Demand for Apple iPhone X Will Not Be “Exceptional” Claim Research Group

According to carrier sources in Australia only a “small number” of the new Apple iPhone X will be available for the Australian market at launch in November 2017, despite a major shortage of components.

Apple who was contemplating “exceptional” demand for their new $1,846 smartphone may have to scale back their numbers after a survey by brokerage Bernstein showed that demand for the device will be substantial, but not exceptional, with about a quarter of the respondents planning to buy the phone.

Heightened anticipation around the 10th anniversary iPhone, which opens for preorder on Oct. 27 and begins shipping from Nov. 3, has already dented demand for the just-launched iPhone 8 and 8 Plus.

Reuters reported that Apple shares fell last week after reports of iPhone X production delays and weak sales of iPhone 8 models.

“The excitement surrounding the iPhone X appears to be magnitudes higher than actual purchase intent – 48 percent of respondents agreed/strongly agreed that they were ‘excited for the iPhone X,’” Bernstein said, citing a survey of 1,112 iPhone owners in the United States, UK and China.

Apple launched iPhone 8 and 8 Plus last month amid muted reception as fans awaited the iPhone X, and a survey by broker KeyBanc Capital Markets had pointed out that older iPhone 7 models outsold iPhone 8.

While it was doubtful how many iPhone users will upgrade to the $999 iPhone X, an overwhelming majority will still choose an Apple device, according to the survey.

“Consumer loyalty to iPhone remains remarkably strong, despite persistent complaints about high prices and worries about declining innovation, with only 3 percent of respondents stating that their next phone would *not* be an iPhone,” Bernstein said.

About Post Author

David Richards

David Richards has been writing about technology for more than 30 years. A former Fleet Street journalist, he wrote the Award Winning Series on the Federated Ships Painters + Dockers Union for the Bulletin that led to a Royal Commission. He is also a Logie Winner for Outstanding Contribution To TV Journalism with a story called The Werribee Affair. In 1997, he built the largest Australian technology media company and prior to that the third largest PR company that became the foundation company for Ogilvy PR. Today he writes about technology and the impact on both business and consumers.