Kuo: Apple Watch Series 3 Demand Higher Than Expected as iPhone X Anticipation Cannibalizes iPhone 8 Pre-Orders

[JayIsAwesome]

This is about as surprising as Trump saying something stupid. Tbh, Apple should have just had the X design for iPhone 8. Maybe a 5.8in model and a 6.3in Plus model. Yeah it's ripping off Samsung but damn it, so what? It works. From a non techy consumer perspective, the 8 literally looks like the iPhone 7, which looked like the 6S, which was the twin brother of the 6. If Samsung did this, they'd be crucified especially by the apple faithful. Seriously imagine the S8 coming out with a 1080p screen and S5 look and feel AND having a premium charge?

I get what Apple is doing but man having the same design for almost 4 years is a bit much. Hell even at my store, the demand for the iPhone 8 is simply not there. I tell folks about the Verizon promotion that's going on but most folks say the following "Eh it looks like the 7 and 6. I'm waiting on the X" Hell even my coworkers are doing that. Nobody at my job is interested in the iPhone 8. The majority are either getting a Note 8 or iPhone 10. I wish Apple would have just canceled the iPhone 8 "design" and used the bezel-less 10 design for the 8 and had preorders go up last Friday, with a launch set for this week.

Most folks don't care if the iPhone 8 is "faster' Most folks don't give a damn about benchmarks, or A11 processors, or fusion chips, or cores. All they see is the iPhone 8 looks exactly like the phone they got 2-3 years ago but it's even more expensive

 

[mdelvecchio]

You say old school, I say the X is raping the iPhone of its identity.

It looks like nothing more than a very shiny Android flagship running iOS.

Implementing the home button into the display would have retained the products identity (the home button was synonymous with the product, like it or not).

What do we have now? A floating line to swipe up to go home? Utterly removing the UX design and DNA of the product.

Cook stood in "Steve Jobs Theatre" and used the tenth anniversary to launch the CookPhone. That thing, to me, is not an iPhone. It doesn't look like one or operate like one.

LOL, X is an android knockoff? good one, bro.

Sorry but if you were dependent on the Home Button being there forever then you must be new to Apple and hadn't been paying attention to the rumors and conversations over the past couple of years. People complained endlessly about the device's chin, and they got rid of it. Face ID will be easier and the naturally replacement for a fingerprint scanner. Just with all the other panicking, this will fade away and you'll forget you ever complained about it.

 

[ck2875]

Because the 8 is now glass instead of aluminum and the front side is identical to the 7. Not hard to understand.

Well yes, I would like to think everyone understands why they're showing the back of the 8's on the box. I was simply joking about the person I quoted saying the iPhone 8 'looked backwards' and saying the iPhone 8 was literally looking backwards on the box. But oh well.

Side note, I do think the boxes look very pretty this year. I very much like how they're colour-coding the the main box colour to the space gray, silver, gold. Last year my 7+ space gray was on a white box.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

I disagree. For many many years, all we ever heard from Apple, just hours after preorder was open, most if not all variants of the newest phone has sold out and shipping dates have slipped 3-4 weeks or more. Today, shipping is only out 1 week. This is an very different result from years past. You can choose to ignore it, and that is fine, but I agree with others, the 8 = 7 = 6s = 6. While I use the 7, I got it for $300, because my carrier offered me an great trade in on my 6 at the time, or I would not have bought it. I don't plan on upgrading to either the 8 or the X, as again, the 8 just has, for the most part, a process upgrade and wireless charging, and the X, well, same processor as the 8, lost the Touch ID in favor of Face ID, and OLED screen. Really, not worth to upgrade to a $1149...NOT UNLESS my carrier offers me the same great deal.

Right but a back order tells us nothing unless we know why it's backordered. What happened in the past is only relevant to each of those respective phones. It may be there is limited demand for the 8. But until Apple gives us hard numbers it's just speculation.

 

[Swampthing]

Just waiting on the iPhone X myself. I am still fine with my iPhone 6s+, but I see that my model is at the end of the product cycle. Want to make sure that I have a phone that can keep up with the latest software releases!

 

[840quadra]

Yes you can. EVERY iPhone ever released had a month wait time within 24 hours of sale. A week later and I can get any phone I want at my door in one week. The iPhone 8 is a failure. It's not to say Apple failed as I imagine we're going to see record wait times for the iPhone X that will make everyone forget the iPhone 8 exists. The wait times will make the ridiculous wait times we've experienced for the AirPods look like a passing breeze.

My comment was in regards to estimated watch sales. But again, we don’t know all the details behind the availability or lack of on any given device.

