Well-connected industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says replacement demand for Apple’s upcoming iPhone XR handset will be higher than last year’s iPhone 8 demand.
Ming-Chi Kuo has today released a report that is good news for Apple. The first week of October is a national holiday in China. Kuo is reporting that most domestic phone manufacturers saw sales fall year-over-year during Golden Week. Kuo blamed insufficient innovation, and believes that some proportion of consumers are leaning on older iPhone models or awaiting the upcoming iPhone XR launch on October 26.
Among Chinese phone makers, only Huawei saw an increase in shipments, as sales from competitors, including Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi failed to impress.
The iPhone XR will be available for pre-order on October 19, with units getting into consumers’ hands on October 26. The iPhone XR offers better pricing than the iPhone 8 Plus, and offers dual-SIM support and several color options, making the device well-positioned for impressive sales.
Kuo’s prediction indicates good news for Apple, as sales of the iPhone XS and iPhone XS max have been described as “disappointing.”
