This year, Apple might feel the brunt of the rise of AI technologies on mobile devices and the increasing popularity of foldable phones. The company has reportedly decreased shipments of key iPhone components for 2024 due to an expected drop in demand.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (via Medium) says the Cupertino-based company adjusted its orders of key upstream semiconductors to roughly 200 million units.
Based on this data, other factors, and the fact that weekly iPhone shipments in China have declined by 30% to 40% in recent weeks, the analyst predicts that iPhone shipments could drop by roughly 15% in 2024.
Apple might be losing to new Samsung technologies
Ming-Chi Kuo believes there are several factors that could contribute to a decline in iPhone shipments globally in 2024. One is that Huawei appears to have gained more traction in China. In addition, Apple might be feeling the aftereffects of Samsung's push for new mobile technologies.
Samsung has introduced new AI-based features for the Galaxy S24 series, and Apple doesn't yet have a response to these developments. The iPhone 16 series, to be released late this year, may or may not employ similar AI technologies. But until then, Apple's smartphones might be losing to the Galaxy S24, which remains uniquely equipped with clever AI tools.
And while Apple appears to have lowered its shipment expectations for the iPhone, Samsung expects the Galaxy S24 series to sell better than its predecessor.
Story continues after the video
So far, the Galaxy S24 has set new pre-order records in numerous markets, and the company aims to ship 5-10% more Galaxy S flagships this year compared to 2023. Furthermore, in H2 2024, Samsung intends to announce a new series of flagship phones, and they, too, should employ Samsung's clever AI tools.
Speaking of which, Ming-Chi Kuo says that more phone users are gaining an interest in foldable display technology. The latter was spearheaded by Samsung's display and mobile divisions, and now, more OEMs are interested in developing foldable phones. Apple, however, shows no signs of wanting to join the foldable phone market soon.
