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The iPhone 11 is more popular than the Pro and Pro Max, but not by a lot

By Adrian Diaconescu

Published: Sep 18, 2019, 2:42 AM

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The iPhone 11 is more popular than the Pro and Pro Max, but not by a lot

Apple's hot new iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max are technically not out yet, but with pre-orders underway since last Friday and a global commercial release slated for this Friday, September 20, it's already time to evaluate the early popularity of the three high-end handsets, as well as their mid to long-term potential.

It's not a big secret anymore that the Cupertino-based tech giant is going through a bit of a rough patch in terms of worldwide iPhone unit shipments, looking at a pretty serious decline in its yearly numbers until 5G will prospectively come to the rescue of the entire mobile industry in 2020. For the time being, Apple is betting a bunch of significant camera upgrades and a notable albeit not dramatic improvement in battery life will be able to stop the bleeding, which certainly seems to be the case based on the first analyst assessment of pre-order scores.

Relive the iPhone 11 series announcement here

A surprisingly good start for the iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max

Ming-Chi Kuo is arguably the most prolific and one of the most reliable Apple pundits out there, so it's definitely no surprise to see the TF International Securities analyst already come out with two interesting research notes on the box-office performance of the iPhone 11 family. Kuo understandably kept things vague in his first analysis following the opening weekend of Apple's latest flagships, noticing particularly strong demand for the pricier models in the US and positive results for the non-Pro variant in China, leading him to raise overall expectations from as little as 65 million to as much as 75 million unit shipments by the end of the year.

In case you were wondering which of the three new iPhone versions is proving more popular around the world, the answer is fairly predictable. According to Kuo's follow-up research note on the pre-orders of the iPhone 11 lineup (via MacRumors), the cheaper and slightly humbler model is so far trumping its triple-lens siblings, single-handedly accounting for 45 percent of the family's early sales.

That means the combined share of the 11 Pro and Pro Max is 55 percent, which actually exceeds the results of the iPhone XS and XS Max this time last year. Back then, even though people had to wait for the iPhone XR, Kuo's prediction was that the higher-end variants would make up anywhere between 40 and 45 percent of the family's year-end shipments.

Check out this comprehensive comparison of the iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max

Great news for Apple's bottom line

Just like the iPhone XR, it's safe to expect the entry-level iPhone 11 to become the world's best-selling mobile device in the near future. But if the iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max will be able to maintain their early pace in the long run, their contribution to Apple's overall revenue figures should be significantly greater than that of the XS duo last year.

Pricier products tend to yield heftier profits, even when featuring better camera hardware than their lower-cost relatives, so in addition to unit shipments, the company's earnings are likely to get a decent boost as a result of iPhone 11 Pro demand seemingly exceeding expectations.

Of course, it's much too early to actually talk numbers, unless you want a quick recap of some of the key selling points and major features offered by the iPhone 11 lineup. In that case, you might like to check out this neat battery graph, a rundown of all the LTE bands supported in the US, these early tests of actual 4G LTE speeds stateside, a very interesting night mode camera comparison against the iPhone X, and our roundup of the cool features you may have missed at Apple's announcement event. Perhaps most importantly, we also have a collection of deals and discounts available at major carriers and authorized third-party retailers.

If you're thinking of upgrading from the iPhone XR to the iPhone 11, you may want to read this first

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Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.