Sept 16 (Askume) – Apple (AAPL.O) shares fell nearly 3% on Monday after some analysts said delivery times for new iPhone 16 Pro models were slower than expected demand, possibly due to a delay in the launch of a key artificial intelligence device.
Apple last week launched the long-awaited iPhone 16 series, designed around its artificial intelligence software Apple Intelligence.
Early booking data from Bank of America Global Research shows that as of Monday, three days after Apple began taking pre-orders, global shipping times for the iPhone 16 Pro models were shorter than those for last year’s 15 Pro models.
The data shows that the average shipping time of the iPhone 16 Pro is currently 14 days, down from 24 days for the iPhone 15 Pro last year, while the average shipping time of the iPhone 16 Pro Max is 19 days, compared to 32 days last year.
Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst at Tianfeng International Securities in Taiwan, said: “The main factor is that demand for the iPhone 16 Pro series is weaker than expected… the main selling point Apple Intelligence was not provided at launch.”, said in a blog post.
Apple Intelligence will launch in a US English beta next month, with other versions following next year , which may make some customers hesitant to upgrade to the Series 16.
Kuo said first weekend pre-order sales of the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max models declined 27% and 16%, respectively.
Jefferies analysts said: “Unless Apple significantly increases supply allocations, the US market will remain much weaker than last year.”
Of course, some analysts have also said that after iPhone 15 Pro Max shipments were affected due to camera lens supply issues last year, better supply of the Pro models may lead to shorter shipment times this time.
“We’re not concerned about the lack of meaningful growth in bookings,” said DA Davidson analyst Gil Luria.
“The (AI) capabilities will be rolled out gradually… which means the upgrade cycle is likely to take place over the next 12-18 months.”
