iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus Sales Top Ten Million in Launch Weekend

[mariana888]

If you mean Apple employees at the stores, I was in the store on Saturday, buying an iPod Touch. The employees all seemed upbeat and smiling. The employee I worked with was almost giddy. He said it felt like Christmas to him, and that they really enjoyed this time of year.

I had walked by the store a few minutes before they opened, and there was a line formed outside. The employees were gathered in the store in a team meeting, laughing and clapping their hands. So it would seem to me that Apple has a way of keeping morale up and positive energy flowing during this push.

I agree, I was at my local store on Saturday (Newcastle - UK) as my husband wanted to see the 6+ size that I could not buy for him, the girl we spoke to was so excited. We talked about the queueing from the day before (when I goy my phone), she was great.

 

[scaredpoet]

Wrong. 10 million people are choosing a compromise phone.

Then 10 million people are sending the wrong message to Apple. Clearly it was good enough for them to buy it.

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10 million people are going to be pissed off !!!! Welcome to fragmentation

Apparently fragmentation is exactly what people wanted. I can quote walls of text too, where people kept saying that the preexisting screen sizes meant Apple "wasn't innovating" and needed to "step up their game" or they would be irrelevant.

Congratulations, these same people got exactly what they wished for, and exactly what they deserve.

 

[rsocal]

At my local Apple store as well.....

I would love to see the conversion percentage from people leaving Android to switch to iOS. I overheard countless people switching from Galaxies to the iPhone 6+ this weekend at my local Apple Store (while I was buying a case for my own 6+). I always enjoyed the smaller form better, but I went with the + for the battery life and I can say I am very satisfied with my decision!

I pre-ordered my 6 Plus and received Fridat night, I needed a case ASAP! I went to my local Apple store in So.Cal on Saturday 9/21 and there was good size line waiting to buy iPhone 6's, 6Plus sold out already.

I chatted with a few people close to front of line and 3 of them were switching back to iPhone from Android, 2 S5's/1 Note. They were prior iPhone users but really liked the bigger screens and couldn't wait for Apple to up screen size.

They also told me there were a good amount of others in line switching to iPhone from Android OS phones.

I was never unhappy with the smaller iPhone screens form factor, and still have no problem with them. However, I really like the bigger screens as well, and I think it was a needed move by Apple.

 

[mariana888]

I would be sincerely curious to see new vs upgrade #s.

After reading this article, especially which brought up some interesting points.

Apple just lost the global smartphone war to Google
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/arti...e-war-to-google?trk=tod-home-art-list-large_0

One of the commenters at the end of the article said: "This typo-ridden article appears to be saying that Apple "just lost" because of a new Android initiative that hasn't even launched yet and targets low-income users -- a market that Apple has absolutely no interest in. This is like saying that BMW just lost the global car war because Tata Motors has a dirt cheap plastic car. This is completely absurd."

 

[kerrikins]

One of the commenters at the end of the article said: "This typo-ridden article appears to be saying that Apple "just lost" because of a new Android initiative that hasn't even launched yet and targets low-income users -- a market that Apple has absolutely no interest in. This is like saying that BMW just lost the global car war because Tata Motors has a dirt cheap plastic car. This is completely absurd."

They're focusing on global marketshare, which is fine, and I think that what Google is doing there is great.

I think the primary concern that always dogs Apple is the worry that they will repeat what happened during the 'OS war' against Microsoft. People see a lot of similarities between Apple now and Apple then, and Google now and Microsoft then.

I think there are some key differences, though - for one, Apple is sitting on a huge cash pile and has a lot more wiggle room this time around. For another, they have a much, much larger subscriber base. They're introducing new things like the Apple watch and ApplePay, etc.

They do need to keep an eye on marketshare overall, and not just focus on the niche and high profit - they didn't do so well with that the first time around. But I think we're playing a different game now.

 

[tito2020]

Who told you that who manufacturers what from recycled parts? Assuming that you are not trying to troll, you should really state a question carefully if you want an answer.

Cell phone makers use recycled parts to make there flag ship phones?

 

[whiteboytrash]

They're focusing on global marketshare, which is fine, and I think that what Google is doing there is great.

I think the primary concern that always dogs Apple is the worry that they will repeat what happened during the 'OS war' against Microsoft. People see a lot of similarities between Apple now and Apple then, and Google now and Microsoft then.

I think there are some key differences, though - for one, Apple is sitting on a huge cash pile and has a lot more wiggle room this time around. For another, they have a much, much larger subscriber base. They're introducing new things like the Apple watch and ApplePay, etc.

They do need to keep an eye on marketshare overall, and not just focus on the niche and high profit - they didn't do so well with that the first time around. But I think we're playing a different game now.

Niche tends to imply small. I don’t think Apple are just trying to clear high margins. They do care about selling a lot of phones but not at the expense of making cheaper models etc. I’d like to use the word “demographic” but I don’t think Apple have a strict demographic like say BMW might have on their premium cars.


