pre-order and delivery on launch day, with the 128GB and rose gold models being the first to slide to 2-3 weeks in most countries.

A slightly different story with the larger 6S Plus models, which slipped to 3-4 week ship dates in China within 12 hours, followed quickly by all other launch countries.

 

[Kaido]

Interesting that the jumbo phone is sold out. Speaks volumes about the size people want. I hope I'm not the only one left who wants a smaller phone lol.

 

[kpkp]

Interesting that the jumbo phone is sold out. Speaks volumes about the size people want. I hope I'm not the only one left who wants a smaller phone lol.

It actually tells you nothing without knowing the inventory.

 

[Radeon962]

I think it has more to do with battery life. The 6 Plus has given me the best battery life of any smartphone I have owned. It even is better than my Oneplus One which was excellent in the battery life department.

 

[mnewsham]

Interesting that the jumbo phone is sold out. Speaks volumes about the size people want. I hope I'm not the only one left who wants a smaller phone lol.

not really, you're assuming inventory is the same as the normal 6S, which I doubt it is. probably 80% of stock is regular 6S's. 20% 6S+.

 

[saratoga172]

There was a manufacturing issue win the backlight on the display that is causing shortages for the 6s+. I think they still only had 4-5ish million ready to go vs 7-8 for the 6s but from what I'm seeing they're down now to about 2m for initial deliveries on the 6s+.

 

[StrangerGuy]

I know anecdotally that 6+ shortages forced many people to settle for the 6 instead.

 

[kpkp]

Do you think the smaller iPhone is more profitable (doesn't seem logical)? It would make more sense to have shortages of the less profitable models to push costumers to spend more.

 

[Eug]

Do you think the smaller iPhone is more profitable (doesn't seem logical)? It would make more sense to have shortages of the less profitable models to push costumers to spend more.

I don't think most people who prefer a 4.7" phone are going to "settle" for a 5.5" phone that costs even more.

 

[mnewsham]

Do you think the smaller iPhone is more profitable (doesn't seem logical)? It would make more sense to have shortages of the less profitable models to push costumers to spend more.

No that's how you get thousands of pissed off customers.

They know for a fact the 6S is going to sell more units than the 6S+, it might convince a few people to get the 6S+ instead, but the majority will just bitch about "what do you mean 12-24 week ship time"


It makes a LOT more sense to do what they have done, make sure there is ample supply of the 6S, and work on ramping up production for any people who want the 6S+ but missed out on the first batch.

 

[Midwayman]

Do you think the smaller iPhone is more profitable (doesn't seem logical)? It would make more sense to have shortages of the less profitable models to push costumers to spend more.

Seriously doubt it. No OIS, smaller, lower res screen. Component wise it has to be cheaper but no way the difference is $100. Apple always charges way more than component costs on upgrades.

I'd say it has more to do with either a supply issue or just miss-estimating demand. Or maybe the people who buy the 6s+ are just the type more likely to stay up late and order one on launch day.

 

[kpkp]

No that's how you get thousands of pissed off customers.

They know for a fact the 6S is going to sell more units than the 6S+, it might convince a few people to get the 6S+ instead, but the majority will just bitch about "what do you mean 12-24 week ship time"

It makes a LOT more sense to do what they have done, make sure there is ample supply of the 6S, and work on ramping up production for any people who want the 6S+ but missed out on the first batch.

They wouldn't be anymore pissed than the buyers of the big iPhones are the last 2 years. Neither did I see any data showing that launch shortages hurt Apple sales in anyway.

Apple being a premium brand should reward the best costumers not the ones who are best at bitching. Giving a worse shopping experience to the costumers that spend the most on iPhones doesn't sound logical nor premium and I doubt that Apple is after the OnePlus kind of premium, where you must be "honored/lucky" to be able to buy from them.

What would be wrong if there would be enough big iPhones and they would ramp up with the smaller ones? I am not saying they should switch the numbers of the produced models I am just arguing if it wouldn't be smarter to adjust the production so that the big phone is not in short supply.

 

[Eug]

Neither did I see any data showing that launch shortages hurt Apple sales in anyway.

Apple last year said that iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus sales that quarter were constrained by production limits.

