Many Analysts See the 'iPhone 8' Launch Date at the End of September

Apple exceeded analyst expectations recording revenue of $45.4 billion and selling 41 million iPhones during the time frame ending July 1.

Surprisingly, iPad sales took a big leap forward with 11.4 million sold during the quarter. In the same time during 2016, Apple 9.95 million. That number is an even bigger increase, 28 percent, from the last quarter’s sales of 8.92 million iPads.

The services segment also jumped, recording an all-time high of $7.2 billion in revenue.

Along with that news, Apple also provided revenue guidance for the next quarter of between $49 billion and $52 billion. That would be up from the same time in 2016. As my colleague, Bryan M. Wolfe noted earlier today, that $3 billion range for guidance is unusually large for Apple.

But that likely spells good news for the next-generation handset. A number of analysts, as noted by AppleInsider, now say that the “iPhone 8” could arrive in late September or early October at the latest – in limited quantities.

Here’s an RBC analyst’s take:

While analyst Amit Daryanani was pleased with Apple’s June quarter results, to him the “material surprise” was the September quarter guidance. In his view, the guidance “effectively implies no iPhone launch delay,” despite numerous rumors to the contrary.

The September quarter guidance indicates 12 percent sequential growth, versus a five-year average growth of 7 percent, and five-year average guidance growth of 3 percent.

To Daryanani, this implies that this fall’s iPhone launch will be “much more material,” either due to higher volumes or higher average selling prices.

If you’re interested in learning more about the next-generation lineup, make sure to visit our rumor roundup section that will be continuously updated until the handsets are revealed sometime this fall.