Why Apple Pro iPhones Outsell Carriers – The Surprising Limitation Holding Them Back

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According to a new report from CIRP, Apple sells more high-end iPhones than carriers. The report found that customers buying their iPhones directly from Apple choose an iPhone Pro or Pro Max model 47% of the time, while carriers only sell an iPhone Pro or Pro Max 40% of the time.

While this might not seem like a significant difference, it means that Apple is missing out on a lot of potential revenue. The report estimates that the 7% difference in pro model sales is multiplied by $200-300 per iPhone, and with Apple selling more than 200 million iPhones per year, this adds up to a substantial amount.

So why can’t Apple take advantage of this upper hand in iPhone sales? The trouble lies in the fact that carriers dominate iPhone sales, with just 21% of US customers going directly to Apple, while 71% head to their carrier. This means that not only are carrier customers more likely to buy a less expensive base model iPhone, but Apple also loses out on the ability to control accessory offerings, extended warranty options, and exposure to other devices like Apple Watches, iPads, and Mac computers.

As a result, Apple is potentially missing out on billions of dollars in revenue. The report highlights the significant impact that carrier sales have on Apple’s overall sales strategy and the limitations it places on the tech giant’s ability to increase revenue from high-end iPhone sales.

In conclusion, while Apple may sell more high-end iPhones than carriers, the dominance of carrier sales in the market means that Apple is unable to fully capitalize on the higher mix of pro iPhone sales and is potentially missing out on a significant amount of revenue.