Apple's iPhone shipment estimate has been lowered and structural challenges have been raised.
In today's era of rapid technological development, smartphones, as an indispensable part of people's daily life, not only carry communication functions, but also become an important tool for personal socialization, entertainment and work. And in the smartphone market, Apple's iPhone has always attracted attention for its unique design and leading technology. However, a recent report released by Tianfeng International analyst Ming-Chi Kuo revealed some worrying information. According to the report, Apple expects iPhone shipments to be revised down to about 200 million units in 2024, a year-on-year decrease of 15%, making it the largest recession among the world's major mobile phone brands. This has sparked in-depth thinking in the industry about the structural challenges Apple is currently facing.
iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 16 shipments.
Apple's iPhone series has always been the leader in the market, however, analysts detailed in the report that the iPhone 15 series and **iPhone 16 series shipments**, but showing an unprecedented decline. According to the survey, this year.
Shipments of these two series in the first and second quarters are expected to decline by 10-15% year-on-year. Behind this trend, the iPhone is facing serious pressure from the market. The reason for this is that it is not difficult to find that the iPhone is experiencing a "structural challenge".
The first challenge comes from the "new design paradigm" of high-end phones. Modern consumers' demand for smartphones is no longer satisfied with basic functions, but also pursues innovative design and technological breakthroughs. However, Kuo noted in the report that the "structural challenges" facing the iPhone stem from the relative lag of its high-end phone design. Driven by new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and folding phones, Apple's design philosophy appears to be relatively conservative and cannot match the trendy trends in the market, resulting in a decrease in consumer interest in buying iPhones.
Secondly, the continued decline of the Chinese market is also an important challenge for the iPhone. China has always been one of Apple's most important markets, however, in recent years, Apple's share of the Chinese market has gradually eroded due to the return of Huawei and the gradual emergence of foldable phones as the preferred choice for high-end users. This has forced Apple to face a significant decline in shipments, especially in recent weeks, with a worrying trend of 30-40% year-on-year declines in weekly shipments.
** for iPhone later models.
For Apple's future development, Ming-Chi Kuo put forward some ** in the report. He pointed out that Apple will not launch new iPhone models with "big changes in design" until 2025 at the earliest, in the hope of meeting the current structural challenges. The launch of this new model will not only be a hardware upgrade, but also a comprehensive and differentiated development of the generative artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem or applications.
This has sparked speculation in the industry about Apple's future strategy. In the highly competitive smartphone market, innovation is key to user retention. How Apple will make breakthroughs in design and technology to regain market share has become the focus of attention in the industry. Ming-Chi Kuo's report also reminds us that structural challenges may continue to affect Apple's iPhone shipment momentum and ecosystem growth, so Apple urgently needs an innovative "revolution".
What's new in the iPhone 16 series**.
In addition to the ** of future models, foreign media recently broke the news that Apple is considering introducing a special photo button in the iPhone 16 series. This news is undoubtedly an exciting new feature for the majority of iPhone users. The button's mechanical design, touch-enabled surface, zoom in and out, and respond sensitively to pressure changes, is reported to be touch-sensitive to zoom in and out of focus. This design not only improves the user's photo experience, but also demonstrates Apple's efforts in technological innovation.
The introduction of this new feature may be part of Apple's quest to break through in the current competitive market. By enhancing the photography feature, Apple is trying to attract more photography enthusiasts and regular users, thereby increasing the market appeal of its products. This is also a manifestation of Apple's active response to market changes and meeting user needs.
Epilogue. Based on Ming-Chi Kuo's report and related market dynamics, the structural challenges facing Apple's iPhone are indeed a reality that cannot be ignored. The lag in high-end mobile phone design and the decline of the Chinese market have become the dual factors restricting iPhone shipments. However, as a company with deep roots in the technology field, Apple also has the ability to address these challenges through innovation. In the future, consumers and the industry will be watching closely how Apple will achieve new breakthroughs in design, technology and market strategy to re-establish the iPhone's leadership position in the smartphone market. This revolution of "big changes in design" may bring new vitality to the iPhone and will also bring consumers a better experience. In this era of change, only continuous innovation can be invincible in the fierce market competition.
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