“Analysts with Rosenblatt and Arthur Wood write that pre-orders for the iPhone 8 appears to be falling well below the iPhone 7 levels last year, meaning that there’s more pressure on Apple to make good with supply of the iPhone X,” Tiernan Ray reports for Barron’s.
“Apple shares are under pressure today, following some mixed reviews of the new Apple Watch, which goes on sale Friday, and also some speculation that Apple’s sales of the newly released iPhone 8 have been weak. The Watch is getting slammed for some problems with its LTE connectivity,” Ray reports. “But the more serious matter today appears to be a couple of sell-side reports casting doubt on iPhone 8 sales.”
China: Our research suggests that there were about 1.5 million iPhone 8 preorders on JD.com in the first three days, compared to the iPhone 7 with 3.5 million preorders in the first three days. We also believe China Mobile’s iPhone 8 preorder volume was around 1 million units, compared to 2.5 million units and 3.5 million units for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 6, respective- ly, for the first three days. US: Initial feedback also suggests iPhone 8 preorder volume is below the iPhone 7 and iPhone 6. — Rosenblatt Securities analyst Jun Zhang
“Zhang acknowledges that many may be waiting for the iPhone X, which doesn’t go on sale till October 27th, but he’s still worried,” Ray reports. “Also today, Jeff Johnston with Arthur Wood Equity Research, writes that the iPhone 8 has “gotten lukewarm reviews,” citing in particular Geoffrey Fowler’s piece in the [Wall Street] Journal, and ‘based on our checks, consumers feel the same way.'”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: As we’ve been saying since the day the new iPhones were unveiled, Apple may have a problem on their hands if they’ve made too many iPhone 8/Plus units and are not prepared to market and promo them like crazy:
You know, we’re not convinced that Apple will be overrun with iPhone 8/Plus preorders. Yes, use the App Store app, in case, but it might be an easier night than you think. In fact, Apple just might have a problem on their hands, judging by the early results of our online poll. It’s early, but we expect Apple to market the living you-know-what out of the iPhone 8/Plus because, next to the iPhone X, it’s looking like a tough sell. — MacDailyNews, September 14, 2017
Since the U.S. carriers are already offering iPhone 8/Plus promotions, Apple seems to have planned for the expected reaction to iPhone 8/Plus with iPhone X looming over them.
SEE ALSO:
Associated Press reviews iPhone 8/Plus: Like flying in coach versus first class iPhone X – September 19, 2017
USA Today’s Baig reviews iPhone 8/Plus: Excellent iPhones overshadowed by iPhone X – September 19, 2017
Sprint follows AT&T with free iPhone 8 offer for trade-in – September 18, 2017
Why you might get a deal on a new iPhone after all – September 18, 2017
AT&T fires first shot in iPhone price war with buy-one-get-one-free offer – September 13, 2017
My guess is they have planned for this and know exactly what to expect. The iPhone 8 is there to simply provide an upgrade path for people who want to upgrade but feel they do not want to spend the money for the iPhone X. They realize, that the bread and butter is the iPhone X. That is a trivial issue with the watch, and it will sell like crazy as initial sales are suggesting.
No surprise there. Not really much different in price, just the wait factor comes into play. IP8 is for the impatient ones.
Or the ones like myself who want a bigger screen. It’s the same width as a 7. Not enough for me. I’ll wait for the X Plus next year.
$200 or $300 more for the X isn’t chump change to us mere plebians. The 7 or 8 is more than capable for the mainstream user, which is why Apple continues to build them. These phones are not just for impatient ones, but also people who prefer a better value. Or people that don’t prefer the bigger iPhone X chassis.
Bottom line: can you name one function that absolutely requires an iPhone X? Until you come up with one, the smart money is on the less costly models.
I want the dual lenses but don’t want the unpocketable size of the 8+. So I’m considering waiting for the X. The bigger aperture will also help as I shoot a lot at twighlight. OLED isn’t a big issue
Same here. The Plus is simply too big for me.
More pathetic analysts panic talk without seeing the whole picture. Apple will be just fine even if it does take a few months for iPhone X to catch up with demand.
crooked fake news as excuse to short sell by greedy sobs
I am too.
This is speculation of the worst kind. While iPhone 8 sales and availability data can indeed be assessed fairly well, neither the analysts nor the Apple fanboys could possibly have an accurate comparison to iPhone X demand. For all we know, the X could fail miserably in China with sales even weaker than the iPhone 7.
Or are we supposed to keep pretending that platform swithing never happens away from iOS and nobody is price sensitive and everyone here is intimately familiar with all the $700 Chinese smartphones’ capabilities? Competition is ramping up so don’t assume global competition doesn’t exist.
I was going to opt for the X… but after thinking about it, I decided go with the 8. Here are my reasons:
1) The 8 is faster (albeit only slightly) than the X
2) I have a 6plus that I’m upgrading from and the phone is simply too dammed big. I have smallish hands and my thumb simply can’t span across the screen. The X phone only ADDS screen real estate thereby making that problem worse.
3) Screen size on a phone is not really a concern. From a viewing perspective, one need only hold their phone 3 inches closer to their face to get the added screen size. Size-relative to hand-size is the real concern and the 8 fits that bill.
4) The 8 does all the same 3D capabilities that the X does
5) The new face verification and swipe technologies on the X aren’t really an added benefit
6) The 8 is $200-$400 cheaper than the X.
Your second point refers to an incorrect physical size equivalence… https://www.paintcodeapp.com/news/ultimate-guide-to-iphone-resolutions
Well, well, well. The iPhone 8 is a “7S” after all.
Apple should build only one model as usual. Why just not a edge to edge (or almost ede to edge) iPhone 8 with lcd instead of oled. Anf may be one iPhone 8 Richie Rich Edition with Face ID.
Samsung s8+ is bargain as compare to iPhone X inflated price of $1470 yes that what most people end up paying including apple care, I hope that price strategy from all phone manufacturers fail who thinks $1500 is ok to charge consumers every other year, I get it the technology is there but not $1000 plus worth. Samsung with note 8 pricing is as bad as apple iPhone x pricing.