Tim Cook 'Optimistic' About iPhone 7 Sales, Sees 'Signs That are Positive'

[MacRumors]

During today's third quarter earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook told investors that he's "very optimistic" about prospective iPhone sales this fall, despite rumors suggesting the device will introduce only minor changes.

In response to a question about speculation that iPhone upgrade rates will be low in 2016 based on circulating rumors that the iPhone 7 will mark only a modest update to the iPhone 6s, Cook said he sees "so many signs that are positive" that point towards solid sales numbers.

A mockup of the iPhone 7​

I don't want to talk about new phones that aren't announced. That aside, what we have seen -- in past tense or in current tense -- on the upgrade rate is that the iPhone upgrade rate for the iPhone 6s is similar to the iPhone 5s. [...]

The iPhone 6 was significantly higher than that and it likely accelerated upgrades that would have been in the current year ahead of those. So what the future holds, we'll see, but I'm very optimistic about the future because I see so many signs that are positive.

As for the signs in question, Cook pointed towards an install base that has gotten "incredibly large," a switcher rate that continues to grow, a smartphone penetration rate that's only at 42 percent, changes coming in iOS 10, and the growing importance of the smartphone itself as it becomes "even more instrumental and important to people's lives."

On that last point, Cook said he expects AI to play a major role in turning the iPhone into an essential device that people can't live without. "As the iPhone becomes more and more your assistant, you're not going to leave without it," he said. "I see all of those things as vectors that are incredibly positive," he continued.

According to Cook, Apple will excel at AI because of the company's focus on user experience, which will drive people to adopt Apple devices. Apple is continually working to improve its virtual assistant Siri, and Cook's comments hint at Apple's continued focus on the service.

As the smartphone itself becomes more essential to customers' day-to-day lives, we think people will put more and more focus on what they're buying. The thing Apple does best is providing a killer user experience that's integrated across the entire product line, and that becomes more important and really plays to our advantage.

I think the deployment of AI technology is something we will excel at because of our focus on user experience. So I like that.

Apple will unveil its next-generation iPhone 7 this fall, likely in September. While the device is expected to have a design similar to the design of the iPhone 6s, it will feature camera improvements, a better processor, improved water resistance, no headphone jack, and more.

Article Link: Tim Cook 'Optimistic' About iPhone 7 Sales, Sees 'Signs That are Positive'

 

[Asarien]

• Clunky, ugly iOS? Check.
• Potentially clunky, ugly iPhone 7? Check.
• Likely still lacking weather resistance? Check.
• Protruding camera? Check.
• Possibly no headphone jack? Check.
• No concrete "can't-live-without" feature? Check.

Great job, Tim. Day-one buy.

 

[brinary001]

On that last point, Cook said he expects AI to play a major role in turning the iPhone into an essential device that people can't live without. "As the iPhone becomes more and more your assistant, you're not going to leave without it," he said. "I see all of those things as vectors that are incredibly positive," he continued.

I love ya Tim, but I still only use Siri about once or twice a month...

 

[DrumApple]

Lol what is he gonna say? "It's crap. The future looks terrible. The iPhone 7 will not sell well. Sell your stock now!"

 

[Glassed Silver]

The reality distortion field is beginning to bend inwards.

Glassed Silver:mac

 

[Cloudane]

I'm on my second Android journey right now. First came when I was after a bigger screen and Apple were still sticking solidly to 4" (lack of hardware progress), switched back for the 6, switched away again after feeling a lack of progress with the software.

Right now, I'm feeling a lack of progress with both. An iPhone 7 that seemingly will not have "things you can't live without", and an iOS that still lacks basic things like weekend differentiation on DND mode. I've been compiling a long list of pros and cons of iOS and Android, and they both have their great positives but I think it's going to take at least iPhone 8 and iOS 11 before I'll be lured back, dependent on how broken Google decide to make my Nexus phone over the next year or two.

The Mac side of things dictates it somewhat too. The main plus points I've been highlighting with iOS relate to how well it works with my Mac. But with an Air starting to feel old and new rMBPs (what I want to replace it with) nowhere to be seen, I'm starting to flirt with Dell. If the new rMBP comes out some time reasonably soon and has the rumoured OLED bar and TouchID I'll probably get that. Basically, my relationship with Apple is all riding on the MacBooks to be honest.

 

[Dilster3k]

Why do people even consider this PR crap? Even if sales were projected to be abysmal, they would sugarcoat it publicly. I mean Tim would never say "Uh yeah no next iPhone is gonna suck"

There is absolutely no doubt that this upcoming 6SS or 6SE won't do much in terms of increased sales due to the same design since late 2014...

 

[Mike Oxard]

He's obviously looking at different mock ups to me then!

