iPhone 5 Sales Predicted to Hit 8 Million Units in Launch Weekend

[MacRumors]

Following Apple's announcement earlier today that it took two million iPhone 5 pre-orders in the first 24 hours of availability, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster has published a new research note predicting that Apple will achieve sales in the range of 6-10 million units for the opening weekend, with the mid-range number of 8 million units being used for modeling purposes. Munster bases his predictions on the strong pre-order numbers and comparisons to last year's performance for the iPhone 4S.

Given the 2 million pre-orders, we remain confident that Apple can deliver 8 million (range of 6-10 million) iPhones in the launch weekend. The reason we are confident in the 8 million is two-fold. First, initial 24 hour pre-orders for the iPhone 5 were up 100% y/y from the iPhone 4S. Last year, pre-orders accounted for 25% of total weekend launch unit sales. Assuming the same initial pre-order/retail distribution, the pre-order total would suggest 8 million launch units.

Last year, Apple reported that first-day pre-orders for the iPhone 4S "topped one million", with that number translating into over four million units sold in the opening weekend of actual sales.

Munster notes that with Apple's fourth fiscal quarter of 2012 coming to a close at the end of September and the company already quoting shipping estimates of 2-3 weeks for new iPhone 5 pre-orders, some of the launch weekend total may actually bleed over into the following quarter, as Apple recognizes revenue once orders ship to customers.

Article Link: iPhone 5 Sales Predicted to Hit 8 Million Units in Launch Weekend

 

[ECUpirate44]

What else is there to say?

 

[Sixtafoua]

apple next week: we could have NEVER predicted this omg we're so humbled.

 

[Icaras]

Just curious. How long did the SIII take to reach that number?

 

[kanesw]

That **** cray

 

[adcx64]

This is amazing, I'm sure Steve's smiling from heaven.

 

[jamesryanbell]

I'm going to get one when I can walk into the store and buy one with no line and plenty of inventory. (Even if that takes several months)

 

[Caliber26]

It doesn't take a genius to figure out who's a winner inside and outside of court.

 

[STiNG Operation]

8 Million times the average dollar amount of all the iPhones sold equals....

 

[Asclepio]

1 bilion in a week!

 

[Virtualball]

Just curious. How long did the SIII to reach that number?

Roughly two months to get to 10 million :O

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57477475-94/samsung-galaxy-s3-hits-10-million-sales-mark-early/

 

[pk7]

Incredible! Nice little chart. Really shows the growing popularity of iPhone over the years. Now I'm curious to know, will the next generation iPhone (5S?) sales be able to surpass this launch? The historical trend suggests yes.

I know the 5 isn't even in general release yet but I'm curious because I'm eligible for upgrade next year.

 

[ECUpirate44]

Competition seems to be doing well.
GIFSoup

 

[Icaras]

Roughly two months to get to 10 million :O

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57477475-94/samsung-galaxy-s3-hits-10-million-sales-mark-early/

Thanks. Can't wait for Apple's numbers to slap Samsung silly.

 

[spb3]

do we really have to constantly compare to competition? surely it will be nice to beat competition, but if it does not? is iphone less of good product?
(talking to comments here)

 

[macingman]

Wow. It's absolutely crazy. I wonder how many would be first time iPhone users.

 

[kasei]

This is not surprising. There is a lot of pent up demand for a new iPhone. Especially from the iPhone 4 segment. I know I will be upgrading as my iPhone 4 is getting a little long in the tooth.

 

[Patriot24]

As has been customary the last few years around iOS device launches, Apple gets the last laugh.

 

[Scrub175]

So with 2 million preorder, that leaves six million able to be purchased as a walkin customer. What are my odds of scoring a 64 white un?

 

[iSengKin]

8 million only? oh please! The analyst is wrong completely!

Apple can do much better than that by selling more than 10 million units in just 2 days!!

 

[bushido]

i welcome the demand, i'm getting one from a friend working at a german provider on release date with a 20% discount and sold it for 850€ on eBay so i'm making about 300€ may buy another one for myself once the first demand settles down

 

[Tankmaze]

it's great to see those numbers, especially for the company that you root for

 

[AnOldFriend]

iphone huh? does the phone company come to my house to install it? I'd prefer avocado as that is the color of the rest of the kitchen

 

[IconicM]

Pent up demand for LTE.

 

[johncrab]

That sounds good (and it is). I think it shows just how dominant iPhone and iOS are in the market and that no matter how some try to knock it off, copy it or simply steal it, we are seeing something rare these days: Brand Loyalty.

Brand loyalty was a big thing in (ahem) my day because companies treated their customers like a valuable part of their business. They did the little extras. They dealt with problems not only fairly but in an over the top manner. If you owned a Rolls-Royce and it broke down in the middle of Arkansas, the company sent technicians to you. That's the idea that Apple has updated with their Rolls-Royce line of products. They want our money and there's nothing wrong with that but they know to build loyalty, they have to keep earning it. When I got a rebate on the iPhone 1, that impressed the heck out of me. Others would have cut the price and said, "Too bad, suckers!" This company won't please 100% all the time but they TRY. Others don't even care.