Apple tipped to enjoy best year ever for iPhone, thanks to iPhone X

The iPhone X has proven to be a critical hit, but could the model guide Apple to hitherto-unseen levels of success? Analytics firm IHS Markit certainly thinks so.

In fact, the firm points out that the iPhone X already accounts for two percent of the active iPhone installed base in eight countries.

“The leading countries for iPhone X adoption are markets with high gross domestic productper head such as Singapore, Denmark, Switzerland and Japan,” IHS Markit points out.

In another observation, the firm found that there was a strong correlation between the popularity of Plus-sized iPhones and the iPhone X.

“Countries where ‘Plus’ model iPhones have been successful in the past have a strong correlation with initial levels of iPhone X adoption. Consumers in those markets have a greater interest in larger displays and high-quality dual cameras, as well as the willingness to pay the higher price a Plus model or iPhone X costs over regular-size iPhones.”

The iPhone X is doing well in regions where Plus models have traditionally done well

The firm added that iPhone X adoption in the USA matched the adoption of the iPhone 8 Plus and exceeded adoption rates for the iPhone 8 and iPhone 7 Plus.

The performance means Apple is expected to enjoy its best ever year for the iPhone, the analytics firm explained, saying that each of the next four quarters should see year-on-year increases in shipment volumes.

“In the fourth quarter of 2017, IHS Markit forecasts Apple will ship 88.8 million iPhones — this will be the greatest number of iPhones ever shipped in one quarter.”

It won’t be the only figure Apple is expected to break, as the firm needs to ship 31 million iPhone X devices for the average selling price of iPhones to exceed US$700 for the first time (if they ship 88 million iPhones in general).