Perhaps they produced only 50,000 watches, but overproduced iPhone 8 models by 50,000 this time. I am (like you) confident the X will be in high demand, but we can only speculate the production numbers and demand from the scraps of info Apple releases during this time of the year.

I am not quite a conspiracy theorist, however I feel that sometimes supply shortages are fabricated by companies to boost sales. I think (hope) Apple is above that, but, sometimes I find it odd that the company with one of the most efficient global production / sales channels can make same launch mistakes year after year.

Just waiting on the iPhone X myself. I am still fine with my iPhone 6s+, but I see that my model is at the end of the product cycle. Want to make sure that I have a phone that can keep up with the latest software releases!

I think you will be fine. The 5S (until ios11) has run every application I throw at it without much issue. It only really showed it’s age now in iOS11 beta. I have since backed it down to iOS 10, but should try it again (briefly) to see if the issue was just a mid-beta period glitch.

It was actually lagging when swiping back and forth on the home screen.

 

[wingnut8]

I had a 7+ and am upgrading to an 8+. I'm also on IUP.

 

[Tarantularock]

I think the 8/8+ is a good upgrade for non 7 owners.

yes, but so is the X for the extra $200, and that is why many will avoid the 8.

 

[fokmik]

Not eve

yes, but so is the X for the extra $200, and that is why many will avoid the 8.

rybody wants that sci fi phone. Many just want probably an iconic clasic design with touchid

 

[hunter.cortez]

Seriously people! All of you waiting to get an iPhone X are telling Apple that it is OK to release a phone that starts at $1K and people will buy.

 

[CmdrLaForge]

Or perhaps people just wait for normal price next year

 

[jigzaw]

They managed to make their brand new iPhone 8 obsolete 5 minutes after announcing it. I'm not even bashing, it's just sort of how it feels.

In any case, I'm interested in seeing how the X pans out so I'm holding onto my 6S+ for now. I'm 90% decided to wait 'til whatever generation 2 of the X is (XI? Xs?... will there be an iPhone 9 with an iPhone 11 or will next year be the end of the home-button iPhone altogether?) because I have a feeling that, having the same chip as the 8, it might be underpowered the way the original 6+ was underpowered.

But even if the X is so compelling that I have to have it, supply constraints makes me think it'll probably be like around February before I could realistically get one, and by then I might as well wait it out til Sept.

 

[john123]

I love the way poor 8/Plus pre-orders are interpreted as a sign of the desire for the X.
Perhaps people aren't upgrading at all? Or perhaps more people are getting better deals from their carriers.
Perhaps more people want to see the device in-store before they purchase it.

Plenty of reasons that aren't "the 8 is crap, everyone wants the X"

I'm an example of someone going from a 7+ to an 8+, and please don't say it's because I can't afford it, or I'll buy your house and turn it into a pig farm, just because.

Your last line wins the post of the day. Thank you for that!

But on your previous point, this seems to happen every year, right? People take a very tiny sliver of data and extrapolate all kinds of crazy things from that information—without a shred of real evidence to support any of those hypotheses. The reality is that we never have much substantive data until we reach a point of supply and demand equilibrium, which really won't happen until Q1.

This seems to be a recurring theme these days. Everyone has an opinion on everything, regardless of whether there are actual facts and logic that support those opinions.

 

[Electrolytic]

Not doing anything until I put my hands on the Pixel 2 and the iphone X.

 

[xDKP]

I don't know who would buy an 8 if they already have a 6 or 7. I'm sticking with my 6 Plus, does everything I want and more.

Well minus an entire design change at the front - every single thing is almost changed - For people who don't need an edge to edge display, the 8 is a pretty great phone - especially considering the price difference. I for one am not in a hurry to test out the first release of the X with all the issues it might have

 

[imola.zhp]

BRILLIANT NEWS POST!

Would have never guessed that!

 

[poorcody]

Regarding the high demand for the LTE watch, I think they actually screwed-up with the bands available: I am considering ordering the WiFi watch, but I want that velcro-band that is only available for the LTE. If I buy the Wifi and add $50 for the other band, I'm within $20 or so of the LTE watch. Would be stupid it seems not to order the LTE then if for nothing else than the extra memory.

They should release the WiFi with the other bands... might relieve the supply constraints then...

...or not charge $50 for a velcro band!

 

[imola.zhp]

Regarding the high demand for the LTE watch, I think they actually screwed-up with the bands available: I am considering ordering the WiFi watch, but I want that velcro-band that is only available for the LTE. If I buy the Wifi and add $50 for the other band, I'm within $20 or so of the LTE watch. Would be stupid it seems not to order the LTE then if for nothing else than the extra memory.

