Sales of new iPhones have dropped considerably in the first quarter of 2018, according to research from the US-based consumer analysis firm Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP).
According to the CIRP survey of US Apple customers, sales of newer iPhone models accounted for 60 per cent of all iPhones sold, down from 78 per cent the year before.
Read more: Apple agrees to start paying Irish government €13bn in back taxes
Of the tech giants three new models (the iPhone 8, 8 Plus and iPhone X), Apples new flagship phone was the least popular, with iPhone X accounting for just 16 per cent of sales, down four per cent from the previous quarter. By comparison, sales of the iPhone 8 accounted for 23 per cent of all iPhones sold.
Meanwhile, the year-old iPhone 7 and 7 Plus accounted for almost one-fifth of sales, while the two-year old iPhone 6S and 6S Plus had 13 per cent of sales.
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“Surprisingly, iPhone models introduced in 2015 and 2016 continued to show strong sales,“ said Mike Levin, CIRP partner and co-founder. “With eight models available, and the newest ones costing close to $1,000 (£717), consumers appear to want older, cheaper models that have many of the same features.”
The poor results from Apples newest phone come as a leaked memo from Neil Campling, senior analyst at Mirabaud, suggested the phone may be discontinued if sales do not improve. As reported by CNBC, Campling told investors that “the iPhone X is dead."
Meanwhile, shares in Austrian-based Apple supplier AMS tumbled yesterday after the company reported negative operating margins, with stocks in the company falling as much as 14 per cent.
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