Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Brian White is touring China and reports to investors that demand for the iPhone 5s in the Asian country is disappointing, while interest in Chinese brands like Xiaomi is on the rise. This cool sentiment towards the iPhone may change when an iPhone 6 model with a larger screen arrives later this year.

iphone_5s_china_mobile
Interest in a large-screened iPhone model among Chinese vendors and carriers is reportedly very high, possibly making the next iPhone launch a "special" one for Apple.

In the near term, we sensed disappointment around demand for the iPhone 5S. That said, we heard great enthusiasm around the potential for Apple to introduce a larger iPhone form factor in China this year with the iPhone 6. In our view, the iPhone 6 with a larger screen (e.g., 4.7-inch, 5.5-inch) has the potential to meaningfully accelerate Apple's growth trajectory in China during 2H:14. We have not heard this type of excitement in China around the iPhone in at least two years and thus we believe this could be a very special iPhone launch for Apple.

China has been a focus of Apple in recent years, with the company opening new retail stores and bringing both the iPhone and the iPad to wireless carriers in the Asian country. This year alone Apple has introduced a TD-LTE version of the iPad and launched both the iPhone 5s and 5c with China Mobile, the world's largest mobile carrier with approximately 772 million subscribers.

Apple's next iPhone model is expected to arrive in two display sizes, with one near 4.7 inches and the other at approximately 5.5 inches. The 4.7-inch model may debut this fall, while the 5.5-inch is rumored to land sometime in 2015.

Top Rated Comments

barkomatic Avatar
130 months ago
Apple can't get a larger screened iPhone out soon enough. They've been lagging too far behind on this feature.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
polterbyte Avatar
130 months ago
"In the near term, we sensed disappointment around demand for the iPhone 5S."

Really? Where are the numbers to back that claim? How can you say you're analyzing something objectively and base said "analysis" on how you "sense" it? Furthermore, what sort of an objective variable is "disappointment"? How do you measure it? Disappointment in regards to what, exactly?

Without proper data—and even more without proper analytical variables—, that's just claim chowder, nothing else.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
colmaclean Avatar
130 months ago
I demand Wanes, too.

Why should it only be Chinese iPhone 5s getting all the Wanes?
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
losthorse Avatar
130 months ago
-- removed by user --
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
69Mustang Avatar
130 months ago
Demand Wanes?

Someone Demand Wanes? Here you go.:D
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
the8thark Avatar
130 months ago
People wanted Apple to make netbooks. Apple said no and made the iPad.
People wanted Apple to make phablets. Apple will hopefully say no as well and make something even better.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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