It’s been three weeks since the latest iPhones went on sale in the U.S., and while the availability of the iPhone 5c is at a quite comfortable level, the stock levels of the iPhone 5s continue to drop.
Analyst Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray has been checking inventory levels of the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c since they went on sale Sept. 21. In a note to investors provided to AppleInsider on Friday, he indicated that supply of the iPhone 5s went from 27 percent availability two weeks ago to 6 percent over the past week, based on a check of 60 Apple stores.
The number of stores that had at least one iPhone 5s SKU in stock dropped from the 90% level two weeks ago, to 40% this week.
Munster opines that the dropping stock levels point to Apple preparing for the international launch of the device, with 51 new markets set to receive the flagship handset by November 1st.
Munster has also been tracking resale value, and found that the entry-level 16-gigabyte iPhone 5s is currently selling at a 32% premium in the U.S.
The iPhone 5c is at the other end of the demand spectrum, as it is currently selling at an 11% discount off of its retail price. Munster’s supply checks found the 5c well stocked, and he feels the demand is about on par with expectations.
For comparison purposes, Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S4 is selling for around a 12% discount in the U.S.
