Apple to Cut iPhone 6s and 6s Plus Production by 30% in Q1 2016

iPhone-6s-ColorsApple will cut production on the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus by approximately 30 percent in the first calendar quarter of 2016, reports Nikkei. Citing lackluster sales, Nikkei says iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus inventory has "piled up" at retailers across the world, leading Apple to scale back production from January through March to get rid of excess stock.

Apple is said to have originally told its suppliers to continue Q1 2016 production of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus at the same rate as the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus a year prior, but waning sales led the company to change its plans.

It is not unusual for Apple to scale down device production as an iPhone matures, but the rumored 30 percent cut from January to March is being positioned as an abnormally large production drop.

But inventories of the two models launched last September have piled up at retailers in markets ranging from China and Japan to Europe and the U.S. amid lackluster sales. Customers saw little improvement in performance over the previous generation, while dollar appreciation led to sharp price hikes in emerging markets.

Downscaled production is only expected to last through March as dealers sell through their current stock, with orders returning to normal during the April-June quarter after Apple's inventory adjustment has been completed.

Apple's production cut will impact parts suppliers in Japan and South Korea, including Japan Display, Sharp, LG Display, Sony, TDK, Alps Electric, and Kyocera. Following Nikkei's report, Apple stock has fallen two percent and hit a low of $102.41 earlier today.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

iOS 26

When Will Apple Release iOS 26.2?

Monday December 1, 2025 4:37 pm PST by
We're getting closer to the launch of the final major iOS update of the year, with Apple set to release iOS 26.2 in December. We've had three betas so far and are expecting a fourth beta or a release candidate this week, so a launch could follow as soon as next week. Past Launch Dates Apple's past iOS x.2 updates from the last few years have all happened right around the middle of the...
ios 18 to ios 26 upgrade

Apple Pushes iPhone Users Still on iOS 18 to Upgrade to iOS 26

Tuesday December 2, 2025 11:09 am PST by
Apple is encouraging iPhone users who are still running iOS 18 to upgrade to iOS 26 by making the iOS 26 software upgrade option more prominent. Since iOS 26 launched in September, it has been displayed as an optional upgrade at the bottom of the Software Update interface in the Settings app. iOS 18 has been the default operating system option, and users running iOS 18 have seen iOS 18...
maxresdefault

iPhone Fold: Launch, Pricing, and What to Expect From Apple's Foldable

Monday December 1, 2025 3:00 am PST by
Apple is expected to launch a new foldable iPhone next year, based on multiple rumors and credible sources. The long-awaited device has been rumored for years now, but signs increasingly suggest that 2026 could indeed be the year that Apple releases its first foldable device. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Below, we've collated an updated set of key details that ...
iphone 17 cyber

iPhone 17 Demand Is Breaking Apple's Sales Records

Tuesday December 2, 2025 9:44 am PST by
Apple's iPhone 17 lineup is selling well enough that Apple is on track to ship more than 247.4 million total iPhones in 2025, according to a new report from IDC. Total 2025 shipments are forecast to grow 6.1 percent year over year due to iPhone 17 demand and increased sales in China, a major market for Apple. Overall worldwide smartphone shipments across Android and iOS are forecast to...
iOS 26

Apple Seeds iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 Release Candidates to Developers and Public Beta Testers

Wednesday December 3, 2025 10:33 am PST by
Apple today seeded the release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 updates to developers and public beta testers, with the software coming two weeks after Apple seeded the third betas. The release candidates represent the final versions of iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 that will be provided to the public if no further bugs are found during this final week of testing....
Touchscreen MacBook Feature

Here Are the Four MacBooks Apple Is Expected to Launch Next Year

Monday December 1, 2025 5:00 am PST by
2026 could be a bumper year for Apple's Mac lineup, with the company expected to announce as many as four separate MacBook launches. Rumors suggest Apple will court both ends of the consumer spectrum, with more affordable options for students and feature-rich premium lines for users that seek the highest specifications from a laptop. Below is a breakdown of what we're expecting over the next ...
Photos App Icon Liquid Glass

