From the same website:
"One other interesting thing to keep in mind is that the iPhone 7 launched in 29 countries which is almost three times the number of markets that got the iPhone 6s on launch weekend."
So not an accurate comparison at all.
Some people clearly care that it's the same design, because numerous posters on this site have stated they are holding out for the next iPhone.
Design: Google picked the iPhone 6 design for their new Pixel. If this does not speak volumes, I don't know what else. Also, the design is not "the same", it's been tweaked in the most criticized areas.
As for the accurate comparison: on one side, there were more countries, but the most requested color was completely unavailable; also, the 7+, which is now selling better than the normal 7, was completely missing from the physical stores, and in very scarce supply.
Considering that the iPhone installed base is now massively bigger than one year ago, 3.6% is huge (it already passed the iPhone SE).
I will revisit this post in the evening of October, 25th.