14 DAY TRIAL // The iPhone X is just around the corner, with sales to begin on November 3, and while some people point to very limited stock at first, Gartner analysts predict record sales for the anniversary model.
But contrary to most expectations, Apple won’t be the only one benefitting from record iPhone X sales, but the rest of the market as well, as Gartner reports that the new device will help the smartphone market altogether return to growth next year.
The iPhone X will sell particularly well in the United States, China, and Europe, Gartner says, and the huge price won’t be considered a reason not to purchase the device. From what we’ve seen online following the official unveiling on September 12, most potential Apple iPhone X buyers are reluctant to purchase the device because of other factors than the price, including Face ID and the notch at the top of the screen.
No delay, iPhone X to be here on time
But Gartner says that 2018 will help push the smartphone shipments to 1.9 billion units next year, accounting for 86 percent of all total mobile phone shipments in 2018. This represents an increase of 6 percent from this year, and an important return to growth for the market.
Sources close to the matter indicated that iPhone X production would reach the maximum speed by the end of the year, which means that Apple is likely to manage to deal with supply shortages early next year. In other words, delays in shipments will no longer occur in the first months of 2018 when there’ll be enough iPhone X units in stores for all buyers.
Foxconn has already started shipping the first iPhone X units to stores across the world, but the original batches only included fewer than 50,000 units, which indeed seems to confirm the limited supply available in the first weeks. Apple was said to be even considering a delay to December, but right now, this no longer seems to be an option for the Cupertino-based firm.