They should release the WiFi with the other bands... might relieve the supply constraints then...

...or not charge $50 for a velcro band!

If you can wait a few months those bands will pop up on eBay for about 50% of MSRP. This is how I buy our bands. Great point, however, about wanting both at purchase and how short the reach is to LTE at that point.

 

[eternlgladiator]

Yes in theory. But for me the freedom is false. Having to pay an extra $10/mo for the privilege of using data and talk time I've already paid for is a tyranny I can't accept.

I wonder how many bought the LTE version for it's bigger storage amount or different band selection over the non-LTE version & no intention to hook up the LTE service. I'll likely upgrade to the LTE version in Nov only b/c I like the sport loop band.

I bought the LTE version for the storage with almost no chance I will activate data for it any time soon. I don't see a reason yet.

 

[deaglecat]

Apple - you were too greedy on the 8. Increasing the prices...predictable that many would opt for the X instead. But you don't have the supply volume to sell (deliver) the X. This is going to hit your earnings.

 

[Taipan]

Hey, you guys order your iPhone 8s already! That X that is going to be available at launch is mine!

 

[jonnysods]

The X will be a sell out on day one

And I reckon for a month or two after that day too!

 

[Wags]

Yes you can. EVERY iPhone ever released had a month wait time within 24 hours of sale. A week later and I can get any phone I want at my door in one week. The iPhone 8 is a failure. It's not to say Apple failed as I imagine we're going to see record wait times for the iPhone X that will make everyone forget the iPhone 8 exists. The wait times will make the ridiculous wait times we've experienced for the AirPods look like a passing breeze.

Is the se a failure? Ip8 isn't a failure. Just another choice and Apple had to release something. Also Apple not prepared to risk launching just the ipx. Yields will be the main reason at first for shortages for the early adapters and fanboys. I think that all others will be waiting to see and if can justify the price/value.

 

[Moorepheus]

The X will be a sell out on day one

Tell us something we don't already know.

How is it essentially the same as the 7?

How is it not? It's the same shape, same size, (weighs more though), same display size, still same IP67 rating, same camera (new software), Newer CPU (this was a given), same display. So, tell me, how is it not the same at the 7 before it, which is the same as the 6s and 6 behind it?

This is about as surprising as Trump saying something stupid. Tbh, Apple should have just had the X design for iPhone 8. Maybe a 5.8in model and a 6.3in Plus model. Yeah it's ripping off Samsung but damn it, so what? It works. From a non techy consumer perspective, the 8 literally looks like the iPhone 7, which looked like the 6S, which was the twin brother of the 6. If Samsung did this, they'd be crucified especially by the apple faithful. Seriously imagine the S8 coming out with a 1080p screen and S5 look and feel AND having a premium charge?

I get what Apple is doing but man having the same design for almost 4 years is a bit much. Hell even at my store, the demand for the iPhone 8 is simply not there. I tell folks about the Verizon promotion that's going on but most folks say the following "Eh it looks like the 7 and 6. I'm waiting on the X" Hell even my coworkers are doing that. Nobody at my job is interested in the iPhone 8. The majority are either getting a Note 8 or iPhone 10. I wish Apple would have just canceled the iPhone 8 "design" and used the bezel-less 10 design for the 8 and had preorders go up last Friday, with a launch set for this week.

Most folks don't care if the iPhone 8 is "faster' Most folks don't give a damn about benchmarks, or A11 processors, or fusion chips, or cores. All they see is the iPhone 8 looks exactly like the phone they got 2-3 years ago but it's even more expensive

There is a bezel on the iPhone 10, you want to see bezel-less. I am sorry, but Apple really failed here, in their so-called EDGE to EDGE display. There is a black bezel all the way around the display. To me, it's not a big deal, but please don't say it is something that it's not.

Or perhaps people just wait for normal price next year

Oh, you are so wrong. Apple will keep this price model going into the future. They will phase out the 7 and 8 pricing model and just keep the 10's pricing model. Oh, you will still see the SE phone for the low budget minded people, but 6/6s/6/8 model line will disappear.

 

[deaglecat]

Is the se a failure? Ip8 isn't a failure. Just another choice and Apple had to release something. Also Apple not prepared to risk launching just the ipx. Yields will be the main reason at first for shortages for the early adapters and fanboys. I think that all others will be waiting to see and if can justify the price/value.

Agree 8 wont be a failure. But it is mis-priced (in the UK at least).