John Gruber Shares Scathing Commentary About Apple's Departing Software Design Chief

Thursday December 4, 2025 9:30 am PST by
In a statement shared with Bloomberg on Wednesday, Apple confirmed that its software design chief Alan Dye will be leaving. Apple said Dye will be succeeded by Stephen Lemay, who has been a software designer at the company since 1999. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that Dye will lead a new creative studio within the company's AR/VR division Reality Labs. On his blog Daring Fireball,...
iphone air camera

iPhone Air's Resale Value Has Dropped Dramatically, Data Shows

Thursday December 4, 2025 5:27 am PST by
The iPhone Air has recorded the steepest early resale value drop of any iPhone model in years, with new data showing that several configurations have lost almost 50% of their value within ten weeks of launch. According to a ten-week analysis published by SellCell, Apple's latest lineup is showing a pronounced split in resale performance between the iPhone 17 models and the iPhone Air....
chatgpt logo

Sam Altman Declares 'Code Red' for ChatGPT, Delays OpenAI Advertising Plans

Tuesday December 2, 2025 3:30 pm PST by
OpenAI is deprioritizing work on advertising as it focuses on improving the quality of ChatGPT, reports The Information. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman declared a "code red" on Monday, and told employees that the company needs to improve ChatGPT so it doesn't fall behind competitors like Google and Anthropic. Altman said that OpenAI needs to work on personalization for each user, image generation,...
iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange

iPhone 17 Pro Lost a Camera Feature Pro Models Have Had Since 2020

Thursday December 4, 2025 5:18 am PST by
iPhone 17 Pro models, it turns out, can't take photos in Night mode when Portrait mode is selected in the Camera app – a capability that's been available on Apple's Pro devices since the iPhone 12 Pro in 2020. If you're an iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone 17 Pro Max owner, try it for yourself: Open the Camera app with Photo selected in the carousel, then cover the rear lenses with your hand to...

Top Rated Comments

Traverse Avatar
129 months ago
Well, let's be honest. People on these boards can appreciate the technology behind 3D touch, the A9 chip, and camera, but the masses really don't care. I can't think of a single person that was like "oooh, I need 3D touch." The masses need something more flashy and tangible. Though, that is just my opinion.

3D touch, the A9, and the camera add to the experience, but they don't substantially improve/change it like a larger screen or a new design. I anticipated lackluster response, but what do I know.
Score: 33 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Ballis Avatar
129 months ago
Design as horrid as last year, marginal performance improvements, gimmicky 3D touch feature and even worse battery. Least exciting update to date.

Jony Ive in particular needs to step it up.
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mw360 Avatar
129 months ago
The 6 sold too well. All that pent-up demand for the bigger screen couldn't be matched this time around.

Or maybe the 6s is just too thick.
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
justperry Avatar
129 months ago
It's just too pricey, I can easily afford to buy an iPhone 6S but I won't because over the years buying a new iPhone got more and more expensive.
€750 for a 16 Gb 6S is just too much.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
brofkand Avatar
129 months ago
I'm still using an iPhone 6 Plus, but (for those using a 6S) was Force Touch and a better camera vast improvements for you to have upgraded? And how's the extra RAM helping you?
I have a 6 and just got a 6S in last week. I'm returning it. The extra RAM does not affect my usage and the camera is not what I'd call a vast improvement. Live Photos and the front facing camera flash are software upgrades and should have been part of iOS 9 for iPhone 6 users at least, but they're gimmicks to me. I've not yet seen force touch to be worthwhile. Hoping the 7 is a worthwhile upgrade this fall, otherwise I'll keep my 6 for another year. I did the same with the iPhone 4; didn't get another iPhone until the 5S.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bushido Avatar
129 months ago
good, now drop the price and release something mind blowing again. theyve been sitting on their comfy high horse for too long

on the software side ... i am afraid people got used to doing certain things one way and arent gonna learn a new way e. g. "spotlight search" or "3d touch". i keep forgetting either is there cuz i am so used to just tapping on an icon from my springboard
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)