14 DAY TRIAL // Apple’s 2018 iPhone lineup is expected to generate sales that would be substantially higher than the ones of the previous model, not necessarily thanks to new buyers, but following the eagerly-anticipated supercycle.
This means that a bigger number of existing iPhone users could decide to upgrade this year, and Daniel Ives, head of technology research at GBH Insights, says Apple could thus sell up to 350 million units over the next 12 to 18 months.
Apple will take the wraps off three different iPhone models in September, namely an iPhone X successor, a Plus-sized version, and a more affordable configuration with a 6.1-inch LCD screen. A fourth model could land in the form of the second-generation iPhone SE.
The LCD iPhone is expected to be the main catalyst for this massive growth, as its lower price could convince more users to upgrade their devices.
“We believe the Street is now starting to fully appreciate the massive iPhone upgrade opportunity on the horizon,” reportedly said in a note to investors.
Huge opportunity in China
All iPhone models launching this year will come with Face ID and will give up on the Touch ID fingerprint sensor. Despite coming with an LCD panel, the low-cost model would also embrace an edge-to-edge design approach.
The analyst says that all these improvements will convince existing iPhone customers to migrate to new-generation devices, including those in China where up to 70 million users could upgrade.
“[These models] will help capture the underlying demand [for] upgrades among customers that have decided to bypass the ... cycle this time around, with price points and features that catalyze fence-sitting iPhone customers onto their next smartphone,” Ives continued.
There’s a lot of speculation going on regarding the upcoming iPhone lineup, and rumor has it that the second-generation SE model could be introduced at WWDC next week, with the fall unveiling to be all about the trio mentioned above.