Apple has forgotten how popular tiny phones are? According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, early pre-order numbers for the company’s recently unveiled iPhone 14 family are “bad” for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus. Kuo makes the speculative claim that people who prefer compact phones are delaying an upgrade because Apple’s choice to discontinue the Mini model did not find favor with consumers.
Apple has been producing a Mini version of its new iPhones for a number of years now, complete with the same silicon and cutting-edge Face ID sensors as the larger, more expensive models. This was a blessing for individuals who desire smaller smartphones but have repeatedly been let down by other OEMs as devices get larger and larger each year. The 2022 lineup is different; along with the standard iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, this time there are the premium iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max.
The closest device to the 5.4-inch iPhone 13 Mini is the iPhone 14, which has a 6.1-inch screen. Although Apple describes these phones as “large and bigger” on its website, it doesn’t seem to be trying to attract such customers. Apple hasn’t provided Kuo with exact pre-order numbers, and the corporation hardly ever provides details. He has a solid track record of unraveling these mysteries, though, by examining publicly available information like anticipated delivery dates for the new models in various areas.
Kuo claims that the company’s attempt to segment its product line this year has failed. Pre-order figures for the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max are level or slightly higher than those for the iPhone 14, but they are lower than those for the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus compared to the iPhone 13 Mini and iPhone SE 3, which are both well-liked by fans of compact phones. Kuo adds that sales figures, in notably for the iPhone 14 Plus, “look to be much lower than expected.”
Later this year, Apple may lower orders from its suppliers if demand for the ordinary versions doesn’t increase. The companies may experience falling revenue towards the end of the year because these supply chain partners typically get lower revenue from Pro models. The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus should be available for purchase when they go on sale in October, if there is any silver lining to this situation. This coming week will see the release of the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max (Sept. 16). Kuo doesn’t know if the business would raise its Pro model shipment expectations, which make up more than half of the early shipments.
