Launch day frenzy: Lengthy-queues outdoors the shops and 10 minute supply at residence – All that clients select
The one-two bodily places of Apple Shops in Mumbai and New Delhi buzzed with pleasure, as keen clients shaped lengthy queues outdoors shops, with some ready because the earlier night time to be among the many first to personal the brand new units.
The launch occasion, which started at 8 AM, noticed a mixture of pre-order clients and walk-ins, all desperate to expertise Apple’s latest choices.
“The ambiance in Mumbai for this cellphone is totally electrical,” mentioned Ujiwal Shah, who waited for over 21 hours to be first in line on the Bandra-Kurla Complicated retailer. This sentiment was echoed throughout the nation, with comparable scenes unfolding on the Choose CityWalk mall in New Delhi.
Tarun Pathak, Analysis Director at Counterpoint Analysis, famous, “Our channel checks yesterday indicated a powerful opening for iPhone 16. A few of the sellers reported 18-20% opening day gross sales in comparison with final 12 months.”
Whereas traces shaped outdoors the retail places, quick-commerce platforms, like Blinkit and BigBasket, promised the iPhone 16 on folks’s doorstep in simply 10 minutes. The shares ran out in a few minutes on the 2 apps, an analogous pattern seen throughout the pre-order day on e-commerce shops.
Many shoppers nonetheless selected to go to bodily shops, citing the will for an immersive Apple expertise. “I got here at 6 AM and could not wait to get the brand new cellphone in my palms,” mentioned one buyer, a buyer from Noida who got here right down to Delhi and was significantly excited concerning the improved zoom digital camera and the brand new Dessert Titanium color of the iPhone 16 Professional.
Prabhu Ram, VP of Trade Analysis Group at CyberMedia Analysis (CMR), famous, “Our preliminary evaluation signifies that the iPhone 16 sequence, together with each the bottom and Professional fashions, has been well-received out there.”
Past the brand new iPhones, many shoppers coupled their purchases with AirPods 4, whereas others additionally purchased the brand new Apple Watches, upgrading their entire ecosystem. “I am going all in on the Apple ecosystem this time,” grinned Rahul Kapoor, showcasing his new iPhone 16, AirPods 4, and Apple Watch. “It is a massive funding, however the seamless integration is price each rupee.”
Nevertheless, not all clients had been profitable of their quest for the brand new iPhone. Amit Gupta, a walk-in buyer who arrived at midday, left empty-handed. “I assumed coming throughout lunch hour can be sensible, however they had been already out of the Professional fashions,” he sighed. “I assume I will must strive my luck on-line or look forward to the following inventory.”
The Day 1 dynamics differed between India and the US, Apple’s residence market. Counterpoint Analysis knowledge signifies that US shops had extra stock out there for walk-in clients in comparison with earlier years. In distinction, Indian shops noticed longer queues and better demand for pre-orders, significantly for the Professional fashions.
Professional fashions acquire traction as value drops, vanilla iPhone additionally finds extra patrons this 12 months
Out of the 4 fashions, the common iPhone 16 is seen to be the group’s decide this 12 months, nevertheless the lowered costs of Professional fashions this 12 months, beginning Rs 1,19,900 in comparison with beginning value of Rs 1,39,900 for the iPhone 15 Professional fashions, has seemingly bought-in extra takers for the iPhone 16 Professional fashions than within the current years.
“The extra accessible pricing on the Professional fashions in comparison with their predecessors has made them extra interesting to a wider vary of customers,” mentioned Ram.
“The iPhone 16 looks like gaining large recognition” mentioned Pathak, who means that there was a “lot of demand for the bottom 16 variant in comparison with final 12 months” in India.
Ram notes, “The continued premiumization pattern within the Indian smartphone market gives beneficial tailwinds to drive upgrades.” This shift is obvious within the robust efficiency throughout the iPhone 16 vary.
AI on maintain, however {hardware} upgrades drive majority gross sales
Apple iPhone 16 sequence have launched with out the much-anticipated Apple Intelligence AI software program pre-installed. Apple has been closely advertising these AI options since June, however customers might want to look forward to software program updates to entry them absolutely.
Curiously, Counterpoint Analysis famous that within the US, “Patrons are upgrading as a result of they want to improve – Apple Intelligence didn’t seem like a main buy mover. Many customers are coming from older units such because the iPhone 12, iPhone 11 and even older.”
This pattern is mirrored in India, however with extra components driving purchases. Pathak from Counterpoint Analysis defined, “Plus, lots of people upgrading from older 11s or iPhone 12 are discovering 16 an important improve.” He additional elaborated on the Indian market, stating, “{Hardware} options like digital camera, battery and Apple silicon obtained a superb improve in comparison with final 12 months’s base mannequin.” These enhancements are significantly interesting to Indian customers on the lookout for substantial upgrades from their older units.
When requested concerning the causes behind folks shopping for the brand new iPhones regardless of the absence of Apple Intelligence at launch, Pathak added, “Apple Intelligence-ready iPhones is one motive for folks switching to new fashions though roll out will occur later.”
Analysts predict one other report quarter for Apple
The iPhone 16 marks a big milestone for Apple’s technique in India. For the second time in a row, India-made iPhones had been made out there globally on the day of the official launch, underscoring the nation’s rising significance in Apple’s provide chain.
With the festive season approaching, analysts count on additional boosts in gross sales, particularly for the premium Professional and Professional Max fashions. The supply of made-in-India iPhones – the Professional fashions are reported to be assembled later this 12 months within the nation for the primary time ever – may additionally contribute to shorter lead occasions and improved availability for Indian customers.
Pathak shared an optimistic outlook: “We consider Apple is more likely to have a report new iPhone gross sales quarter in India and with this momentum it’s more likely to attain our estimated 12 million iPhone gross sales in India.”
Prabhu Ram from CMR added, “The continued premiumization pattern within the Indian smartphone market gives beneficial tailwinds to drive upgrades within the Indian market. CyberMedia Analysis anticipates a considerable 30% year-over-year development in comparison with the iPhone 15 era within the launch quarter.” He additional projected, “This development trajectory positions Apple to probably seize as much as 8% of the hypercompetitive Indian smartphone market by the tip of 2024.”
Apple additionally plans to maneuver 25% of its iPhone manufacturing to India by 2025, aligning with the nation’s “Make in India” initiative. Foxconn, considered one of Apple’s key contract producers, has already been producing the common iPhone fashions in India, and stories recommend that Apple’s producers will even start assembling the Professional fashions within the nation this 12 months.
The success of the iPhone 16 launch day in India, coupled with the introduction of made-in-India items and revolutionary supply strategies, indicators a brand new chapter in Apple’s relationship with one of many world’s fastest-growing smartphone markets.
