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Apple's iPhone XR Was the Best Selling iPhone in U.S. During Holiday Quarter

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Apple's iPhone XR was the best selling iPhone in the U.S. during the holiday quarter despite the fact that it was not released until the end of October, according to data shared today by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners.

The iPhone XR accounted for 39 percent of sales during Apple's first fiscal quarter 2019, which equates to the fourth calendar quarter of 2018. The iPhone XS and XS Max, meanwhile, accounted for 26 percent of iPhone sales.

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Combined, the iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max accounted for 65 percent of all holiday quarter iPhone sales, compared to 61 percent for the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and X in the year-ago quarter.

The iPhone XR almost matched combined sales of the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus at the same time least year, and it represented the largest quarterly share for a single model since the iPhone 7 in CIRP's historical data.

More iPhone buyers in holiday quarter of 2018 also chose iPhones with upgraded storage than in the year-ago quarter.

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"For many years each additional storage level carried a $100 premium. Now iPhone prices increase from $50 to $200 for incremental storage, depending on the phone model and the size of the boost in storage. The percentage of iPhone buyers who paid up for increased storage grew to 38% this quarter from 33% in the year ago quarter. Based on the elevated pricing associated with larger storage, as well as the model mix sold in the quarter, we estimate Apple increased its ASP to well over $800."
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While multiple reports have suggested the iPhone XR sold well, it did not sell as well as Apple had expected, at least in some areas around the world. Apple recently lowered its earnings guidance for the first fiscal quarter of 2019 due to weak iPhone sales and has reportedly cut iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max production for the January to March quarter.

CIRP gathered its data from a survey of 500 U.S. Apple customers that purchased an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch during the October to December 2018 period.

Article Link: Apple's iPhone XR Was the Best Selling iPhone in U.S. During Holiday Quarter
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2019/01/24/iphone-xr-holiday-quarter-sales-cirp/
An obvious conclusion from day one. In the U.S., the XR dominates because it offers most of the XS features and a large display. The vast majority of consumers are not display nitpickers nor care about 1.1mm of additional bezel.

But worldwide including Europe and Asia, I'd love to see how Huawei performs compared to Apple.
 
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Considering the XR offers a lot of the same features as the XS, I think it’s one of the smartest buys in the iPhone lineup right now. It’s still includes Face ID, the same A12 processor, wireless charging, etc. Not to mention, the battery life is substantially highly rated. If the XR is refreshed in 2019, then I expect it to at least adopt the dual camera.
 
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Germany here! My colleague from the Uni upgraded yesterday and he chose iPhone XR (from the 6). I on the other hand upgraded from the X to the XS Max 2 months ago. Oh and almost everyone in my classes or research groups uses an iPhone.
 
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ececlv said:
Not really buying the survey methodology. Verizon is selling 6s for $120 and yet there is 0% 6S sales in 2018? Or am i just having trouble following the crazy chart?
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The survey looks at Apple customers. Presumably this would be Apple Store customers and not carrier customers or other channels.
 
If the XR and XS Max launched at the same time I would have gone XR. Not that my XS is an issue I just have a habit of swapping my phone each year and would have been happy with the lower cost phone. I bought my wife one and have sold several others once people had a chance to see it. I know my XS is "better" but price does make a difference.
 
It’s a very good phone. Face ID needs improvement and landscape support and possibly a little brother in the XS size. I’d really not be able to fault it then.
 
ececlv said:
Not really buying the survey methodology. Verizon is selling 6s for $120 and yet there is 0% 6S sales in 2018? Or am i just having trouble following the crazy chart?
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I believe the Apple discontinued sales of the 6S late last fall - Verizon might have picked up a bunch of inventory then to have on hand for entry level contracts. If so, the 6S sales would show up when Verizon did the purchase.

Love the 6S model - I put a new battery last month in my 3+ year old 6S and gave it to my daughter when I upgraded to the XR - I am expecting a 6 year life from that phone (unless it breaks)...
 
so people decided to go for the "value" play? gotta hand it to apple, it's still an expensive phone but the x line is being used as an anchoring point.
 
Wiesenlooser said:
What’s really weird: I haven’t seen a single XR in the wild. I’ve seen loads of X/XS
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Even weirder, I don’t even really see the X/XS they much, I live in a fairly decent size city, and I primarily still see a lot of 6s/7’s.

However, give the the XR longer, it has only been available for three months.
 
What I think speaks volumes here is that 35% of the iPhones sold in Dec 2018 quarter AREN'T EVEN IN THE X LINE. Those (iPhones 7 <-> 8-Plus) were 1.25-2.25 year old iPhones and tech when they were purchased new last Dec!

I also feel that that's the result of more than just a value proposition issue. IMO, there's a large contingent of iPhone users who just don't feel the "X" line are either worth the money, or the tech, or the perceived/real compromises, or all of the above. I'm definitely in that group.

Glad my 6s is still kicking, and hoping there's at least one non-X iPhone offered next year in the iPhone 8 form factor with an upgraded processor/camera... iPhone 9?
 
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