Google’s revenue comes from search. Getting as many phones into people’s hands as possible so’ll they’ll use Google Search, Google Voice, Maps etc. is their focus. They also don’t make the hardware and actually have to pay Microsoft for each copy of JellyBean used. Their business model is very different from Apple. And by this note because Google don’t make money from the hardware they have to get their “stuff” in as many hands as possible for it to be profitable. It’s a hard business model to uphold.

Samsung just make money off the hardware and have little responsibility in the software. Adding a NFC chip doesn't mean its a better payment experience as Apple have demonstrated.

 

[goofy1958]

6 Plus lags in some rotation transitions. The landscape keyboard displayed offset to the left and down with missing side buttons. Apps launched from landscape home screen load with half of UI black. Try selecting multiple paragraphs when editing forum posts.

Hmm, I haven't seen that because I'm on a 5s still. Waiting until next month to buy my 6+. Hopefully, Apple is working on these issues.

I am curious if anyone else on this forum is seeing the same issues as you. Anyone else with a 6+ care to comment? Thanks!

 

[rsocal]

Hmm, I haven't seen that because I'm on a 5s still. Waiting until next month to buy my 6+. Hopefully, Apple is working on these issues.

I am curious if anyone else on this forum is seeing the same issues as you. Anyone else with a 6+ care to comment? Thanks!

Not me. Try a restore first, and if that does not fix it, take phone to Apple Genius Bar!

If it's a widespread software issue Apple will release an update.

 

[Keirasplace]

No it wont. It will grow linearly.

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Apples market share is falling, even though absolute numbers grow, simply because so many android phones are being sold.

MArket shares is usually done by segment. So, I never really understood how putting $10 phones with $900 phones actually make sense at all. They have a different public, different sales strategy, different specs, different use cases, different material, etc.

Their market share of the high end smart phone market is not diminishing at all; it is increasing. Their share of industry profits is even increasing substantially.

 

[dazz87]

If only Sony and Microsoft could do this with their game system launches.

Most game system are purchased from males (18-35 yr old). Where an phone is market to both male and female from (18-65).

 

[gpsouza]

i remember preordering my 4s like that here in italy. i received it 2 weeks after the release date. I ordered october 22, it shipped november 4. LOL.

Damn... I want it ASAP!! Still don't know which one, though...

 

[koban4max]

Has anyone been able to use pay yet?

are you serious? it's not ready to be used till october.

 

[mackinmike]

probably 30% went to china. look at that line. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ef_BznBwktw

 

[charlituna]

Not surprising given the lines at the apple stores and the fact they sold 4 million on preorders

Yep, fairly typical that the preorders are only given about a third of the actual launch stock.

What's interesting to note is that last year they did about 9 million WITH China and this year 10 without. If China had had a launch at the same time they might have pushed 15 million easily, provided there was stock to support.

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Oh, so you don't think they're counting all the orders that people are placing but haven't received yet?

if the sale has completed and a unit was pulled to ship, even if it's enroute, then yes it was likely included. If the sale is still pending its not really a sale yet.

 

[thefourthpope]

Home button and camera.

But, I think OP was thinking the screens are sapphire glass.

Nah, though I did mean to be hyperbolic. But 10 million home buttons and camera lens/covers means a lot of sapphire.

 

[charlituna]

Ten million in three days is an insane number.

Consider that the first month of an iPhone launch is a bit like holiday season for retail in general -- easily 70% of the years sales. Another 25% between the end of that month to around WWDC time and the last 5% during the summer from folks that either just don't care about waiting or for some reason can't.

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Well, Samsung counts sales to stores, not sales to end users. So they can easily sell 10 million phones on the first weekend, and then end users can take as long as they like to remove them from the store shelves.

True. 98% of Samsung sales are into the channel. Whereas Apple is its own biggest channel so perhaps only 30% of sales are into the channel. The rest are directly to end users.

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The Apple store I went to after work still had a line 30 deep out the door at 7pm Friday. The store still had plenty of stock.

The question isn't so much about whether there is stock. but if the stock is what the folks in line want. Last year many stores had stock all the way to close. But every other person wanted a Gold 5S and those had sold out on all carriers by lunch time.

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Has anyone been able to use pay yet?

Outside of an Apple Store I wouldn't be surprised if no. I was under the impression that the stores weren't really expected to have the hardware up and running until Oct 1. Not to mention the banks needing to do their part.

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here fixed that for you Tim

Now now, lets not be racist. Some of the resellers are Russian or Armenian. Especially in LA.

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How about selling phones to everyone, not just self-centred Americans.

At this point in time I rather wonder if that wouldn't be the wiser move. Launch all countries together even if it means a more limited supply to each. More things to more online sales for in store pickup so that they can monitor for suspect behavior that could be resellers. Things like Apple IDs that were created during that order, use of gift cards etc. Also require that, at least in the US, all orders for the first month must be activated on a cell account even if the device is paid in full. Have the carriers help to vet folks that repeated sign up for multiple family plans only to cancel them the next day and other tricks.

if in store pickup had been active the whole week, especially with this kind of vetting, many stores might have found all their stock was sold before the doors opened on Friday, leaving nothing for the resellers. Sucks for them, better for everyone else. And since it's all by Apple ID its harder for someone to say that the store staff are being racist for refusing to sell to someone because they are chinese, russian etc when it fact it's the asking for 10 unlocked iPhones, no activation, paying cash by someone that just happens to be Chinese (and doesn't speak a word of english but just handed over a slip of paper) that was the flag.

