Wall Street analysts used to rely on lines outside Apple Stores to gauge iPhone demand, but now they have to look elsewhere. According to Evercore ISI’s Amit Daryanani, preorder numbers for the latest iPhone seem to be “solid” based on the first few hours since going live.
Daryanani examined delivery times online and noticed that there was a rapid increase in lead times for the Pro and Pro Max models across various countries.
SIM-Free iPhone Delivery Times
When checking the SIM-free iPhones on Apple’s website, Daryanani found that in the US, the estimated delivery time for the iPhone 15 Pro was seven days, while it was 35 days for the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which is Apple’s most expensive model. In China, the estimated delivery times were 18 days for the iPhone 15 Pro and 32 days for the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
He also mentioned that the lower-end models, namely the iPhone 15 Plus and 15 base, had considerably shorter delivery times of around seven days in all regions. This indicates a strong preference for the higher-priced iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models.
Variation in Wait Times: A Positive Sign
Although online wait times are not a perfect indicator of interest in the new iPhones, Daryanani is optimistic about the “variation in wait times” this time around. He believes that this suggests higher demand rather than just limited supply.
According to him, there is still robust demand for the iPhone 15 Pro Max, although there is slightly weaker demand for the Pro/Plus models compared to last year. This could have a positive impact on the product mix, despite lower volumes.
Availability and Official Release Date
While preorders started on Friday morning, customers will have to wait until September 22nd for the official release of the iPhone 15.
For more information on how the iPhone 15 compares to the latest Pixel and Galaxy devices, click here.