Malcolm Owen
The iPhone 12 was the highest-selling iPhone of the current generation in the two months after launch, according to a new survey — but the iPhone 12 mini is falling behind.
In its annual breakdown of iPhone sales, CIRP analysts claim the current generation of iPhones are selling proportionately better after launch than the iPhone 11 range did in its first month of sales. New iPhone models like the iPhone 12 Pro accounted for 76% of iPhone sales in the United States in the October and November after launch, compared to the 69% share the 2019 releases managed in September 2019.
Of the four new models, the iPhone 12 performed the best with a 27% share of US iPhone sales over the period, with the iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max being relatively close in proportion. This fairly even distribution of sales between the three models, as well as Apple producing four models instead of three for 2020, means the highest proportional percentage isn't as great as what was observed for the previous generation.
![A graph showing iPhone sales distribution in the fall post-launch period of 2020 and 2019 [CIRP]](https://photos5.appleinsider.com/gallery/39632-76039-cirp-iphone-models-us-post-launch-xl.jpg)
In the iPhone 11 generation, the iPhone 11 itself took the bulk of sales, acquiring 39% of total US iPhone sales in the period, while the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max secured a combined 30% share.
The exception to the roster is the iPhone 12 mini, which "seems to have been lost among the other models," according to CIRP partner and co-founder Josh Lowitz. "Apple not only launched a wider range of new models than ever before, it also divided that launch into two pairs of models, so comparison to earlier launches is tricky."
The iPhone 12 mini only secured 6% of US iPhone sales in the period, despite having a smaller form factor and lower price. According to CIRP, its share is only slightly higher than the iPhone XR, the iPhone 11, and the second-generation iPhone SE, which are all sold at a slightly lower price than the mini.
"It seems that its higher price point compared to those three models limited the iPhone 12 mini appeal," CIRP offers.
The data is based on a survey of 243 US Apple customers who bought an iPhone in the four weeks following the launch of the iPhone Pro Max and iPhone 12 mini. By opting to analyze a survey rather than sales figures, the results could be viewed with some skepticism, both due to the accuracy of answers from participants, and from the relatively small number of people surveyed. There is some support for the premise from other sources, however.
While the iPhone 12 mini initially seemed to be driving stronger demand for iPhones, other analysts have suggested it is the weakest of the range. TF Securities' Ming-Chi Kuo saw lower than expected demand for the model in November, while UBS saw stable supply and demand for it in December, something it took as a sign of softer overall demand.
JP Morgan saw a moderate increase in lead time for the mini in December, though well below the Pro counterparts, again indicating weaker demand.
Wesley Hilliard
AppleInsider Staff
Andrew Orr
Amber Neely
William Gallagher
32 Comments
The Mini should have been stainless steel.
So much for theory that there is a large market for small phones. Just because a few squawkers on tech blogs said there was doesn’t mean there is. Tech blogs are about as far away from reality as it gets.
The mini is a great size. It's my opinion that smaller phones are better for one handed use, making them more practical for multitasking. It is a portable device after all.
However does the Mini really offer much of an experience change from the iPhone X? Sure it brings over the new materials and 5G - but those don't translate into much of a real world change for most users.
All the new hardware that lays the ground work for future Apple innovation only came in the pro models. The mini didn't even get lidar which seems to be an area of intense interest for apple, and thus likely leaving the mini out of the 'next big thing'.