iPhone 15 and 15 Plus Proving Less Popular With Buyers This Year

[MacRumors]

Apple's iPhone 15 Pro models were its most purchased smartphones in the U.S. in the first quarter of this year, according to the latest Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) report.

The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max accounted for 22% and 23% of all iPhones sold in Q1 2024, for a 45% combined share. The iPhone 15 Plus took a 9% share of all iPhones sold, while the iPhone 15 and iPhone 14 were the third most popular, each taking 14% of the share.

The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max share hardly changed compared to the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max the same quarter a year ago. However, Apple saw sales of the base model iPhone 15 decline relative to a year ago. The overall mix of iPhone 15 models was lower, accounting for 68% of all iPhone sales.

By contrast, in Q1 2023 the iPhone 14 series had a 7% higher share of all iPhones sold, taking 75% combined. The percentages suggest that the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus were more popular than the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus over the equivalent quarter the previous year.

Noting the change, CIRP comments:

We see this as a continuation of a trend from the past couple of quarters, as the lower- priced current models give up some share to older models. The once flagship, now base iPhone 15, is no longer the leading-edge choice, as the Pro and Pro Max models take that role.

Last week, CIRP released a report indicating that new iPhone activations are down to a low not seen in the U.S. smartphone market for the last six years.

CIRP said that Apple's installed smartphone base was higher than recorded activations, but Apple's share of new iPhone activations fell from 40% to 33% over the past year, suggesting a shift away from the higher market shares Apple enjoyed in previous years.

Article Link: iPhone 15 and 15 Plus Proving Less Popular With Buyers This Year

 

[JohnRckr]

Maybe because the only difference between them is dYnaMic iiSlanD

Truly breakthrough tech thank you Tim Apple

 

[Vimy]

I don't think this is iPhone specific. The economy is just crap. Older iPhones are cheaper.

 

[oofio2461]

60hz and last year's chipset, apple has made the base iPhone into a joke even more each year.

 

[gatorvet96]

Shows that Apple is very successful in making people go up the product ladder to more expensive SKUs. It is very intentional and no one does a better job of that marketing scheme.

 

[crsh1976]

It's basically the same phone except for the dynamic island (and A16 chip, but nobody cares), but the 14 is still sold and is a bit cheaper.

Something could be said about the awful washed out colours the 15/15 Plus come in, but that's just me.

 

[abatabia]

I hate to be that comment but….there’s only so many times you can basically repeat the same phone before you just lose interest and hang onto what you have. My 13PM is still a beast. My 14Pro is very meh, and my desire to even get the 16 is just not there yet.

 

[vegetassj4]

I'm still holding on to my 12 pro. First time I've gone more than 2 years without a new phone in a long while. Maybe even since the days of the StarTAC

 

[oneMadRssn]

I'm going to need to knock on a ton of wood for saying this.

I think the iPhone 15 Pro is peak iPhone hardware (iOS is a different story). From a hardware perspective, I have zero complaints. The titanium is surprisingly durable - it has aged better than any aluminum or stainless steel iPhone to date. The screen is great. The cameras are great. The buttons feel good. The grip in hand feels good. USB-C is awesome. I think this is the iPhone to have for those that intend on keeping it for 3+ years.

 

[epox999]

It's $1500-$2000 for a high end phone now, it's crazy and there's not much different now from generation to generation

 

[sw1tcher]

Maybe because the only difference between them is dYnaMic iiSlanD

Truly breakthrough tech thank you Tim Apple

The pale/faded-looking colors of the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus (left side) are also a step backwards from the more vibrant colors of the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus (right side), IMO.

 

[Biro]

Unless one really needs (or thinks they need) the features of the iPhone Pros, the base and Plus are much better values. So I’m sure Apple will find a way to diminish them more and push buyers to the Pros.

 

[sw1tcher]

I don't think this is iPhone specific. The economy is just crap. Older iPhones are cheaper.

If the economy is crap, then how is it that "The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max share hardly changed compared to the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max the same quarter a year ago?"

