iPhone 16 Faces Analysts' Low Sales Forecast, Echoing iPhone 15's Minor Upgrades

As we begin the new year, Barclays has released a new research note outlining its forecasts for Apple. Apple's release timetable for 2024 is fairly obvious, and the iPhone will be one of the most important gadgets, as it is every year. The iPhone 16 will be released this year, and analysts predict that sales will be low due to the new generation's minor differences from the iPhone 15.

iPhone 16 Sales Will Be Low Due to Minor Modifications From iPhone 15

This phrase is, in fact, quite intriguing. According to the 9to5Mac, the iPhone 16 will be a generation with major improvements. Without getting too far ahead of ourselves, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are projected to rise in size and have larger screens.

Analysts at Barclays have the following expectations for Apple:

• It is anticipated that further iPhone weakness during the launch of the iPhone 16. Our checks on volume and mix for the iPhone 15 remain unfavorable, and we don't see any improvements or updates that will make the iPhone 16 more appealing.

• It is believed that the Mac and iPad should revert to pre-COVID levels. These two products were practically exhibiting no growth prior to COVID, but are currently performing 20-30% above those levels, despite the fact that the rest of the industry has corrected.

• Services will experience a halt in growth, as regulatory risk rises. We anticipate 10% and 8% growth in services in FY24 and FY25, respectively, well below the earlier growth estimate of 20%.

• The ecosystem's long-term declining returns. Apple's ecosystem has remained incredibly robust over the previous decade, transitioning from Mac to iPhone. We feel that new products/services have lower ecosystem performance, which will impede growth in the coming years.

iPhone 15 Performed Poorly and iPhone 16 Is Predicted to Function Similarly

If we believe these forecasts, 2024 does not appear to be a favorable year for Apple. This study ensures that we will witness lower sales of the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, as well as a reduction in the growth of services, which is not uncommon.

Taking all of this into consideration, Barclays anticipates a decline in Apple stock. According to him, the iPhone 15 is not selling well, and that the iPhone 16 would not reverse this trend. We'll have to wait and see if the prophecies come true.

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