TL;DR: Another report has arrived suggesting that the brand new iPhone SE is not promoting wherever close to in addition to Apple anticipated. But it isn’t simply Cupertino experiencing disappointing gross sales; Google’s Pixel 6 line can be struggling to search out patrons, resulting in the corporate providing giant incentives to salespeople who promote its handsets.
Research agency Wave7 (through PCMag) performed a survey of salespeople at US service shops to get an concept of the smartphone market immediately. According to the outcomes, 56% of reps stated that iPhone SE 3 demand is weaker this yr than it was for the earlier iPhone SE, and simply 8% stated demand is stronger.
The survey backs up a report from March that claimed Apple had requested its suppliers to chop manufacturing of the iPhone SE 2022 for the quarter by as a lot as two to a few million items, a discount of round 20%, because of low demand.
Renowned Apple analyst Ming-Cho Kuo backed up the report, tweeting that demand is decrease than anticipated. He additionally minimize his iPhone SE cargo estimation for 2022 from 25 million – 30 million to fifteen million – 30 million.
Shanghai lockdown would not have an effect on the iPhone SE manufacturing. However, the brand new iPhone SE demand is decrease than anticipated (the supply standing “in inventory” as one of many proofs), and I minimize my cargo estimation in 2022 to 15-20M (vs. 25-30M beforehand).
— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) March 28, 2022
While it seems few individuals crave smaller telephones nowadays, one other downside might simply be that not many shoppers know concerning the iPhone SE. “Wave7 Research is unaware of any TV, radio, out of doors or print promoting for the system,” wrote the corporate. A Verizon rep backed this up, telling the agency that not many individuals comprehend it got here out.
There are a few positives within the report for Apple: the iPhone SE is seemingly highly regarded as a pay as you go system, and it appears set to spice up Apple gross sales in India, the place the corporate has been shifting manufacturing to make the most of tariff reductions whereas lessening its reliance on China.
Elsewhere, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro handsets are additionally stated to be igniting little curiosity outdoors of diehard Pixel followers. Google is reportedly utilizing “spiffs” or commissions for salespeople who handle to maneuver its telephones. This is one thing Samsung additionally does, however Google has pushed the incentives up “very excessive” to extend gross sales. One service rep instructed Wave7 that he bought the brand new Pixels to individuals who wished to purchase the brand new Galaxy S22 fashions when Samsung’s newest telephones had been bought out.
One factor that might be placing individuals off the Google Pixel 6 line is the quite a few studies of bugs the telephones expertise. The most up-to-date one is a matter wherein calls are mechanically diverted to voicemail with out notifying customers.
