Apple cutting iPhone 12 mini production to boost iPhone 12 Pro output

Apple is reportedly cutting iPhone 12 mini production in favor of boosting iPhone 12 Pro output to meet high consumer demand for the premium Pro models, according to a Morgan Stanley investment note seen by PED30.

It is understood that Apple switched two million units of Q1 production from the iPhone 12 mini to the iPhone 12 Pro in an effort to rescue the lead times which have extended far beyond any model launched in the past 4 years, reports Morgan Stanley.

Touching on performance in China, which is a market of keen interest for Apple, the report says the iPhone 12 line is beating expectations, with the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini proving to be more popular over the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max.

We continue to believe that the iPhone will outperform expectations in the December quarter, as the mix shift to higher-end iPhone 12 models is a tailwind to ASPs and revenue growth. iPhone 12 Pro lead times remain extended far beyond any model launched in the past 4 years at 10 days. Lead times decreased from 22 days ~2 weeks ago as Apple ramps iPhone 12 production […] recently raising March quarter iPhone 12 Pro builds by 2M units (which offset a 2M build reduction for the iPhone 12 mini).

Research conducted earlier this month by Flurry Analytics suggested the iPhone 12 mini was the only iPhone 12 model to not make it into the list of the top 10 smartphones activated on Christmas morning.