Taiwan TF International ⁤Securities Kuo Ming-chi: “Pre-order volume down⁢ 13% from iPhone 15”

Apple expert analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of Taiwan’s‍ TF International Securities reported that pre-order sales for the iPhone 16, which ⁢began on the 13th and lasted until the first⁤ weekend, amounted to approximately ⁣37⁣ million units.

The iPhone 16 is the latest smartphone that Apple first unveiled‍ at its new⁢ product⁢ launch event⁤ on⁢ the ‌9th. Pre-orders began on the 13th ⁤and it will ‍be⁢ released simultaneously in Korea and⁤ the US on the 20th.

The number of pre-orders for the iPhone 16 is down about 13% compared ⁣to the iPhone 15 ​released last year during the same period. Kuo Ming-chi analyzed that this⁢ is a⁣ result of ⁢weaker-than-expected interest in the ​high-end iPhone 16 Pro model, which ‌is popular among the iPhone series.

He also ​pointed out that ⁤”one of the main ‌factors behind the lower-than-expected demand‍ for the iPhone​ 16 Pro series is that Apple‍ Intelligence, a key selling point, was not released along with the‍ iPhone 16 launch.” Apple​ Intelligence is Apple’s artificial intelligence (AI) system⁢ that will be ‍installed⁤ in Apple devices such as ‍the ⁤iPhone.

It was ‌initially expected‍ to ​be installed⁢ with the launch of the iPhone‍ 16, but some of⁣ its⁤ features will be included starting with the new iPhone operating system (iOS 18) upgrade version next month. In particular, it is expected that it⁣ will ⁣take⁣ several months ⁢until all ⁢AI functions are included⁢ in the iPhone.

“Weak ⁣demand for the iPhone 16 is not a good sign,⁤ especially ‍given the upcoming holiday selling season,”⁣ said‍ Matt Maley, chief market⁤ strategist at ‍Miller Tabak Plus. “It increases the likelihood ​that⁣ the stock‌ will decline significantly.”

At 11:49 a.m. Eastern Time on this‌ day, ‌Apple’s stock price ​was trading at⁣ $215.60 (KRW 287,179), down 3.10% ⁢from the previous trading day.