iPhone 5 concept by Ciccarese Design
How many new iPhone smartphones – dubbed the iPhone 5 – will be sold in the first week after the coveted device’s launch? One analyst reckons it could be up to 10m, giving a welcome boost to Apple’s iPhone sales following a decline amid speculation on the new model.
Speaking to AllThingsD, Gene Munster, an analyst with Piper Jaffray, said, “We believe that if the 21st is the actual ship date, Apple could sell 6m to 10m iPhone 5s in the final week of September barring supply issues.”
Since the rumour mill has already correctly predicted the launch date for the iPhone 5 – 12 September – chances are it will also be proven right about the 21 September release date. Current estimates for Apple’s iPhone sales in this quarter put figures at 22m to 23m, but Munster’s prediction could push these figures closer to the 30m mark.
If Munster’s estimation seems high, it is. Though new iPhone releases are typically followed by strong first-week sales, the most recent model – the iPhone 4S – sold more than 4m in its first week on the market. To see sales of the iPhone 5 leap a further 6m beyond that mark would be wishful thinking on Apple’s part, though the more conservative estimate of 6m is more likely.
In the months preceding the launch, speculation on the new device has caused iPhone sales to slow while consumers wait for the latest model to hit shelves. The anticipation of the market could make for sky-high sales figures – but are the suppliers prepared to handle such colossal demand? Apple would want to hope so!
