Canalys Expects Apple to Sell Less than 14 Million iPhone X Handsets in Q1 2018

With Apple estimated to have sold 29 million iPhone X handsets in the previous quarter, Canalys has predicted that Apple will sell “fewer than 14 million” in Q1 2018, which is nearly half the number of what the company sold in Q4 2017, ZDNet is reporting. Meanwhile, Apple’s South Korean rival Samsung managed to sell 8 million Galaxy S9 and S9+ handsets in one month.

Iphone x

The analyst firm highlighted that Apple’s iPhone X performance in Q1 “demonstrates a broader problem with premium smartphones”, as features like dual cameras and 18:9 inch displays become common in cheaper handsets. 

In terms of revenue however, the iPhone X accounted for 35% of worldwide smartphone profits in Q4, with the only non-iPhones in the top 10 most profitable devices being Samsung’s Galaxy Note 8 and Galaxy S8 Plus, according to Counterpoint Research

“iPhone X in Q4 2017 shipped 29 million units. So, following that with less than 14 million units in Q1 2018 actually represents a much faster decline than we typically see in iPhone seasonality,” Canalys analyst Ben Stanton told ZDNet.

Canalys’ Stanton reckons a slowing worldwide market for smartphones will prompt Samsung to introduce discounts on the S9 to make it the leading Galaxy phone by shipments. “Its regional teams are being rated on volume, with management eager for the S9 to out-ship the S8,” wrote Stanton.

With Samsung sacrificing margin to defend its share by already offering discounts on its flagship Galaxy S9 in select regions, will Apple do something similar to boost the slowing iPhone X sales in coming months?

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