Apple's iPhone 17 and 17 Pro Max are selling well, but the iPhone Air is not as popular.
There are plenty of reasons for Apple to be happy with Counterpoint's first estimate of iPhone 17 series sales, but also one big cause for concern.
The iPhone 17, the successor to 2025's top-selling phone, is reportedly performing even better than the standard iPhone 16. While it's still early, the 6.3-inch iPhone 17 could dominate smartphone sales in the first half of 2026.
Following the iPhone 16's successful launch last year, the iPhone 17 has nearly doubled its predecessor's initial 10-day sales in China, with a 31 percent increase in both China and the US.
The iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max have seen a 12 percent increase in the same countries compared to the iPhone 16 Pro models, while the iPhone Air is 14 percent more successful than the iPhone 16 Plus.
Although the iPhone Air's early performance is decent, expectations were likely higher considering the iPhone 16 Plus's unpopularity.
It is unlikely that other smartphone vendors are content with the iPhone Air being considered a "niche" product, especially after significant marketing investments.
While other companies might give up, Apple will likely give the iPhone Air more time to develop, similar to their approach with the "mini" and "Plus" models. If the Air performs slightly better than the last Plus, it may earn more time.
Overall, the iPhone 17 series has exceeded the iPhone 16 family's initial sales in China and the US by 14 percent, suggesting a stable future for Apple without major changes in 2026.
However, analysts anticipate a foldable iPhone in 2026, and the standard iPhone 18 could be delayed to spring 2027 to introduce a new premium iPhone line the previous fall.
Despite the strong start of the base iPhone 17, this remains a risky move for Apple.
The success of Apple's new iPhones, particularly the A19-powered iPhone 17 with its dual 48MP camera and 256GB base storage, is yet to be determined over the next year.
The iPhone 17 is expected to outsell the Pro models, marking a shift from last year when the iPhone 16 Pro Max outsold the standard iPhone 16 before the latter became the top-selling smartphone in early 2025.
This year, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is unlikely to surpass the standard iPhone 17, potentially impacting Apple's profit margins.