Kuo: iPhone 15 Pro Max Seeing 'Robust' Demand, Shipping Estimates Extending Into November

[klasma]

It would seem to me that creating an even more premium iphone would cannibalize their top seller.

If the Ultra has bigger profit margins than the Pro Max, which I would assume it has, then it’s not cannibalizing, it’s extracting more value from the market.

 

[dumastudetto]

Kuo has impressive supply chain links that help him gather sensitive information about Apple.

Nobody else could have worked out iPhone 15 Pro Max is seeing "robust demand".

 

[nikhsub1]

You also have to remember iphones don't fly anymore. They're shipped on a ship.

Yes they do. Everyone who ordered with delivery on launch day, their phones are flying.

 

[Four oF NINE]

For the first time I've ordered a Pro Max, though I must confess to having some apprehension about the order as someone who's always elected to pickup the smaller line.

It's my first Max size iPhone Pro as well.. Too bad you have to get the larger size to get all the features.. oh well.. However, I tried an iPhone 14 Pro Max at the Apple Store to consider the dimensions.. It shouldn't be that big of an adjustment.

 

[Greenmeenie]

If the Ultra has bigger profit margins than the Pro Max, which I would assume it has, then it’s not cannibalizing, it’s extracting more value from the market.

True. But if Apple plans to charge upwards of $2,000 for a maxed out Ultra, it better be a HUGE improvement over the iPhone Pro Max. Apple would really have to Wow people Like professional photogs. I am talking major upgrade. Like 4 physical lenses. Much larger sensors. Perhaps a small screen on the back. All those things current ”Pro” users wish for every year but never get with the iphone Pros.

 

[FattiesGoneWild]

So much for inflation and rough economy. 🙄

 

[klasma]

True. But if Apple plans to charge upwards of $2,000 for a maxed out Ultra, it better be a HUGE improvement over the iPhone Pro Max.

Given how popular the Pro Max apparently is despite its high price, the improvement probably doesn’t have to be that huge. Just give it a better camera and some additional minor tidbits, more RAM, double the storage or whatever.

 

[Greenmeenie]

Given how popular the Pro Max apparently is despite its high price, the improvement probably doesn’t have to be that huge. Just give it a better camera and some additional minor tidbits, more RAM, double the storage or whatever.

I hear ya, but to me, that kind of diminishes the “Pro” name in my opinion. It just seems like such a cynical cash grab even for Apple that might turn people off. Just imagine if there already was a “pro” apple watch…and then apple announced the “Ultra” apple watch. See? That just seems weird to me & kinda redundant. But hey, guess we’ll find out next September what Apple plans to do. After all, thats an entire year away. And this is a rumor site. We’re all just speculating at this point.

 

[rjjacobson]

I was expecting that. Glad the most popular model is the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Cannot wait for the iPhone 16 Ultra next year.

Correct you warned us a lot based on the factors outlined in this article @TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️

 

[klasma]

I hear ya, but to me, that kind of diminishes the “Pro” name in my opinion. It just seems like such a cynical cash grab even for Apple that might turn people off.

The Pro Max with its rather artificial differentiation from the Pro already does that for me, but apparently not for too many others. 🤷‍♂️

 

[Pixelspeeper]

This is the first time I didn’t preordered online due to I overslept and half and hour after preorder opens I was seeing November shipping and I couldn’t wait until November even though it’s just an estimate, I even setup and saved my preorder three days before, next step is I will just go early to my local  store and see if I can grab 256GB Natural Titanium 15 Pro max and 128GB Black Titanium 15 Pro

 

[hans1972]

The same old story every year - Apple never learns and never makes enough to meet demand to create a false sense of scarcity.

If Apple doesn't make enough phones on purpose, there is still real scarcity.

 

[Greenmeenie]

The Pro Max with its rather artificial differentiation from the Pro already does that for me, but apparently not for too many others. 🤷‍♂️

Usually the Pro & Pro Max are identical in all but size. But occasionally, like this year there is a slight difference because the new 5x tele lens system can’t fit in the smaller Pro iphone body. But i would imagine that next September Apple manages to squeeze the new tele into the smaller pro as well. So that artificial differential will be equalized once again. So in all intents & purposes, they are essentially the same. Both “Pro” phones. If anything, If apple continues to create separation between the Pro & Pro Max, then I’d be that the Max will be renamed the “Ultra”. Otherwise it would make little sense to create yet another level above the Max. Just my opinion.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

The same old story every year - Apple never learns and never makes enough to meet demand to create a false sense of scarcity.

