Apple's iPhone sales down 13% in Q3, accounts for less than half of total revenues

In a continuing downward trend, Apple's iPhone revenue was down 13% year-over-year, according to Apple's recently released earnings report, with the segment now accounting for less than half of the company's total quarterly revenue.

Apple released earnings for its third fiscal quarter of 2019 after the close of trading on Tuesday. This quarter historically is the slowest in terms of sales as customers anticipate the release of the new iPhones, expected to debut at a special event in September.

As with the past three quarters, iPhone revenue suffered a year-over-year decline. Apple did see a decrease in sales in China year over year — dropping $300 million compared to this quarter last year, but it was offset by growth in nearly every other geographical region.

Cook made note that Apple has experienced better year-over-year growth in China than in the last two quarters. This is largely due to government stimulus in the form of VAT decreases, pricing action, trading, and growing engagement in mainland China. The App Store in China has been the driving force behind Services growth.

There was a silver lining to this quarter's iPhone results, however, as Cook said sales in retail and online stores returned to growth on a year-over-year basis. Further, the handset's active install base reached a new all-time high and was up from the same time last year in Apple's top 20 markets, Cook said.

Apple no longer provides iPhone unit sales, leaving only revenue figures to provide insight to iPhone performance.

While Apple has suffered reduced iPhone sales this quarter, it saw substantial growth in both wearables as well as services such as Apple News+ and Apple TV.

46 Comments

anantksundaram 20390 comments · 18 Years

About 5 years ago

In the long run, this is a good thing. Apple had way too much dependence on the iPhone.

MacPro 19838 comments · 18 Years

This is, in fact, fabulous news. It means no 'One Trick Pony' crap from the media (haha as if that won't stop), Apple is this doing this well with their many-legged stool folks.

avon b7 8010 comments · 20 Years

MacPro said:

This is, in fact, fabulous news. It means no 'One Trick Pony' crap from the media (haha as if that won't stop), Apple is this doing this well with their many-legged stool folks.

I wouldn't call it fabulous news. Three years of flat sales followed by three consecutive quarters with YoY declines is worrying seeing as iPhone still represents a huge chunk of revenues.

However, you are very right that those other areas are providing a safety net of sorts and giving the company more balance.

Clearly China, a key market, has taken a hit for obvious reasons but the iPhone question for many will be: has the worst passed? And what does that mean? Is iPhone likely to regain it's more than 50% slice of revenues or are sub 50% numbers the new norm? Perhaps barring the blowout quarter.

SpamSandwich 32917 comments · 19 Years

anantksundaram said:

In the long run, this is a good thing. Apple had way too much dependence on the iPhone.

Agree. And by the way, AAPL up 4%(!) in after hours trading!

ireland 17435 comments · 18 Years

Maybe reducing the prices a bit so people can afford an iPhone would be a start. The average phone buyer can’t afford to give $10M to marine research, Schiller. Most people struggle financially. Wish they weren’t so greedy. Base storage model XS at $999 is ridiculous.