As Apple gets ready to ship the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, before it opens iPhone X for pre-orders, a top analyst with Taiwanese business group KGI Securities has warned that iPhone X will cannibalise iPhone 8 orders.
According to Ming-Chi Kuo, renowned analyst with KGI Securities, when it comes to Apple, it is quite likely that iPhone X demand will cannibalise iPhone 8 pre-orders.
Apple unveiled both iPhone X and iPhone 8 models, with the "super-premium" iPhone X starting at $999. While in India, the iPhone 8 prices start at Rs 64,000 this year, and will be available in a few weeks from now.
While it takes three to six weeks, or even more, to ship new iPhone models after they are available for pre-order, they see the iPhone 8 taking less than one to two weeks. This is due to the iPhone X cannibalisationMing-Chi Kuo, Analyst with KGI Securities
However, Ming was quick to point out the surge in demand for LTE-based Apple Watch Series 3 was mostly due to its standalone Watch + phone capability.
While not available in all countries, most users have pre-ordered the GPS + Cellular version, because it offers phone and internet access functions without an iPhone, and given the low premium of $70 over the GPS versionMing-Chi Kuo, Analyst with KGI Securities
Ming’s highlights could very well work out the other way in markets such as India, where the iPhone X costs as high as Rs 1,02,000. We’ll probably know more about it when the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus go on sale from the last week of September, while the iPhone X has a longer wait, going up to 3 November.
Apple would launch iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, starting at Rs 64,000, in India on 29 September, while pre-bookings will start on 22 September.
The iPhone X will come to India on 3 November, starting at Rs 89,000.
Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS) will be available in gold, silver and space grey aluminium cases with a Sport Band, starting at Rs 29,900. However, Indian consumers won’t get the chance to buy the Watch for its most useful feature – cellular or call function.
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