Why all the likes for this dumb post? "Apple never learns and never makes enough to meet demand to create a false sense of scarcity."

Tech is constantly changing, and at points in time vendors need to stop advancing and build/deliver product - - which takes time, duh. It has been 100 years since manufacturing was so inefficient as to prebuild 100% of product expected to be sold.

Any vendor (Apple in this case) tries to optimize by waiting as long as possible before stopping tech-advancing to build each new product. Similarly manufacturing takes time and 100% of product is not instantly available. So any vendor (Apple in this case) tries to optimize getting product to consumers ASAP, but it is a challenging moving target.

What is so hard to understand? Apple is not trying "to create a false sense of scarcity." Apple is just trying to meet innovation/supply/demand forces that are always changing.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

Kuo has impressive supply chain links that help him gather sensitive information about Apple.

Nobody else could have worked out iPhone 15 Pro Max is seeing "robust demand".

You are being sarcastic, but the comparison stating that 15 Pro Max demand was stronger than 15 Pro demand was interesting news to me.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

True. But if Apple plans to charge upwards of $2,000 for a maxed out Ultra, it better be a HUGE improvement over the iPhone Pro Max. Apple would really have to Wow people Like professional photogs. I am talking major upgrade. Like 4 physical lenses. Much larger sensors. Perhaps a small screen on the back. All those things current ”Pro” users wish for every year but never get with the iphone Pros.

Fact is that for many buyers the marginal annual cost of each new top iPhone (~$1 per day) is easily justified by moderate improvements. No need for "it better be a HUGE improvement over the iPhone Pro Max."

You are correct that pricing >$2k would certainly require something special. But we have no reason to forecast such huge price increasing, unless perhaps some major new tech involvement with the Apple Vision Pro presents next year.

 

[Four oF NINE]

I’ve yet to buy a Pro Max. That size seems just a little too wide. The current Pro size of 6.1” is a good enough fit that I don’t have issues getting it into the same front pants pocket that I keep my wallet in. My keys, work cell and chap stick are in the other front pocket. I’m 6’1” tall, 215 lbs and wear 34x32 or 36x32 pants depending on style and fit.

I think I’d like the Pro Max but I’m nervous it won’t fit into my front pants pocket given the size I wear? Do those with the Pro Max around my size keep it comfortably in their front pants pocket? Is it the only thing you keep in the pocket it’s in? I keep my wallet in that same pocket as well. It isn’t huge but it’s a bifold with a decent number of cards in it. Debit and credit cards, a couple of rewards cards, health insurance and prescription insurance cards, my license, a copy of my registration and car insurance, voter registration card (just in case) and two small USB thumb drives.

If I knew I could still get a wallet and the Pro Max in my pocket I’d go for it. I’d even be willing to have both my work cell and iPhone Pro Max in that pocket if the wallet is to big or perhaps downsize the wallet since I rarely use some of what I keep in the wallet. My work phone is an Android that is slightly smaller than my iPhone Pro.

If there are others my size who can get a Pro Max and a wallet or another phone in their same front pants pocket perhaps I’ll try the Max in the future though I hear the 16 is due to have larger screens on both the Pro and Pro Max models.

I put my bank cards into my Apple Wallet and I use the TwelveSouth BookBook wallet case for the iPhone.. My phone IS my wallet, and I use a coin purse for change and cash with a money clip goes in there as well.. that helps a lot. I've been using the iPhone Pro size since iPhone X,.. I THINK that's when the current dimensions started for me.. The other day I stopped by an Apple store to play around with the iPhone 14 Pro Max version.. It seems to be not that much bigger than what I have, and I do not think the size will be an issue.. I'm only switching to get the features unavailable with the standard iPhone 15 Pro version.

 

[aw1998]

Strange thing though - if I pre order a 256gb blue regular Pro, it says I’ll get it Oct 11, but if I say in store pickup it says Sep 22. Not sure how that works?

Because one is referring to the online store shipping it out to you and one is referring to an Apple store’s stock and they have one available to allocate, fairly obvious really

 

[Momof2.1107]

I'm really happy that they've made the shape rounder, every time I pick up my old XS I remember how much nicer in hand that phone is than my 13 Pro with its sharp edges (I do not use a case). Since they've rounded off the edges again, and because I use my phone in situations where I really need a larger screen, and my eyes are two years older now, I'm going PM this time around.

As per usual I get the "bragging-color" I.E. the one that screams "look at me I have the NEWEST iPhone" only to regret it a month or two later. So a natural titanium is replacing my baby blue 13 Pro, and I'll as always regret that I didn't go for silver.

