iPhone 8 Production Said to Drop Significantly Given Popularity of iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X

Saturday November 11, 2017 10:06 am PST by Joe Rossignol

With fewer major selling points and given a consumer preference for the iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects iPhone 8 production to see a 50-60 percent sequential decline this quarter.

iphone x vs 8 compare
In his latest research note for KGI Securities, obtained by MacRumors, Kuo said the lower-than-expected iPhone 8 demand could result in fewer orders for Apple supplier Pegatron, which assembles the iPhone 8 in Taiwan.

Pegatron — iPhone 8 production to decline 50-60% QoQ in 1Q18F on lower-than-expected demand: With fewer major selling points and given a consumer preference for iPhone 8 Plus on a limited price gap, we expect iPhone 8 production orders to see 50-60% QoQ decline in 1Q18F, potentially shrinking Pegatron's utilization rate. But considering new iPhone orders may become more diverse (compared with a single model of iPhone 8 in 2H17), and assuming the new models will come with more compelling features than iPhone 8, we are positive on Pegatron's growth momentum in 2H18F.

Just this week, research firm Canalys said the iPhone 8 Plus outpaced the iPhone 8 last quarter with shipments of 6.3 million units versus 5.4 million units respectively. Canalys said the iPhone 8 Plus is the first Plus-sized iPhone to out-ship its smaller 4.7-inch sibling in a single quarter.

Apple doesn't disclose iPhone sales on a model-by-model basis, but chief executive Tim Cook said the iPhone 8 Plus has "gotten off to the fastest start of any Plus model," which came as "a bit of a surprise" to the company.

Kuo remains positive about iPhone X demand, and estimates production will rise 35-45 percent this quarter compared to last quarter, which should help to alleviate supply constraints heading into the holiday shopping season. The device still has a 3-4 week shipping delay online, with limited in-store availability.

Kuo said Apple's primary manufacturer Foxconn will convert its iPhone 8 Plus production lines into iPhone X lines in late 2017 to fulfill additional orders. Still, Apple is unlikely to achieve supply-demand balance until 2018.

Tags: KGI Securities, Ming-Chi Kuo

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

RIP, MacBook Ultra

Monday October 19, 2026 9:37 am PDT by Joe Rossignol

Apple today sent out invites for an experience in Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 28, and the "Pro and tell" tagline on the invitation likely means that the rumored MacBook models with touch-enabled OLED displays will stick with MacBook Pro branding instead of the once-rumored "MacBook Ultra" name. The long-rumored "iPhone Ultra" ended up being named iPhone Duo, so speculation that Apple...

• 155 comments

Here's What Apple's Apps Look Like on the iPhone Duo

Tuesday October 20, 2026 11:12 am PDT by Juli Clover

With just three days to go until the iPhone Duo is released, Apple is getting ready for the launch. Behind the scenes, the App Store now has screenshots of Apple's built-in apps running on the Duo. We've seen some apps in marketing materials, but images of the ones we haven't seen give us an idea of what it will be like using the iPhone Duo day to day. Many apps are shown in landscape...

• 114 comments

Apple Retail Staff Told to Warn Against iPhone Duo Walk-In Purchases

Saturday October 17, 2026 2:30 pm PDT by Hartley Charlton

Some Apple retail employees have been told to warn customers against visiting to purchase an iPhone Duo without a pre-order on Friday, October 23. Apple Store employees told MacRumors that they have been advised that there will likely be no iPhone Duo stock available for walk-in purchases on launch day. Staff have been instructed to discourage customers without pre-orders from coming in...

• 251 comments

Top Rated Comments

Avieshek

117 months ago

Back to having one model only. One Size, One Storage, One Price.

Back to Steve Jobs' Simplification. The reality is the pricing than options withholding people, 2nd-hand or older models are bringing transparency to the very fact.
Bring back the 17" MacBook, price it same as the smaller screen sizes, than look at the response. iPad Air & iPad Pro-Pra-Pre-Pru is illogical nonsense for profitary greed. In addition, just have one storage tier but of maximum capacity affordable by the technological limitations of the time, ex- the Classic iPod is classic for a reason.

Score: 28 Votes (Like | Disagree)

sniffies

117 months ago

Wait till iPhone X Plus next year though...

Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)

iName

117 months ago

As they should. Wouldn’t make sense for it be have the same production level as something much higher in demand.

Honestly if you’re in the market for the 8 save yourself the extra $120 and get a 7 instead. The differences are basically nonexistent.

Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)

djcerla

117 months ago

Ming-Chi Kuo greatly dropped the ball with multiple reports of “iPhone X production problems” that would render the device “unavailable until February”.

No longer a reliable source.

Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)

iapplelove

117 months ago

Not so sure . The X price point and moving away from touchid is not for everyone . The iPhone 8 is a very nice unit

Just can't see people deciding to get a X over the 8 all the sudden.... it's £300 more..... that is a very large amount .

Trust me, Face ID is everything Apple said it would be but better. No need to be afraid anymore lol

Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)