iPhone 15 and 15 Plus Proving Less Popular With Buyers This Year

Apple's iPhone 15 Pro models were its most purchased smartphones in the U.S. in the first quarter of this year, according to the latest Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) report.

iPhone 14 vs iPhone 15 Feature
The ‌iPhone‌ 15 Pro and Pro Max accounted for 22% and 23% of all iPhones sold in Q1 2024, for a 45% combined share. The ‌iPhone‌ 15 Plus took a 9% share of all iPhones sold, while the ‌iPhone‌ 15 and ‌iPhone‌ 14 were the third most popular, each taking 14% of the share.

The ‌iPhone‌ 15 Pro and Pro Max share hardly changed compared to the ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro and Pro Max the same quarter a year ago. However, Apple saw sales of the base model ‌iPhone‌ 15 decline relative to a year ago. The overall mix of ‌iPhone‌ 15 models was lower, accounting for 68% of all ‌iPhone‌ sales.

By contrast, in Q1 2023 the ‌iPhone‌ 14 series had a 7% higher share of all iPhones sold, taking 75% combined. The percentages suggest that the ‌iPhone‌ 14 and ‌iPhone‌ 14 Plus were more popular than the ‌iPhone‌ 15 and ‌iPhone‌ 15 Plus over the equivalent quarter the previous year.

CIRP iphone 14 15 quarters compared
Noting the change, CIRP comments:

We see this as a continuation of a trend from the past couple of quarters, as the lower- priced current models give up some share to older models. The once flagship, now base iPhone 15, is no longer the leading-edge choice, as the Pro and Pro Max models take that role.

Last week, CIRP released a report indicating that new ‌iPhone‌ activations are down to a low not seen in the U.S. smartphone market for the last six years.

CIRP said that Apple's installed smartphone base was higher than recorded activations, but Apple's share of new ‌iPhone‌ activations fell from 40% to 33% over the past year, suggesting a shift away from the higher market shares Apple enjoyed in previous years.

Tag: CIRP

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Top Rated Comments

oofio2461 Avatar
19 months ago
60hz and last year's chipset, apple has made the base iPhone into a joke even more each year.
Score: 34 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JohnRckr Avatar
19 months ago
Maybe because the only difference between them is dYnaMic iiSlanD

Truly breakthrough tech thank you Tim Apple
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Vimy Avatar
19 months ago
I don't think this is iPhone specific. The economy is just crap. Older iPhones are cheaper.
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
abatabia Avatar
19 months ago
I hate to be that comment but….there’s only so many times you can basically repeat the same phone before you just lose interest and hang onto what you have. My 13PM is still a beast. My 14Pro is very meh, and my desire to even get the 16 is just not there yet.
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Darth Tulhu Avatar
19 months ago
This is yet one of those things where the existing hardware exceeds the needs of the majority of folks using these devices.

I have an iPhone 12 Pro, and upgrading is pointless.

The better camera, processor, RAM, etc are relatively superfluous to me; I'm not a pro photographer, my emails and texts won't get to me any faster...

Why pay WAY more for a device that won't add any real-world value?
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gatorvet96 Avatar
19 months ago
Shows that Apple is very successful in making people go up the product ladder to more expensive SKUs. It is very intentional and no one does a better job of that marketing scheme.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)