 

[gpat]

Apple will unveil its next-generation iPhone 7 this fall, likely in September. While the device is expected to have a design similar to the design of the iPhone 6s, it will feature camera improvements, a better processor, improved water resistance, no headphone jack, and more.

More like "No headphone jack, and less".

 

[2010mini]

What did they expect him to say? "Oh no we are doomed!!!!" "Sell your stock now!!"

 

[mackinmike]

IP7 looks worse than the IP6. So the antenna bands changed from ugly to another ugly in a different pattern. Mind blown

 

[32828870]

As for the signs in question, Cook pointed towards an install base that has gotten "incredibly large," a switcher rate that continues to grow, a smartphone penetration rate that's only at 42 percent, changes coming in iOS 10, and the growing importance of the smartphone itself as it becomes "even more instrumental and important to people's lives."​

On that last point, Cook said he expects AI to play a major role in turning the iPhone into an essential device that people can't live without. "As the iPhone becomes more and more your assistant, you're not going to leave without it," he said. "I see all of those things as vectors that are incredibly positive," he continued.

Ummmmmm, guess we're seeing things very differently

 

[macs4nw]

What about those increasingly fugly antenna lines..... come on Apple, we know you can do better.....

 

[Tech198]

Of course he'd say that... Any CEO would say the same. He's not gonna exactly keep a happy face and say "oh, our stock is low, but keep smiling, maybe it will get better.."

A company doesn't wanna admit whats really going on outside of the box. That's ok

He's the "wait and see" kind of person.

 

[Benjamin Frost]

As an Apple shareholder, I fear what the iPhone 7 will do to the share price.

I predict that sales will be sharply down compared to the 6s, due mainly to the high price and lack of headphone jack.

It's time we had a new CEO this year. I remain optimistic.

 

[Populism]

While I'm disappointed with Apple's recent lack of hardware innovation, surely this particular incremental improvement is because the iPhone "8" will be a ten-year anniversary release, and they will be rolling out something appropriately wicked cool for the occasion.

At least that's what I choose to believe.

 

[kwikdeth]

yeah im sorry, i normally can excuse this kind of lofty talk from CEOs who are ultimately the brand ambassadors, but these quotes just come off as clueless and disconnected from the reality on the ground. This is no longer a company that brings people things they didnt know they need, this is a company that is catering to what it thinks people want.

 

[lordofthereef]

Pheeeew! I was expecting him to say it was a turd and to just hold out for the 10th anniversary.

 

[sp3k0psv3t]

Optimism is ALWAYS good to have in spades; however, TC does not sound to positive with how the future looks and seems by announcing to investors "his own uncertainties about what the future holds!"

Impressed that the earnings call exceeded expectations which indicates that Apple does in fact "know what they are doing." Obviously they cannot always please every customer at all times but good to know that the strength of Apple remains in their ability to "skate where the puck is heading rather than where the puck is" through the higher earning call.

Way to go apple. Can't wait to see what's to come in September 2016 as well as Fall 2016, Spring 2017, as well as Fall 2017!

 

[lordofthereef]

He's obviously looking at different mock ups to me then!

I think he might not be looking at mockups, but rather the actual phone!
(yes I know this was sarcasm)

 

[SBlue1]

The first iPhone I will skip. Sadly....

Edit: For one sole reason, the missing headphone jack.

 

[KidAKidB]

Why do people even consider this PR crap? Even if sales were projected to be abysmal, they would sugarcoat it publicly. I mean Tim would never say "Uh yeah no next iPhone is gonna suck"

There is absolutely no doubt that this upcoming 6SS or 6SE won't do much in terms of increased sales due to the same design since late 2014...

Exactly this. It's not like the CEO of the company is going to come out and say anything other than glowing praise for their company.

 

[lostngone]

No headphone jack, NO SALE!!!! Blah, Blah, Blah!

Time and time again we hear the same thing. If it isn't people complaining about the lack of a headphone jack or the floppy drive or SCSI.

In a few years no one will bat an eye about not having a headphone jack.

 

[kwikdeth]

i really dont understand this baseless optimism about a 10th anniversary iPhone. Outside of the TAM, Apple's rarely done much besides change their homepage for anniversaries.

 

[doelcm82]

yeah im sorry, i normally can excuse this kind of lofty talk from CEOs who are ultimately the brand ambassadors, but these quotes just come off as clueless and disconnected from the reality on the ground. This is no longer a company that brings people things they didnt know they need, this is a company that is catering to what it thinks people want.

Can you list the Apple products people didn't know they need, why they needed them, and whether you think they still need them?

How about the products you think people don't need but that you think Apple thinks people want?

You made blanket statements without any details, but I assume you have products in mind that fit the two categories.