Apple iPhone Air "minor episode" does not change confidence, analysts: optimistic about the upgrade replacement wave

According to Zhitong Finance APP, Apple Inc. (AAPL.US) began pre-sales for the iPhone 17 last week. Analysts believe that despite some concerns raised by the iPhone Air, consumer interest in this new smartphone series remains strong.

The analyst team led by Dan Ives at Wedbush Securities wrote in a report to clients: "We expect pre-sales of the iPhone 17 to increase by 5% to 10% compared to last year. Our estimates suggest that about 20% of the 1.5 billion global Apple smartphone users have not upgraded their phones in the past four years. For Cupertino (the headquarters of Apple), this represents a significant upgrade opportunity, and Tim Cook and his team are looking to leverage the largest consumer install base in the world to drive sales."

"While skeptics and pessimists regarding the iPhone 17 may point out the initial lack of Apple smart features in this series, we believe that with the launch of four new iPhone models and all models going on sale this weekend, Apple's focus is on driving a strong upgrade cycle before the end of the year."

Wedbush maintains an "Outperform" rating on Apple stock, with a target price of $270.

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo from Tianfeng International Securities also noted strong demand for the iPhone 17 series, believing that this series is more favored by consumers this year compared to last year.

Kuo stated on the X platform: "The pre-sale performance of the iPhone 17 series is better than last year, which is a good sign for Apple's financial performance in the third quarter of fiscal year 2025."

The iPhone Air is an uncertain factor. This phone was highly anticipated before its release and received high praise from the media during the launch event. However, due to regulatory concerns regarding its eSIM card, shipments of this lightweight smartphone to the Chinese market have been suspended.

Wedbush analysts believe this is merely a "short-term hiccup" for Apple. Currently, Apple is working to ensure that this product can be launched for sale on China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom "as soon as possible."

Wedbush analysts stated: "While this is a short-term setback in the highly anticipated new model release process for Apple, we believe that under Tim Cook's dual role as 10% politician and 90% CEO, Apple will soon receive regulatory approval to sell its popular products in this important region, ensuring smoother future development for the company."

Additionally, Kuo mentioned that he believes the iPhone Air is a product that can only be fully appreciated through personal experience.

Kuo stated: "Personally, I believe that products like the iPhone Air may not stimulate purchasing desire just by looking at the parameters online, but after experiencing it in-store, people may feel an impulse to buy."

Earlier this month, Apple launched its latest iPhone series, which includes the lightweight new model iPhone Air starting at $999