The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus accounted for 16 percent of total iPhone sales in the July-September 2017 quarter, which means the new smartphones "look much more like an 'S' model" in terms of sales. According to a report sent to MacRumors today by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners, the new devices actually represented a smaller sales percentage than 'S' devices have in past years, particularly in comparison to the iPhone 6s with 24 percent of iPhone sales in 2015.

In terms of each model, the iPhone 8 had 6 percent of iPhone sales and the iPhone 8 Plus had 10 percent in the fiscal quarter ending October 1, 2017. While the smartphones' small share makes sense, because they were only available for about a week (shipping September 22) in the quarter that CIRP analyzed, previous generation iPhones were notably higher at the same points over the past few years.

iphone8plusrearcameraspacegray
The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus accounted for 43 percent of sales during this period in 2016, while the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus had 24 percent of the iPhone sales in this period two years ago. In 2014, the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus represented 46 percent of iPhone sales in their launch quarter.

“iPhone 8 and 8 Plus accounted for only 16% of total sales, compared to a 24% share for the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus two years ago," said Josh Lowitz, CIRP Partner and Co-Founder. "While it’s a little early to know, it appears that this even lower share relative to that earlier ‘S’ model probably resulted from some buyers delaying a purchase, we think in anticipation of the new iPhone X.”

So, in terms of consumer demand and reception, the 8 and 8 Plus have a share of total sales that makes them look much more like an ‘S’ model, while the 7 and 7 Plus was closer to the very well-received 6 and 6 Plus. This is not surprising, as the form factor remained the same, and the improvements in features were incremental and internal.”

CIRP co-founder Mike Levin mentioned that Apple's dual-announcement of the iPhone 8 and iPhone X "changed the market dynamic" for 2017, echoing previous sentiments that many users are not ordering the former smartphone because they're waiting for the latter device. The new report is based on a survey of 500 Apple customers who made a purchase between July and September of this year.

CIRP iphone 8
In the 2017 quarter, the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus continued seeing strong demand, with both devices accounting for 58 percent of sales. In total, older models like the iPhone 6s, 6s Plus, and SE represented 25 percent of sales in the quarter. Levin explained that "rather than waiting for and buying the iPhone 8, it looks like buyers in this quarter either bought existing models, or decided to wait for the iPhone X, later in the year."

Tag: CIRP
Related Forum: iPhone

Top Rated Comments

levitynyc Avatar
101 months ago
"No ****." - everyone on Earth.
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NightFox Avatar
101 months ago
I traded in my wife old 6 for a 8 just because T Mobile gave a $300 credit for a 16GB phone.
You traded in your wife? Anyone know if I'll be able to do this for the X?
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MrGimper Avatar
101 months ago
It was like an "S" model, that's a surprise

Said no one ever.

Didn't stop me buying one tho.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Dilster3k Avatar
101 months ago
No one should be willing to throw out 800 bucks on the iPhone 6ssss
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
78Bandit Avatar
101 months ago
The 8 should never have existed. The iPhone X is the overdue successor to the iPhone 6, 6s, and 7. The X should have been a $750 - $800 device with the 7 held over as a lower cost alternative. The 8 is nothing more than a price buffer between the $550 7 and the $1,000 X.

Apple's lineup is getting way too convoluted with multi-year old models being kept in production to hit some arbitrary price target. "Look, we've got something for everyone", but in reality offering the $350 SE, the $450 6s, the $550 7, and even the $700 already outdated 8 is like throwing the masses some crumbs (here's our leftovers) while pushing their new device into the luxury stratosphere.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mbh1976 Avatar
101 months ago
Why are articles like these being written? Obviously 8 sales were going to be down as people wait for X.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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