Shipments do not equal sales, but there’s reason to believe that declining shipments and declining sales are related. Apple has been selling iPhones for years now, and presumably can anticipate demand for new devices. The typically reliable Kuo outlined reasons for his prediction, including the lack of “many attractive selling points for the iPhone 7,” 9to5Mac reported. Here are all the rumored features that may be coming to the next iPhone, which we expect to see in September.
Kuo also pointed to the iPhone SE, which is a great phone but not a major departure for Apple in terms of design or features, as an example of why iPhone shipments will slide. The analyst expects demand to pick back up in 2017, when Apple may release a totally overhauled iPhone design with an all-glass body and AMOLED display. (I have zero inside knowledge of Apple’s design plans, but a completely refreshed phone to mark the iPhone’s 10th birthday would be fitting.)
Apple reports earnings on Tuesday, so we’ll have a better idea of how iPhone sales are shaping up for the year. Analysts are expecting Apple’s first year-over-year revenue decline in more than a decade, according to a FactSet analyst survey. Stay tuned for all the earnings details Tuesday when the market closes.