Maybe the real reason is there aren't any real improvements from iPhone 14 and 14 Plus to iPhone 15 and 15 Plus

 

[erikkfi]

Shows that Apple is very successful in making people go up the product ladder to more expensive SKUs. It is very intentional and no one does a better job of that marketing scheme.

Actually it shows the opposite. The base 15s declined in share but not to the benefit of the Pro line. More people bought 14s and older this year.

 

[reyesmac]

I wonder when the economy will affect their product prices. They used to lower or keep prices the same while offering more. I just purchased a new condition iPhone 13 Pro Max for half the price of a 15, can't see what features would be worth another $500 on top of that. And I couldn't see paying over $1,000 for the 13 to begin with. You could say its worth an extra $500 to get it two years sooner, but I had a newish SE instead and am still happy with its performance, it just needed a new battery so I replaced it instead.

The difference between the lowest priced and highest priced phones isnt about the day to day stuff anymore, it's about what they keep you from having unless you pay more. And people are starting to accept that they don't need the highest megapixel camera or video codec. As the low end improves this will slow down sales of the higher end.

 

[Jakewilk]

I'm going to need to knock on a ton of wood for saying this.

I think the iPhone 15 Pro is peak iPhone hardware (iOS is a different story). From a hardware perspective, I have zero complaints. The titanium is surprisingly durable - it has aged better than any aluminum or stainless steel iPhone to date. The screen is great. The cameras are great. The buttons feel good. The grip in hand feels good. USB-C is awesome. I think this is the iPhone to have for those that intend on keeping it for 3+ years.

I feel the same way about my 13 pro. I plan to wait for the 17 to upgrade again

 

[JPack]

There were more viable iPhone options this year. You could choose between two 6.7-inch Plus models. If you wanted a regular 6.1-inch, you could choose between iPhone 13, 14, and 15. That diluted the sales of iPhone 15 and 15 Plus.

Last year, you had to choose between iPhone 13 or 14/Plus. The mini is not a real option for most consumers. The iPhone 12 was unappetizing due to 64GB base storage and wide notch.

 

[Darth Tulhu]

This is yet one of those things where the existing hardware exceeds the needs of the majority of folks using these devices.

I have an iPhone 12 Pro, and upgrading is pointless.

The better camera, processor, RAM, etc are relatively superfluous to me; I'm not a pro photographer, my emails and texts won't get to me any faster...

Why pay WAY more for a device that won't add any real-world value?

 

[BigDO]

Until the ridiculous situation with 60Hz non-pro models is fixed, last years Pro will always be a better choice than current base.

 

[Jimmy Bubbles]

I don't think this is iPhone specific. The economy is just crap. Older iPhones are cheaper.

Yeah, inflation is out of control. I miss the days when it wasn’t. It’ll come back around I hope!

 

[bodonnell202]

Shows that Apple is very successful in making people go up the product ladder to more expensive SKUs. It is very intentional and no one does a better job of that marketing scheme.

Not really - the market share of the Pros didn't increase (it's close to the same and slightly lower for the Pro Max), it's that people who didn't go Pro went for 13s and 14s this year much more than they turned to 12s and 13s last year. If anything it suggests Apple isn't doing enough with their non-pro iPhones to get people to move up the ladder.

 

[gatorvet96]

Actually it shows the opposite. The base 15s declined in share but not to the benefit of the Pro line. More people bought 14s and older this year.

Not true. They still sell more of the pro line then lower phones. It just shows people less likely to get the base 15 vs 14 as they aren't worth the extra money for the cheaper phones. Almost 1/2 of all iPhones were the top of the marketing ladder. That is great marketing.

 

[FaustsHausUK]

I assume an increasing number of payment options help - the difference in price between the standard and the Pro models becomes negligible when it's spread over a number of months, so why not get the best phone you can and hold onto it for longer?

 

[klasma]

It’s nice to see that the 13 mini is still selling enough to be included in the charts.

 

[MrGimper]

Maybe because the only difference between them is dYnaMic iiSlanD

Truly breakthrough tech thank you Tim Apple

That gimmick that's literally more intrusive than the notch.

But it has all these cool uses and animations ..... that could equally be done with the notch.