Apple's iPhone 8 Plus Was the Top Selling iPhone in the U.S. During Q2 2018

[dwaite]

If they roll out a Mini with modern internals (with or without pencil support), I'm first in line to buy. Else, I cling to the aging Mini with a dose of lingering hope.

AFAIC, if the problem is (too little) profit margin on this model, raise the price up to match it's bigger siblings.

The iPad mini, Mac mini, and MacBook Air all are in this odd category that Apple typically has a problem with - things that make them too much money for them to discontinue, but which have price and design constraints that prevent them from being technology flagship products. So what they typically get are tech updates if/when they align with the price/design, rather than being on any deterministic schedule.

Not knowing if they have an internal name for it, I call it the "Zombie" category.

Compare to MacBook, MacBook Pro, and non-pro iMac, (along with iPhone, iPad, and iPad Pro) which aren't perfectly even but generally shoot for a yearly cadence of updates.

It appears also Apple has been trying to lower the price of the iPad to be more price competitive, especially for edu markets. This has put it in a weird place too, getting performance boosts with display quality regressions in a cheaper price. Like the MacBook Air, this puts the mini in an odd third category of iPad on its own.
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Amazing. It’s been forever since the mini has been last updated yet it sold better this year than last year according to this. It sold almost as much as the 10.5 Pro and more than the 12.9 Pro. This flies in the face of those saying there’s no market for the mini.

If it wasn't selling it would be discontinued (just like the MacBook Air and the Mac Mini)

 

[Falhófnir]

And this is in the US where the phones are the best comparative value... still doesn’t look like the market is ready for an $1,000 smartphone en masse. Will be interesting to see if an $100 haircut helps the ‘XI’ or if people will be more willing to pay that much to upgrade (from a X) to the ‘XI +’. I actually don’t think the X is priced all that unfairly - I doubt Apple really make any more money from it than they do the 8 or 8+ (maybe less given the pricy components and R&D they are having to cover) but if Apple goes too far down the ‘at any cost’ route they are probably going to cause people to start keeping phones longer, as they’ve done with iPads and computers, and that will be very much to their detriment. Apple have to maintain a price people are likely to fork out every year, or every other year.

 

[HacKage]

I was one of the folk that bought an iP8+ over the iPX purely because out of principle I will no pay a thousand pounds or more on a phone. I'm also not signing up for a credit agreement labelled as an upgrade program to be able to get one either.

Apple is taking it too far, and folk have to draw the line somewhere. In 2011 I bought a maxed out MBP15 for £1800 with my student discount. Not that's what you pay for a mid-range 13", and an extra £1000 for a mid-level 15". I've went from buying the latest model phone and latest, high end laptop every release to now sticking with what I have for the foreseeable future. Their greed is working short term and looks good for large shareholders, but eventually people will be doing the same as I am and sales will drop.

 

[plucky duck]

The 8 Plus offers great value for those like myself who enjoys the mainstay of the TouchID, alongside the wider physical format, and at a price point that is still very much in line with my upper limits.

I do wish to see the iPad mini get an update and remain a staple of Apple’s iPad lineup. Still have the iPad 3, but the speakers are done, and don’t really touch it any more as I find it too big and bulky nowadays, looking to slim down.

 

[and 1989 others]

Tbh if I had the funds I would ditch this X and 'downgrade' to and 8 Plus. I like the screen real estate.

 

[iapplelove]

I love the plus phones, but after 3 years of using a 6 plus I was sooo ready to drop the home button for something fresh and new.

iPhone X, by far the most fun I ever had with an iPhone.
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Tbh if I had the funds I would ditch this X and 'downgrade' to and 8 Plus. I like the screen real estate.

I still own my 6 plus, and every now and again pick it up. It feels so awkwardly big now... not nearly is practicle as the X imo.

 

[MartyvH]

I think that the peak in mobile phone design is long past.

That's what I meant to say. We are near/at the end of innovation at the moment. I think the 47% of people not going for the latest models is as much proof as we can get. They know it.

 

[hobsgrg]

500 users man. Just 500! Lol.

Why is this report even being considered vs being seriously considered and discussed? 500 users!

Macrumors can we report on more concrete and substantial reports from analytic firms please?

A sample size of 500 is enough to know sales levels with a 95% confidence level and a 4.4% margin of error. You need a much smaller sample size than people realise to know things with a high level of confidence.

 

[dilbert99]

Of those buying the 3 latest models models the breakdown is:

31% iPhone X
45% iPhone 8 Plus
24% iPhone 8

So people chose the X about a third of the time, but the 8 Plus sold almost twice the units of the smaller 8.

Overall, SE sold about as well this year as last, about 8% both years. Well enough to stay in the lineup? It’s probably more popular overseas, so if it does 10% of the overall volume, that’s probably good enough for it to survive since it hits a price point Apple wants to serve.

There are many bad ways to spin this...

Last year the top selling phone sold 34%, this year it was 17%
Last year the top two selling phones was 81%, this year it was 41%

 

[threesixty360]

Its all about those big phones!
When the X comes out as a plus its going to destroy every other phone for sales.
There must be lots of people who didn't upgrade to an X because they want that large phone size.

