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With iPhone X looming, report says iPhone 8 is Apple’s slowest-selling iPhone since 2013

Published Sep 25th, 2017 8:51AM EDT
iPhone 8 vs. iPhone 7
Image: Apple

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The iPhone 8’s launch weekend is now behind us, but don’t expect Apple to share any sales numbers. It hasn’t done that for a few years now. Other companies still try to accurately track new iPhone sales though, and a new report says the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus haven’t been selling as well as you might have expected.

According to data from Localytics, an analytics company that provided similar estimates in previous years, the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus have sold fewer units than the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus last year, and even fewer than the iPhone 5s in 2013:

Comparing first weekend adoption of the iPhone 8 models to previous models shows a notable, albeit not dramatic, difference. Last year, we reported that the iPhone 7 model garnered 1% adoption during the first weekend of sales, which was lower than 2015’s iPhone 6 launch, which grabbed 2% in its first weekend. The iPhone 8 Plus on the other hand had a slightly stronger first weekend compared to previous ‘Plus’ models, as the 7 Plus secured 0.2% in 2016 and the 6 Plus grabbed 0.3% in 2015.

Image source: Localytics

These graphics show new iPhone launch weekend sales, as measured by Localytics, and include all iPhone launches since 2013:

Image source: Localytics

The iPhone 8’s slow adoption is seen as a good sign nonetheless, as it signals a strong interest in the iPhone X that’s going to launch in early November, the report notes. It might also be good news for Apple, since the company stands to benefit if people opt for its pricier tenth-anniversary iPhone over the 8 and 8 Plus.

Localytics also said that iOS 11 adoption is slightly slower than it was with iOS 10. 22% of the devices it tracks upgraded to iOS 11 in the first six days, compared to 26% for iOS 10 last year.

Chris Smith Senior Writer

Chris Smith has been covering consumer electronics ever since the iPhone revolutionized the industry in 2008. When he’s not writing about the most recent tech news for BGR, he brings his entertainment expertise to Marvel’s Cinematic Universe and other blockbuster franchises.

Outside of work, you’ll catch him streaming almost every new movie and TV show release as soon as it's available.