14 DAY TRIAL // Apple’s 2018 growth will be mostly the result of strong performance of its MacBook family of products, according to a recent analyst forecast, despite the iPhone very likely to remain the leader in terms of units sold.
KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says Apple is expected to sell between 13 to 16 percent more MacBooks this year as compared to 2017, while iPhone shipments could grow only a maximum of 6 percent. The iPad is also well positioned for a 10 percent increase in sales, but again, this still isn’t enough to overtake MacBooks.
The second half of the year is the one that should bring the boost in terms of MacBook sales, especially because Apple is expected to launch a new more-affordable MacBook Air sometime in the summer.
Kuo, however, says the MacBook Pro with a Touch Bar is also projected to grow substantially in the remainder of the year. This particular configuration is one of the most expensive in the MacBook series.
2018 iPhones
And while the MacBook could record a major growth this year, iPhones will still be the top-selling product in Apple’s portfolio.
The company will take the wraps off three different iPhone models this year, two of which are likely to come with OLED displays.
First and foremost, Apple will introduce a successor to the iPhone X, again with an OLED display measuring 5.8 inches. Additionally, a Plus-sized version of the iPhone X, most likely featuring a 6.5-inch OLED panel, is also on the table. The third model is expected to be a more affordable configuration with a 6.1-inch LCD screen that could lack certain features like 3D Touch.
Apple is aiming for record iPhone sales this year, according to a separate report, despite shipments of the iPhone X clearly below expectations until now. The new models should see daylight in the fall, according to Apple’s typical release schedule.