 

[recoil80]

Its all about those big phones!
When the X comes out as a plus its going to destroy every other phone for sales.
There must be lots of people who didn't upgrade to an X because they want that large phone size.

I was one them but I'm not sure I'll chose a plus version this year, I may replace my 8+ with the new version of the 5.8'' display.
I prefer the form factor of my 8+ but the new plus will have an aspect ratio similar to the X and the only problem I have with my 8+ is size. If they made a 5.5'' without bezels it would be the perfect phone to me, but I'll have to chose what's available so either 5.8 or the new plus.

Another reason why I skipped iPhone X was the delayed release. I have the possibility to change smartphone every 12 months and I'm eligible for update in October so about a week after the new iPhone's release date I'll be able to upgrade, I didn't want to wait until at least November to have X and become eligible for the following upgrade in Nov 2018.

Price was an issue of course, but I'd have had to pay a few more $ a month, not a huge difference

 

[JosephAW]

It certainly is not because the iPhone 7/8 has Touch ID and no notch.
Apple, just to be sure, you better eliminate Touch ID and add a notch to every device so your customers know how you feel about those confused buyers who thought they wanted those features (just like those confused customers who thought they needed a headphone jack). Oh and by the way, you might as well get rid of the lightning port and go to a USB thunderbolt 3 only cable. That way you can convince customers that it's better to have have a dongle or double dongle to charge and listen at the same time. Even better why don't you eliminate the included earbuds with purchase and discontinue all wired earpieces. We don't need those silly wired thingies.

 

[DeepIn2U]

A sample size of 500 is enough to know sales levels with a 95% confidence level and a 4.4% margin of error. You need a much smaller sample size than people realise to know things with a high level of confidence.

I honestly cannot believe that. If that wast the case then total sales numbers and other analytical companies would never need to go through the length of sourcing a LOT more data.

minimal data ... minimal accuracy.

500 users is NOT enough to presume the sales data for over 150 million people

I'm curious where this 95% with a 4.4% margin of error is coming from?

 

[DNichter]

Expected this late in the life cycle. Apple sold 8 of the top 10 smartphones in Q218. It really shows how dominant Apple has become. I am sure they want their highest priced phone to sell the most, but they have to be content owning all of the smartphone profits, while locking in more customers to their ecosystem. It's wild to me how much they dominate the industry while all other manufacturers fight for that last 15% of profits. It's a great position to be in.

 

[DeepIn2U]

It certainly is not because the iPhone 7/8 has Touch ID and no notch.
Apple, just to be sure, you better eliminate Touch ID and add a notch to every device so your customers know how you feel about those confused buyers who thought they wanted those features (just like those confused customers who thought they needed a headphone jack). Oh and by the way, you might as well get rid of the lightning port and go to a USB thunderbolt 3 only cable. That way you can convince customers that it's better to have have a dongle or double dongle to charge and listen at the same time. Even better why don't you eliminate the included earbuds with purchase and discontinue all wired earpieces. We don't need those silly wired thingies.

I've been seeing this on the forums for a while now.

Just how often or where does a person 'to charge and listen at the same time' on their smartphones to headsets? I honestly don't recall doing both in college (the Motorola Brick phone debuted when I was about 15/16yrs old), and never since.

I charge and listen to music via bluetooth headphones, or
charge and not listen, or
charge and listen via speakers on the iPhone itself.

So I'm curious how often does one charge their phone and listen at the same time so often to state a complaint?

 

[BODYBUILDERPAUL]

I'd be interested in seeing a sales breakdown for the rest of the world. The US has always bought the hugest thing of everything. I'm in Paris a lot and chic ladies seem to be using the SE everywhere - it's seems to be incredibly popular!

 

[Princejb134]

Its not what they wanted, but I'm pretty sure they expected it.

i doubt they expected it. Im sure they thought because we love iphones we would just fork over cash no matter what price they put out.
Im seriously considering if this years iphone x model is worth buying with that price tag. My iphone 6s is getting old
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I've been seeing this on the forums for a while now.

Just how often or where does a person 'to charge and listen at the same time' on their smartphones to headsets? I honestly don't recall doing both in college (the Motorola Brick phone debuted when I was about 15/16yrs old), and never since.

I charge and listen to music via bluetooth headphones, or
charge and not listen, or
charge and listen via speakers on the iPhone itself.

So I'm curious how often does one charge their phone and listen at the same time so often to state a complaint?

lol seriously
i have never charged and listened in my life. Not saying people dont but when im at home i put my speakers on. When im in the train i use my airpods

 

[GreyOS]

iPhone 7 selling better than the iPhone 8, interesting.

 

[Poisednoise]

I honestly cannot believe that. If that wast the case then total sales numbers and other analytical companies would never need to go through the length of sourcing a LOT more data.

minimal data ... minimal accuracy.

500 users is NOT enough to presume the sales data for over 150 million people

I'm curious where this 95% with a 4.4% margin of error is coming from?

I agree, particularly given that sample is of those who bought one of ipad, iphone or mac! In other words, the sample for each of the two graphs is actually significantly less than 500. I’m no statitician, but I doubt this has a certainty level of 95%.

