Preorders for Apple's new iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max opened Friday, and long-reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that the 2019 models got off to a strong start over the weekend, according to 9to5Mac. They arrive in stores on Sept. 20.
Kuo is predicting strong demand for the midnight green iPhone 11 Pro, as well as for the green and purple iPhone 11 models, based on Apple's online shipping estimates. He warned that the midnight green models are suffering from glass production problems, which might limit its availability for a while. If you're tempted, it's currently still available. The iPhone 11, Pro and Pro Max start at $699, $999 and $1,099, respectively.
US consumers are gravitating toward the premium iPhone 11 Pro, while demand for the standard iPhone 11 is greater in China, which was the third biggest region for sales last year, Kuo noted. Apple's trade-in program may be prompting people to upgrade, too. Chinese e-commerce site JD.com said over the weekend that preorders for the new iPhones jumped 480% compared with 2018, Reuters reported.
Kuo increased his 2019 shipment forecast for this year's iPhones from between 65 million and 70 million units to between 70 million and 75 million units, and expects the supply chain to "grow steadily" in the fourth quarter, CNBC reported.
Before you rush to preorder, make sure you're aware of the iPhone 11 models' features and consider what they're missing compared with their rivals. Along with fresh color options, Apple's 2019 phones promise longer battery life, better cameras and faster performance than their predecessors thanks to the A13 Bionic processor.
Apple didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
First published Sept. 16, 2:39 a.m. PT.
Updated Sept. 17, 4:41 a.m. PT: Adds information about JD.com.