After a first weekend of pre-orders for the iPhone 16, it’s time to take stock. Since Apple does not release any official figures, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo remains a reliable source for a trend. Kuo has just indicated that iPhone 16 pre-orders are lower than last year over the first three days!
Poor performance for iPhone 16 Pro
Apple is facing an unexpected reality this year with preorders for the new iPhone 16. While the company is used to seeing strong preorders, the situation for the new Pro models is more complicated. The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are struggling to convince, and preorder numbers are lower than the company expected, according to Kuo.
Apple’s flagship model, the iPhone 16 Pro Max, is down 16% from last year. This figure is all the more alarming for Apple since the Pro Max represents the model with the highest profit margin. For its part, the iPhone 16 Pro is suffering an even more serious setback, with a 27% drop in pre-orders compared to the previous year. This double failure for the Pro models is worrying, especially since these smartphones are usually the most popular
Sales up for standard models
While the Pro models are disappointing, the standard versions of the iPhone 16 are doing well. The iPhone 16 is up 10% year-over-year, and the iPhone 16 Plus is up an impressive 48%. For once, it’s the cheaper models that seem to be capturing the public’s interest, especially the larger version.
Several observers point to the lack of “major” features to explain this underperformance of the Pro models. The Camera Control button, a particularly nice new feature for photo and video enthusiasts, has certainly appealed, but since it is also available on the standard versions, consumers seem hesitant to spend more for a Pro model.
Criticism and lack of innovation
On social networks, criticism is flying against Apple. Many believe that the company no longer takes risks in terms of design and technological innovations, remaining in a sort of comfort zone. This lack of initiative is seen as a brake on the general enthusiasm for these new models, especially for users looking for new features.
Another downside concerns the European market. Unlike in the US, Apple Intelligence’s AI-based features will not be available with iOS 18.1 in Europe. European consumers will have to wait for an iOS update in 2025 to access these new advancements. This delay only adds to the frustration of potential buyers, which will likely affect the volume of pre-orders in Europe.
The iPhone 16 will be available for sale from Friday, September 20, with the first deliveries and Apple Store pickups starting that day. It remains to be seen whether these disappointing pre-order sales will be confirmed or whether the official launch will help turn things around for the Pro models.