I debated between silver/white and blue. The white look too creamy so I chose blue. I would’ve loved to have a gold iPhone again.

 

[musicmachine]

I put my bank cards into my Apple Wallet and I use the TwelveSouth BookBook wallet case for the iPhone.. My phone IS my wallet, and I use a coin purse for change and cash with a money clip goes in there as well.. that helps a lot. I've been using the iPhone Pro size since iPhone X,.. I THINK that's when the current dimensions started for me.. The other day I stopped by an Apple store to play around with the iPhone 14 Pro Max version.. It seems to be not that much bigger than what I have, and I do not think the size will be an issue.. I'm only switching to get the features unavailable with the standard iPhone 15 Pro version.

I’m thinking about the pro max myself. I might try it out for the first week or 2 and if it’s a problem I’ll just exchange it for the pro before the return date expires

 

[theotherphil]

For the first time I've ordered a Pro Max, though I must confess to having some apprehension about the order as someone who's always elected to pickup the smaller line.

It'll take about a week to get used to the bigger device but then you'll wonder why you didn't switch sooner. Battery life alone will see to that. I make/ receive over 150 calls per 12 hour period when I am at work with plenty of data use with emails/ scanning and/or signing documents, internet, navigation, intermittent laptop tethering etc, etc and go home with no less than 60% battery every night.

 

[theotherphil]

I'm smaller than you but I have/had the same dilemma.

I currently have an iPhone 11 which is bigger than the Pro and almost the same width as the ProMax and 35mm shorter.

I think the ProMax would come to just below the top of my jeans, mostly Levi's 511's, but I do have some other jeans that have deeper pockets.

I will say that different jean companies have widely different pocket depths so take that into consideration.

I have a few pair of Levi's 510's, skinny jeans 🙃, and my iPhone 11 barely fits in it.

I agree that if the iPhone 16 Pro's go to 6.3 and 6.9, giggity giggity, that I would definitely choose the 6.3.

It could also make the 14 an 15 ProMax's more valuable on resale for those who feel the 6.7 is the absolute biggest they would go.

Pro tip: 5.11 Defender Flex jeans have 2x AR Mag pockets on the lateral hips which both fit the Pro Max and still allow you to sit down easily. it also offloads the phone from the front pockets and you can hardly tell it's there - as a user or observer when worn with a T-Shirt. These jeans are extremely comfortable with a slight stretch.

 

[surfzen21]

Pro tip: 5.11 Defender Flex jeans have 2x AR Mag pockets on the lateral hips which both fit the Pro Max and still allow you to sit down easily. it also offloads the phone from the front pockets and you can hardly tell it's there - as a user or observer when worn with a T-Shirt. These jeans are extremely comfortable with a slight stretch.


View attachment 2266422

How dare these not be in camo.

I meant Levi's 511s but I will say these are very interesting.

Although I'm from New York so im pretty sure I would get arrested just for wearing them.

 

[lkrupp]

The same old story every year - Apple never learns and never makes enough to meet demand to create a false sense of scarcity.

So wait a minute. First you say Apple hasn't learned to make enough iPhones to meet demand. Then you claim they don't make enough on purpose so they can create a false scarcity. What is going on in your mind here?

 

[KPOM]

There has been "robust" demand for the iPhone 15 Pro Max since the device became available to pre-order on Friday, according to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

In a post on Medium today, Kuo said iPhone 15 Pro Max demand has outpaced iPhone 14 Pro Max demand during the equivalent period last year. However, he said demand for the iPhone 15 Pro is weaker than it was for the iPhone 14 Pro so far, which he believes could be the result of more customers choosing to buy the Pro Max model this year.

iPhone 15 Pro Max exclusively features an upgraded Telephoto lens with up to 5x optical zoom, compared to up to 3x on the iPhone 15 Pro. In the U.S., pricing for the iPhone 15 Pro Max starts at $1,199 for 256GB of storage, with Apple no longer offering the Pro Max with 128GB of storage for $1,099 like it did in years past.


Article Link: Kuo: iPhone 15 Pro Max Seeing 'Robust' Demand, Shipping Estimates Extending Into November

That’s my situation. I am getting the Pro Max for the first time since it has the 5x optical zoom. That plus the titanium means it isn’t that much heavier than the 14 Pro. That said, I see that in my area, even the 15 Pro (non-Max) models are getting scarcer for 9/22/23 in-store pickup. Basically it‘s the Blue 256GB and larger capacities. There aren’t any 128GB units in any color or 256GB units in colors other than Blue.