According to a recent pre-order analysis conducted by Ming Chi-Kuo, Apple is experiencing lower demand than expected for its latest flagship models, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. However, there is a brighter side for Apple as the standard models, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, have shown higher sales compared to last year's iPhone models.

Kuo's analysis, based on ship times on Apple's website and a supply chain survey, revealed some interesting insights. During the opening weekend of pre-orders, the iPhone 16 Pro Max witnessed a decline of 16% compared to the previous year's iPhone Pro Max. Similarly, the iPhone 16 Pro experienced a drop of 27% in demand compared to its predecessor.

In contrast, the iPhone 16 Plus enjoyed a significant surge in popularity, with sales increasing by 48% compared to last year. The standard iPhone 16 also saw a positive trend, with a 10% increase in sales compared to the previous iPhone model.

Interestingly, it appears that consumers are showing more interest in the regular iPhone models rather than the professional-grade variants this year, particularly the larger-sized model. Overall, the iPhone 16 lineup sold approximately 37 million units during the first weekend, reflecting a 12.7% decrease compared to the iPhone 15 lineup's initial sales.

Although the iPhone 16 Plus witnessed substantial growth, the decline in demand for the iPhone 16 Pro models overshadowed it. Kuo noted that improved yields on the tetraprism camera, specifically the 5x telephoto lens, contributed significantly to Apple's ability to meet demand for the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Before the launch, Apple reportedly produced 6 million units of the iPhone 16 Pro Max, marking a 106% increase from the previous year.

Looking ahead, Kuo speculated that Apple might adopt more aggressive strategies in 2025 to stimulate market demand for iPhones if promotional efforts like Apple Intelligence have limited impact on iPhone 16 shipments.

Whether the new features and advancements in the iPhone 16 were compelling enough for consumers to upgrade remains to be seen. Feel free to share your thoughts and opinions in the comments. Stay updated with the latest news by adding 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. For the latest updates, you can follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. If you're unsure where to begin, check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.