It seems to me they tried hard to compensate for that, and have largely succeeded, at least for the iPhone 6s. Not so much for the iPhone 6s Plus.

So, yes, I would expect increased launch sales this year as compared to last year.

 

[Kaido]

It actually tells you nothing without knowing the inventory.

Ah yes, excellent point, forgot they didn't publish stock figures.

IRL tho, everyone I see has the jumbo phone - very few people have the smaller non-Plus model.

 

[poofyhairguy]

If Apple would have upped the res of the smaller phone I would have gotten one.

 

[kpkp]

Apple last year said that iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus sales that quarter were constrained by production limits.

It seems to me they tried hard to compensate for that, and have largely succeeded, at least for the iPhone 6s. Not so much for the iPhone 6s Plus.

So, yes, I would expect increased launch sales this year as compared to last year.

They already had a record breaking Q, limiting production may be strategical to spread sales to the next Q. Doing so makes it easier to exceed the sales numbers next year so wallstreet doesn't panic.


@Kaido
The smaller iPhone sold way more, forgot the numbers but is atleast 3-1 and first Q it was like 6-1. Maybe this year we will see more big phones since Apple users saw that small phones aren't the best thing in the world even if Apple was trying to convince them of that for a few years.

 

[Eug]

They already had a record breaking Q, limiting production may be strategical to spread sales to the next Q. Doing so makes it easier to exceed the sales numbers next year so wallstreet doesn't panic.

Lots of conspiracy theory type sentiment in that post.

Or it could just be that they underestimated demand and were constrained by production, which is what they said. I'd say this is far more likely.

 

[Kaido]

@Kaido
The smaller iPhone sold way more, forgot the numbers but is atleast 3-1 and first Q it was like 6-1. Maybe this year we will see more big phones since Apple users saw that small phones aren't the best thing in the world even if Apple was trying to convince them of that for a few years.

I think I'm in the minority of people who like smaller phones. The 6S is going to be too large for me tbh. Even my 5S is a little too large...the 4S has been my favorite size, super pocketable, discrete, fits in the palm of my hand. I think those days are over though, oh well.

 

[ChronoReverse]

Lots of conspiracy theory type sentiment in that post.

Or it could just be that they underestimated demand and were constrained by production, which is what they said. I'd say this is far more likely.

Yeah, I'm thinking a lot of people are aware that the S version of the iPhones tend to be a better bet and had held out.

With the 2GB of RAM among other features, I'm inclined to agree.

 

[stlc8tr]

Given that China has been added to launch day, I would have been shocked if they didn't exceed last year's pre-order numbers.

 

[VashHT]

Having owned a regular 6 I would definitely go for the plus version if I got a 6s just because it has a bigger battery. I never found the battery life of the 6 to be that great really, but I always hear the plus had better battery life.

 

[Eug]

The 6s plus indeed has a much bigger and longer-lasting battery. But it's so frickin' huge.

It would be very awkward for me to have, and probably would necessitate my getting a man purse, or start wearing cargo pants everywhere.

 

[Chocu1a]

The 6s plus indeed has a much bigger and longer-lasting battery. But it's so frickin' huge.

It would be very awkward for me to have, and probably would necessitate my getting a man purse, or start wearing cargo pants everywhere.

No, No it isn't. I have been using the Note series since its inception. The iPhone 6(s)+ is no bigger than the Note 3/4/5. I am 6', 208lbs, & wear normal to slim fit pants. Levi 501, slim fit flat front khakis, slim fit corduroy. The Note series has always fit easily into the front & back pocket of EVERY pair of pants I own with no issues.
Unless you are wearing jeggings, the iPhone 6+ will fit in your pants pocket.

 

[Eug]

I've already tried. The 6 Plus doesn't fit.

I'm 5'7" and slim to medium build.

 

[sweenish]

That says nothing about your choice of pants.

I can't comment on it much since I have not owned a gigantic phone, buy my pants (various types of slim-fit Dockers, Lucky jeans, golf shorts, etc.) all hold the phone with room to spare. I have maybe two pairs of pants (one pair of slacks and maybe one pair of jeans) that would be difficult, but still do-able.

I always place my phone in my front right pocket. 5' 10", ~160 lbs.