When Apple uncovers its iPhone 5 during the event tomorrow, it’s expected to be the largest upgrade to the phone since the iPhone 4. Apple has gone through five generations of iPhones and has yet to enlarge the 3.5 inch screen. With this upgrade, Apple will add a groundbreaking 4-inch screen in addition to blazing-fast LTE internet capabilities.
Apple is known for breaking records, every year since they’ve introduced the iPhone they’ve sold more iPhones during the opening weekend than years past. Even though the iPhone 4S was considered a small upgrade over the iPhone 4, it still sold a stunning four million devices during the opening weekend. A whopping one million of those devices were pre-orders.
The iPhone 5 is forecasted to sell even more than the iPhone 4S during the opening weekend. Many analysts have put together estimates and have come up with nearly 5 to 6 million iPhone 5s. AllThingsD has more on the report:
Raymond James director Tavis McCourt offered a first weekend sales estimate in the same ballpark.
“Apple sold 4 million iPhone 4Ss in the first weekend of availability last year and the iPhone 4 sold 1.7 million,” McCourt told AllThingsD. “We expect 5-6 million to be a reasonable estimate of first weekend sales for the iPhone 5
Along with McCourt, Topeka analyst Brian White had a similar ballpark estimate:
“Assuming supply chain constraints aren’t a major issue and the seven country rollout ensues, we believe at least 5 million to 5.5 million iPhone 5s can be sold in [the first three days].”
The iPhone 5 will be announced on Wednesday at the Yerba Buena Center. Recent speculation has the smartphone going up for pre-sale beginning on September 14th. If the September 21st release date is correct, Apple will have seven days of pre-sale along with three days of live-sales to sell nearly 6 million iPhone 5s.
If I was asked to predict the iPhone 5 opening weekend sales, I would predict 6.5 million devices. I am a strong believer that consumers will be wowed by Apple’s upcoming handset and make a purchase. How about you, I want to hear your sale estimates.
