Demand for iPhone 6 Plus in China prompting Apple to shift production away from iPhone 6
Earlier this month, Apple was reported to be shifting some production away from the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and toward the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus on account of the higher global demand for the latter. Now, the company is reportedly adjusting its supply ratios again in favor of the larger handset due to the stronger customer interest in the iPhone 6 Plus in China.
This is according to a new report by Digitimes, which cites “industry sources”:
… Apple may be forced to shift more production capacity to the 5.5-inch model, said the sources, adding that the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus supply ratio is likely to change to 55:45 from 70:30 or 65:35 set originally.
Digitimes previously reported that the iPhone 6 Plus would eventually account for 60 percent of total iPhone 6 device shipments.
The iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus were officially released in China, which is Apple’s largest market, last Friday, Oct. 17. Ahead of their launch, the devices attracted millions of preorders, with the larger model said to have a slight lead.
Now, it appears that the iPhone 6 Plus is indeed the more in-demand model, especially in China, where “phablets” are quite popular.
At its conference call yesterday for the financial results of the fourth quarter of its 2014 fiscal year, Apple announced its record-breaking sales for the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus. The company also said that demand for the new iPhones had been exceeding their supply.
See also: Apple reiterates commitment to user privacy following Spotlight Suggestions “backlash,” Apple’s App Store tops 85 billion downloads with year-on-year revenue up by 36 percent, and Apple has acquired 20 companies this year, including 7 purchased during Q4 FY2014.