Investors nervous of anticipated Apple slump

A sharp slowdown in production by Apple’s five largest device manufacturers suggests demand for the iPhone X is fading

APPLE’S LARGEST DEVICE ASSEMBLERS (all headquartered in Taiwan)
1. Foxconn (1.3 million employees): iPhone, iPad, MacBook
2. Pegatron (177,950): iPhone
3. Wistron (83,278): iPhone
3. Quanta (70,000+): Apple Watch, MacBook
5. Compal (43,000+): iPad, Apple Watch

REVENUE GROWTH LINKED TO FACTORY OUTPUT
Monthly sales’ growth (five main assemblers)
Apple quarterly revenue growth

Production volume of iPhone X falls by 50% in Q1, 2018
Taipei-based research firm Trendforce
30 %  20  10  0  -10  -20
2016  2017  2018

CONSUMERS SHY AWAY FROM MOST EXPENSIVE iPHONE
iPhone units sold, Q4 2017
iPhone SE (costs from $349)
iPhone 6S ($449, $549)
iPhone 7 ($549, $669)
iPhone 8 ($699, $799)
48.3m
iPhone X ($999)
29m

iPhone X enjoys customary sales spike in holiday season

Apple earnings report out May 1
iPhone units sold, Q1 2018
iPhone SE
iPhone 6S
iPhone 7
22m
iPhone X
8m
iPhone 8
15m

50% of customers opt for older models rather than iPhone X or 8 
Latest handset suffers 73% drop in sales

iPhone models with two prices indicate regular-size and Plus (larger screen) models
Charts refer to actual calendar quarters and not Apple’s fiscal quarters

Sources: Bloomberg, Dazeinfo, Statista, 9to5Mac, Apple
Picture: Apple