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I am sure they are counting all sales including those who ordered online and are now waiting "3-4 weeks" for their iPhone 6 Plus. If someone placed an order this weekend and Apple has their credit card info, it is a sale. Why not include them?

If the card has been charged and a unit is in the process of being shipped yes that is clearly a sale.

But counting pending orders which have't been charged is about as heinous as Samsung claiming millions of sales which are just to the channel.

 

[QuiteSure]

yes - iPhone 6+, 64GB white/silver

Congratulations! I bought the 128 gb version so I don't think mine will ship before AT&T's Oct 2-13 estimate

 

[ptb42]

Outside of an Apple Store I wouldn't be surprised if no. I was under the impression that the stores weren't really expected to have the hardware up and running until Oct 1. Not to mention the banks needing to do their part..

Thanks, I didn't realize that Apple has advertised "Coming in October", as someone else pointed out. Perhaps it will be in iOS 8.0.1?

However, many merchants already have the necessary hardware: a point-of-sale terminal that supports "Paypass", "Express Pay", or "Paywave". To those terminals, an iPhone looks just like a contactless credit card.

You are correct that the banks must do their part on the backend (to support the tokenization of the credit card number into the device account number, or alias). That's what I was wondering: if anyone had succeeded.

 

[linkgx1]

Check your local Apple Store via app or web site time to time. I have ordered 6+ via VZW and was scheduled to delivered on10/14. But found out yesterday that my local Apple Store had one in stock and picked it up. Posting this from my new 6+!

The only issue with that method is trying to cancel my current order, which in that case I would have to wait for turnaround time for the upgrade to kick back in.

 

[kdarling]

What's interesting to note is that last year they did about 9 million WITH China and this year 10 without. If China had had a launch at the same time they might have pushed 15 million easily, provided there was stock to support.

I had thought the same thing. But apparently last year's opening weekend of 9 million, didn't depend much at all on China, if the usage figures were any indicator:

If the card has been charged and a unit is in the process of being shipped yes that is clearly a sale.

C'mon, you're a regular. After all these years, you should know by now how Apple counts shipments.

• If the sale was to an end user, then Apple does NOT count it until it arrives.
• If the sale was to a retailer, then Apple DOES count it when shipped.

But counting pending orders which have't been charged is about as heinous as Samsung claiming millions of sales which are just to the channel.

Apple also claims sales to the channel. Moreover, their channel inventory grows all the time:



Heck, according to Apple, their retailers had over 15 million iPhones sitting in channel inventory before the iPhone 6 went on sale. Apple claimed sales on all of those, of course.

True. 98% of Samsung sales are into the channel. Whereas Apple is its own biggest channel so perhaps only 30% of sales are into the channel. The rest are directly to end users.

Apple is NOT its own biggest channel. There are relatively few Apple stores in the world, and not a lot of online buyers in many countries.

Heck, even in the US, Apple stores count for less than 15% of sales.

The question isn't so much about whether there is stock. but if the stock is what the folks in line want. Last year many stores had stock all the way to close. But every other person wanted a Gold 5S and those had sold out on all carriers by lunch time.

Good point. Last year, Apple overestimated the demand for the 5C. This year they might've overestimated the demand for the 6 Plus. Apparently many Apple fans really do like one-handed usage. Maybe China will take up the slack, since they do like phablets.

 

[ksuyen]

Genius. I can see what is Apple doing there. They have been planning a sales map long before iPhone 6/6+ release. First weekend sales were on only for 8 chosen countries with average high income, if that broke the records, then the next weekend sales for the rest of the world including China will see another 10+ million sales... You see, Apple is going for consistency. Each months, they are going to report for 10 millions sales by distributing them smartly. Plus the pre-orders, online orders, filling the gap in between. They are on the path to 1 billion phones this year.

Okay, I may be exaggerate a bit there. But if iPhone 6/6+ do not eat into Android marketshare, I will eat my hat.

 

[Moto G]

It took Samsung 25 days to hit 10M.

 

[charlituna]

I had thought the same thing. But apparently last year's opening weekend of 9 million, didn't depend much at all on China, if the usage figures were any indicator:

That is a very big IF. After all, those usage stats came from an ad network based on impressions of ads they were serving to websites, apps etc. So the sampling is questionable. Same as Chitika's recent claims. We have no idea how many apps and sites are on these networks and how skewed they might be. For example, if one or more of the apps using a service is only for sale in the US, it creates an imbalance in the system.

 

[kdarling]

That is a very big IF. After all, those usage stats came from an ad network based on impressions of ads they were serving to websites, apps etc.

I agree. That's why I said "if they're any indication". It's just the first data I ran across. (I had to post in a hurry, so I could watch the new Big Bang Theory with my wife - grin.)

We should find another source for how much China contributed last year.

Did you look for one?