Apple’s iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus were released just over three weeks ago on September 16th here in the US. The crowds of Apple fans that gather across the country to buy a new iPhone on release day paled in comparison to previous launches, and Apple bears saw it as a sign that demand for Apple’s next-generation iPhones was just a fraction of what we’ve seen in previous years at launch. Was that the case? Were Apple’s new iPhone models really as “boring” as gadget bloggers said they were after seeing all the leaks leading up to the iPhone 7 event in early September?
No launch-weekend sales figures were announced this year, so we have no real way of knowing how well the iPhone is selling until Apple reports its September-quarter earnings later this month. Even without any hard numbers though, there are certainly some indications out there that Apple’s new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are a smash hit.
DON’T MISS: Does the iPhone 7 have any competition now?
There is no other globally available smartphone on Earth that is difficult to find one week after its release, let alone three weeks after launch. Apple’s iPhone 7 Plus, however, is still next to impossible to find in any Apple store. You can see for yourself how light stock is by checking the popular real-time Apple inventory checker iStockNow.
Stores in and around major cities have been getting daily shipments, but the most desirable models are typically sold out within hours of opening. The less sought-after iPhone 7 Plus models, such as gold iPhone 7 Pluses and units in some colors with 32GB of storage, can be found here and there. And if you want a Jet Black model or even a matte black iPhone 7 Plus, you can forget about it.
Of course, it’s not just Apple store locations that are having trouble keeping the iPhone 7 Plus in stock. It’s just as difficult to find at electronics retailers, and wireless carriers can’t keep it on store shelves either. Even online, orders placed on Apple’s website for a new iPhone 7 Plus will not ship for another 3 to 4 weeks — unless you want a Jet Black model, in which case you’re waiting 6 to 8 weeks for it to arrive.
Apple is scheduled to report its earnings for the September quarter on October 25th. The company’s total iPhone sales for the quarter and its iPhone ASPs will be our first indications of whether supply constraints or heavy demand is the cause of Apple’s iPhone 7 Plus shortages.
