While a Digitimes report says the iPhone 6 Plus makes up 60% of all iPhone 6 shipments, a report from usage tracking company Mixpanel indicates otherwise.
Digitimes’ information reportedly comes from industry sources observing parts shipments to Apple partners Foxconn and Pegatron. Both companies assemble iPhone handsets for the Cupertino firm. Foxconn handles assembly of the iPhone 6 Plus, while Pegatron is tasked with building the iPhone 6.
Digitimes reports that while parts shipments to both companies were dead even in the run up to the release of Apple’s two new handsets, Foxconn is receiving more parts shipments lately, indicating more “Plus” handsets being manufactured.
However, 9to5Mac reports that web analytics paint a different picture, showing the iPhone 6 as the more popular device. Analytics firm Mixpanel shows the iPhone 6 representing 5% of total iPhone usage on the web, while the iPhone 6 Plus is showing a 1.2% share of use, although that share continues to climb.
It is possible that parts shipments to Foxconn for assembly of the iPhone 6 Plus have increased, it’s also possible that Foxconn is simply playing catch up, as we know that iPhone 6 Plus supply was constrained at the introduction of both devices.
As for iPhone usage numbers, since the supply of iPhone 6 Plus handsets has been constrained, its possible that once supply is a bit more in balance with demand we’ll see a surge in 6 Plus usage numbers.
Time will tell, but all of this would be a hell of a lot easier if Apple would simply report individual model sales numbers. However, blue is not our color, so we’re not going to hold our breath waiting for that to happen.
