Highlights
- Reports indicate it might be the least popular iPhone in the last 5 years.
- Morgan Stanley’s survey reveals shorter lead times than previous models
- The report suggests sluggish demand.
- Apple may cut supply orders due to slow demand.
The iPhone 16 series launch was a lacklustre event for many reasons. The reactions to the new iPhones launched and the event in general since then have been mixed. And now if recent reports are to be believed, the iPhone 16 is turning out to be the least popular smartphone in the last 5 years.
According to a leaked survey report from Investment Bank Morgan Stanley, iPhone 16 orders are lower than for its predecessors.
Tech publication AppleInsider has recently reported that they have seen Morgan Stanley’s message to investors revealing details of its lead time survey. According to Apple Insider, the Investment Bank’s survey shows iPhone 16 demand is lower than before.
Morgan Stanley has reportedly surveyed lead times for iPhone 16 models and discovered sluggish demand.
According to an Apple Insider report, iPhone 16 series lead times on average compared to 2023 are as follows –
- iPhone 16 Pro Max 25.5 days (instead of 43.5 days)
- iPhone 16 Pro 18.5 (instead of 32.5)
- iPhone 16 9 (instead of 14)
- iPhone 16 Plus 7.9 (instead of 13.9)
“When we aggregate all of our iPhone lead time data,” says Morgan Stanley, “average iPhone 16 lead times from pre-order to today stands at 14 days, shortest amongst all cycles in the last 5 years and roughly in-line with the iPhone 12 cycle.”
Morgan Stanley further reveals that there is a strong chance that Apple will cut its supply orders following the slow movement of orders. However, it is also specified that early lead times for a product “still have very limited predictive power.”
Apple Insider report claims, “Lead times are always dependent on how much stock Apple has — and Apple never reveals this figure. So it’s possible that Apple has done a better job at manufacturing sufficient iPhones for the demand it has.”
Caption – A graph depicting lead times for different iPhone models. (Image Credit – Morgan Stanley)
The Lead Time of a product refers to the time taken by manufacturers to deliver the product to the customer after receiving an order.
A shorter lead time usually indicates that the manufacturer has more units ready than the number of orders they are receiving. It is also significant to note that a shorter lead time doesn’t necessarily mean the product is not selling.
In Apple’s case, there is always the possibility that the company has accurately predicted the demand and has sufficient units ready in stock. This could be a strategy to ensure a faster delivery.
Historically speaking, lead times have always been indicative of assessing demands. Shorter lead times often point to a slow demand.
The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus have sold close to 37 million units in its first weekend. Certain media reports also claimed Russians have been ordering more than anticipated despite higher price tags for iPhones.
Apple iPhone 16 Specifications
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Processor | Apple A18 |
| Rear Camera | 48 MP + 12 MP |
| Front Camera | 12 MP |
| Battery | 3561 mAh |
| Display | 6.1 inches (15.49 cm) |
| Launch Date | September 13, 2024 (Official) |
| Operating System | iOS v18 |
| Chipset | Apple A18 |
| CPU | Hexa Core (Dual core + Quad core) |
| Architecture | 64 bit |
| Fabrication | 3 nm |
| Graphics | Apple GPU (Five-core graphics) |
| Display Type | Super Retina XDR |
| Screen Size | 6.1 inches (15.49 cm) |
| Resolution | 1179×2556 px (FHD+) |
| Aspect Ratio | 19.5:9 |
| Pixel Density | 461 ppi |
| Screen Protection | Yes |
| Bezel-less display | Yes, with punch-hole display |
| Peak Brightness | 2000 nits |
| HDR 10 / HDR+ support | Yes |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| Height | 147.6 mm |
| Width | 71.6 mm |
| Thickness | 7.80 mm |
| Weight | 170 grams |
| Build Material | Back: Color-infused Glass |
| Colours | Black, Pink, White, Teal, Ultramarine |
| Waterproof | Yes, Water resistant (up to 30 minutes in a depth of 6 meter), IP68 |
| Ruggedness | Dust proof |
| Camera Setup | Dual |
| Main Camera | 48 MP f/1.6 (Wide Angle) |
| Ultra-Wide Camera | 12 MP f/2.2 (Ultra-Wide Angle) |
| Autofocus | Yes, Dual Pixel Phase Detection autofocus |
| OIS | Yes |
| Flash | Yes, Dual-color LED Flash |
| Image Resolution | 8000 x 6000 Pixels |
| Shooting Modes | Continuous Shooting, HDR, Burst mode, Macro Mode |
| Video Recording | 3840×2160 @ 60 fps, 1920×1080 @ 240 fps |
| Video Features | Slo-motion, Video HDR, Night Time-Lapse, Macro Video, Action Mode, Audio Zoom, Stereo recording |
| Front Camera | 12 MP f/1.9 (Wide Angle) |
| Battery Capacity | 3561 mAh |
| Battery Type | Li-ion |
| Removable Battery | No |
| Wireless Charging | Yes |
| Quick Charging | Yes, 20W: 50% in 30 minutes |
| USB Type-C | Yes |
| Internal Memory | 128 GB |
| Expandable Memory | No |
| Storage Type | NVMe |
FAQs
Q1. Why is the iPhone 16 considered the least popular iPhone?
Answer. The iPhone 16 is reported to have lower orders than its predecessors. Lead times for the iPhone 16 are the shortest in the last 5 years, indicating lower demand compared to previous models.
Q2. What does Morgan Stanley’s survey reveal about iPhone 16 demand?
Answer. According to Morgan Stanley’s survey, iPhone 16 demand is sluggish with shorter lead times. For example, the lead time for the iPhone 16 Pro Max is 25.5 days, down from 43.5 days for the previous year’s model.
Q3. What does shorter lead time indicate about iPhone 16 demand?
Answer. Shorter lead times might also suggest that Apple has efficiently predicted demand and has sufficient stock. However, shorter lead times have historically indicated slower demand.