iPhone 12 Super Cycle... First in 6 Years Since iPhone 6

First Quarter Shipments Expected to Surpass 80 Million Units
Pre-Sales Volume Twice That of iPhone 11
Sales Growth Expected to Continue Due to China's Pent-Up Demand

Apple's first 5G smartphone, the iPhone 12 series, was officially released in Korea on the 30th and is displayed at the Apple Store on Garosugil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Apple has encountered a 'super cycle' driving massive replacement demand with the launch of the iPhone 12. It is expected to record higher shipment volumes than the iPhone 6 released six years ago.

On the 22nd (local time), Wedbush Securities analyst Daniel Ives stated, "The initial three-month shipment volume of the iPhone 12 series will exceed 80 million units," adding, "It is showing a trajectory similar to the iPhone 6 released in 2014, and such an upward trend has not been seen in recent years." He analyzed that it will surpass the iPhone 6's record of 71.5 million units shipped within three months of release.

He also analyzed that the pre-sale volume of the iPhone 12 is about twice that of the iPhone 11 series. Analyst Ives initially projected the iPhone 12 series shipment volume at 75 million units as of the end of October but raised the sales forecast within a month.

Demand for the iPhone 12 is strong in the United States and China, and especially in China, sales are expected to continue rising, fueled by pent-up demand caused by COVID-19. China is considered a key factor in the iPhone 12 super cycle that will continue into next year.

Among the iPhone 12 series, the iPhone 12 Pro model is playing the role of a 'star.' High demand for the iPhone 12 Pro is expected to be the primary contributor to raising Apple's iPhone average selling price (ASP).

Analyst Ives said, "With an estimated 350 million out of 950 million iPhones worldwide being potential upgrade opportunities, the upcoming holiday season will mark an unprecedented upgrade cycle for the iPhone."