Updated
Updated · MacRumors · Sep 15
Jeff Pu Cuts iPhone 18 Pro Output to 72 Million as Pre-Orders Stay Lukewarm
Updated
Updated · MacRumors · Sep 15

Jeff Pu Cuts iPhone 18 Pro Output to 72 Million as Pre-Orders Stay Lukewarm

1 articles · Updated · MacRumors · Sep 15

Summary

  • GF Securities analyst Jeff Pu cut Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max production forecast to 72 million units and lowered his 2026 iPhone Duo build estimate to 6 million from 7 million.
  • Pu tied the weaker outlook to muted early demand, saying limited spec upgrades and higher prices — especially on larger storage tiers — have softened pre-orders.
  • U.S. wait times show mixed demand: some iPhone 18 Pro Max 256GB and 512GB models are at 3-4 weeks, but most 2TB Pro Max versions and nearly all iPhone 18 Pro models remain available for launch day.
  • Supply issues also shaped the cuts, with the new variable-aperture camera constraining Pro output and hinge-related production challenges weighing on the foldable Duo ahead of its October 16 pre-orders.

Insights

Will Apple's radical new foldable device cannibalize its own iPhone 18 Pro sales, or has the smartphone market finally hit its price ceiling?
Could unexpected manufacturing bottlenecks and delayed standard models secretly derail Apple's critical 2026 holiday market dominance?
Are aggressive financing deals failing to mask consumer fatigue over Apple's seemingly incremental hardware upgrades this year?