Apple starts mass shipments of iphone 15, claims Kuo

Despite rumors of the iPhone 15 Pro Max being delayed, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says that mass shipments are starting this week, and reports of reduced orders are wrong. Previous rumors from the likes of Bank of America have suggested first that one iPhone 15 model will be delayed to October, then more recently that it will specifically be the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Analyst Jeff Pu has claimed that there may be two delayed models, this time the regular iPhone 15 and the iPhone 15 Plus, because of camera production problems. According to Ming-Chi Kuo, however, his survey of supply chain companies suggests that rumors of delays are not true.

The market has expressed concerns about potential iPhone 15 shipment reductions due to supply chain issues. However, according to Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is set to begin mass shipments this week, and Apple is also increasing shipments of older models concurrently. This strategy could help mitigate any potential issues and maintain a steady supply of iPhones.

Kuo suggests that the market's conservative outlook on iPhone and iPhone 15 shipments for the second half of 2024 has led to a correction in Apple's stock price. He believes that this correction, combined with positive sentiment surrounding new product announcements, could present an opportunity for Apple's stock to rebound in the near future.

Kuo's mention of Apple "increasing shipments of legacy models" likely refers to Apple's practice of continuing to sell the previous year's iPhone model alongside the latest one. This allows consumers to choose from a range of options, potentially boosting sales of older models.

Additionally, Kuo notes that Samsung has reduced its smartphone orders to 220 million units. If Apple maintains its iPhone orders at their current levels, iPhone shipments are expected to reach 220-225 million units in 2023. This could potentially position Apple as the largest smartphone brand, surpassing Samsung in terms of shipments.

Overall, Kuo's analysis suggests that Apple is taking steps to address supply chain challenges and maintain its market position, which could have a positive impact on the company's stock performance in the coming months.

Ming-Chi Kuo's statement suggests that Apple has set a shipment target of 250 million units for iPhones in 2024. He also mentions that a reasonable estimate for iPhone shipments in 2024, from his perspective, could see a year-over-year (YoY) growth of 5-10%. This implies that Apple is aiming for substantial growth in iPhone shipments for that year.

Furthermore, Kuo suggests that Apple's optimistic outlook contrasts with Samsung's conservative view of market demand in 2024. As a result, Kuo believes that Apple is well-positioned to maintain its status as the largest smartphone brand in 2024, potentially surpassing Samsung in terms of smartphone shipments.

This outlook indicates Apple's confidence in its product lineup and its ability to meet the demand for iPhones in the coming years, despite any potential challenges in the market.