iPhone 16 Pro offers more but estimated decline in opening sales

Apple has released iPhone 16 Pro models with new specifications but these devices are estimated to receive lower consumer demand than their predecessor.

iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max are the top-of-the-line devices featuring new displays. These stand at 6.3 inches and 6.9 inches respectively and an upgrade over 6.1 inches and 6.7 inches used in iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max respectively.

The company is offering a new 48MP ultra wide-angle camera and better quality to support 4K 120fps video recording. The primary lens has been optimized for color and sharpness accuracy in photographs.

The colors have been refined and a new desert titanium option has been introduced with an attractive frame. The company has also maintained the price point for both variants including the Pro Max, which now starts with a 256GB storage.

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the first weekend pre-order sales of the iPhone 16 series are estimated at around 37 million units. This figure represents a decline of 12.7 percent year over year compared to the iPhone 15 series in terms of first-week sales.

This decline is related to lower-than-expected demand for the iPhone 16 Pro models. This estimate arrives at the time, Apple improved delivery times for iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max compared to their predecessors.

Kuo mentioned that the selling point is still a hurdle in achieving higher sales. Other reasons in this case include missing Apple Intelligence with the device. Furthermore, increasing competition in the Chinese market could be a major troublemaker for the iPhone maker.

Amid that, the iPhone 16 Plus is expected to gain numbers alongside the iPhone 16 compared to the iPhone 15 duo. However, it is not sufficient to limit the Pro model’s shipment loss.

Despite these early estimates, Apple is unlikely to change the iPhone 16 series production plan. That being said, the company still has the holiday season and China’s double eleven to improve sales.