One of the most accurate and reliable voices on all things Apple, ex-KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has shared a new research note publishing his opinion on the recent iPhone XS and Apple Watch Series 4 pre-orders.
According to Kuo, Apple Watch Series 4 pre-orders were “better than expected” thanks to the range of new features on the wearable, including Apple Watch’s larger screen-sizes, and 64-bit dual-core processor that makes this years Apple Watch up to 2x faster than the previous generation, alongside the ability to soon take an electrocardiogram from your watch.
Although data suggests Apple Watch has got off to a flying start, iPhone XS sales are apparently lackluster. Within his research note, Kuo lowers his his forecast for iPhone XS orders, believing the model will account for only 10 to 15 percent of shipments of the new 2018 iPhones, down from 15 to 20 percent.
There is strong Chinese demand thanks to the gold casing, dual-SIM, and large display. The XS Max average shipping time is shorter than the 2H17 iPhone X (1–2 weeks vs. 2–3 weeks), which we think is due to supply improvements. We maintain our forecasts that the XS Max will account for 25–30% of 2H18 new iPhone model shipments.