 

[DNichter]

Funny to me seeing people on here argue for or against the X, the 8, or any of the iPhone's Apple sells. In the end, it all goes in Apple's pockets. That's why they wanted to hit so many price points. Worked out well for them.

 

[GreyOS]

I honestly cannot believe that. If that wast the case then total sales numbers and other analytical companies would never need to go through the length of sourcing a LOT more data.

minimal data ... minimal accuracy.

500 users is NOT enough to presume the sales data for over 150 million people

I'm curious where this 95% with a 4.4% margin of error is coming from?

https://www.checkmarket.com/sample-size-calculator/

 

[TallManNY]

i doubt they expected it. Im sure they thought because we love iphones we would just fork over cash no matter what price they put out.
Im seriously considering if this years iphone x model is worth buying with that price tag. My iphone 6s is getting old
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lol seriously
i have never charged and listened in my life. Not saying people dont but when im at home i put my speakers on. When im in the train i use my airpods

Well now that you have gone wireless, there is no reason to charge and listen the same time. But there are a large group of cubical and open plan office workers who created a habit of coming into work, plugging in their iPhone yo charge and putting on their headphones (nice big sound buffering cans). Those folks need a dongle to do that on the latest iPhones. But as wireless headphones become more common, they will change their habits.

Personally, I know some older folks who have learned how to use the home button and don't want to learn a new technique. For that reason alone, they will avoid the X model. I wouldn't be surprised if a home button version of the phone keeps getting developed. Maybe the 8 will get a spec upgrade and become the 8s. Heck, Apple has even given themselves some room to release an iPhone 9 without confusing the consumers.

 

[lionsy]

You missed the point that the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus were also for sale during this period and quite well still.

HO HO HO!

Doesn't say much for Face ID's popularity. Apparently way more than 55% of people still wanted the Home button after all. All in all, I'd say the huge winner was Touch ID.

Pretty much what I predicted and was laughed at for saying. The Home Button and Touch ID are sound solid tech.

All these new gestures and mistaken touches to me lead to a "bag o' hurt." Too many things to remember. Apple is about simplifying things. Taking the home button away unnecessarily complicates a lot of things in my opinion.

But what do I know? The buyers have spoken.

Tim Cook, the bean counter, should have noticed this. What will happen when there is no Home Button iPhone left in the mix? Hmm.

Couldn’t care less if my phone had the home button or not, I’ll adapt, my problem was the £1000 price tag.

 

[mech986]

You missed the point that the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus were also for sale during this period and quite well still.

HO HO HO!

Doesn't say much for Face ID's popularity. Apparently way more than 55% of people still wanted the Home button after all. All in all, I'd say the huge winner was Touch ID.

Pretty much what I predicted and was laughed at for saying. The Home Button and Touch ID are sound solid tech.

All these new gestures and mistaken touches to me lead to a "bag o' hurt." Too many things to remember. Apple is about simplifying things. Taking the home button away unnecessarily complicates a lot of things in my opinion.

But what do I know? The buyers have spoken.

Tim Cook, the bean counter, should have noticed this. What will happen when there is no Home Button iPhone left in the mix? Hmm.

You can say that but perhaps just as important is the difference in price between the X and the Touch ID models plus the 7 is even lower cost than the 8. Some people might actually prefer the FaceID but aren't ready to pay for it.

The only way to understand the motivations behind the purchase is to survey the model owners and ask positive influencer and negative influencers regarding ranking of factors and factors like price, lack of Face ID, inclusion of Touch ID (and vice-versa), etc. people sometimes just don't like change either and stick with what they are familiar with till they get used to something new, or are forced to change, then drop old tech anyway. Would you like to go back to the wide charger connector? Do you wish to stay at 32bit iOS or small screen size only?

Apple is offering different technologies at different price points to service a varied and wide ranging user base. Plenty of nice choices for them both. Realize that early and interested X adopters spoke during the Dec 2017 and Mar. 2018 quarters, notching 45M cumulative sales, already more than the entire Samsung Galaxy S8/8+ series combined annual sales year and likely more than the S9's reduced projected sales of less than 32-34M. It is unsurprising that the 8 and 8 Plus are and remain very good sellers as TOTL "regular" iPhones and the X establishing a new TOTL "Premium" level phone, all based on price and tech, commingled.

If the X were the same price as the 8 or 8+, it would then be interesting to see the stats.

 

[JosephAW]

I've been seeing this on the forums for a while now.

Just how often or where does a person 'to charge and listen at the same time' on their smartphones to headsets? I honestly don't recall doing both in college (the Motorola Brick phone debuted when I was about 15/16yrs old), and never since.

I charge and listen to music via bluetooth headphones, or
charge and not listen, or
charge and listen via speakers on the iPhone itself.

So I'm curious how often does one charge their phone and listen at the same time so often to state a complaint?

I was just doing this yesterday at work. Streaming music all day and listening on earbuds. I don't want to run down my battery when it can be plugged in and earbuds so coworkers don't hear. Bluetooth headphones won't cut it all day.