14 DAY TRIAL // A few days ago, GBH Insights analyst Daniel Ive estimated that the iPhone X could become Apple’s new iPhone 6, as he expected the anniversary model to generate a substantial number of upgrades for the existing iPhone customers, just like it happened with the device launched in 2014.
And now it turns out that his forecast was actually pretty accurate, with a research conducted by investment firm UBS and 451 Research indicating that the iPhone purchase intent is at the highest level since the debut of the iPhone 6.
No less than 69 percent of the participants in the study indicated that they plan to buy a new iPhone within the next 3 months, with the iPhone X alone accounting for no less than 43 percent. The iPhone 6 continues to be the leader according to the survey stats, as the purchase interest reached 71 percent three years ago.
The iPhone 6 represented one of the biggest overhauls in the history of the iPhone and is generally referred to as the latest record-selling model launched by Apple, despite its successors also selling very well. The iPhone 6s, the iPhone 7, and the iPhone 8 are all based on the design introduced by the iPhone 6, and this is one of the reasons an important number of customers haven’t been very interested in upgrading.
The iPhone X overhaul
The iPhone X, on the other hand, introduces an overhauled look with an OLED display and facial recognition instead of fingerprint scanning, and both analysts and Apple expect the device to sell in record numbers the next year.
The device will be available for pre-order starting this Friday, while shipments will begin on November 3. Initial supply is very likely to be limited, with estimates pointing to approximately 3 million iPhone X units prepared for the launch of the device.
This means there’s a good chance that only a few lucky customers will actually be able to get their hands on an iPhone X, with production and shipments to peak in early 2018.