Report: iPhone 12 Could Be the Supercycle Apple Has Waited For

Wedbush analyst Dan Ives thinks Apple could be on track for a massive year in 2021.

Demand for the iPhone 12 looks set to exceed even the "bull case scenario" of Wedbush analyst Dan Ives as Apple heads into 2021, Ives wrote in a note to clients.

In his new note, via MarketWatch, Ives noted that "so far reality is meeting the initial hype" for a possible iPhone supercycle this year. A supercycle is the term used to describe a year or product cycle in which more people than usual decide to upgrade to the latest model.

More focus has been placed on possible iPhone supercycles in recent years as the massive growth in unit sales that marked the first eight years of the iPhone is no longer something that can be taken for granted.

Apple's Eye-Popping Future

According to Ives, Apple could manufacture between 90-95 million iPhones in the last calendar quarter of 2020. This is approximately 35% higher than many, including Wedbush, were anticipating.

Into 2021, Apple is expected to manufacture 60-70 million iPhones in the first calendar quarter, and more than 40 million+ in the second.

Ives continued that, while Wall Street is expecting Apple to sell around 217 million iPhones in fiscal 2021, Wedbush now believes it could sell upward of 240 million. He mentioned that 250 could "be in the cards," and describes that as an "eye-popping future."

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This would "easily eclipse" Apple's previous record of 231 million iPhone units in 2015. That's back in the days of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s. Considering the battering the worldwide economy has seen in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, that would be a massive achievement for Apple.

Ives noted that China is a "key ingredient" in Apple's success with the iPhone 12. He suggested that approximately 20% of iPhone upgrades will come from the China region.

iPhone 12: A Massive Hit for Apple

All indicators have so far shown that the iPhone 12 has been a massive hit for Apple. For the first time ever, Apple released four new iPhones (five if you include the second-gen iPhone SE) this year.

This includes the iPhone mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max. According to a recent report, the top nine smartphones activated on Christmas Day this year were all iPhones.

In the past few years, Apple has worked hard to make itself less reliant on the iPhone as the sole driver of its profits. New subscription services like Apple Music and wearables like the AirPods and Apple Watch have also been big winners for Apple.

Nonetheless, the iPhone remains Apple's biggest hit product. From the sound of things, that's not looking likely to change any time soon.

Image Credit: Rahul Chakraborty/Unsplash CC

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