Apple Inc. (AAPL.US) iPhone Air: "Minor setback" does not change confidence, Analysts: optimistic about the trend of upgrading and replacing devices.

Apple Inc. (AAPL.US) started pre-sales of the iPhone 17 last week. Analysts believe that despite some concerns about the iPhone Air, consumer interest in this new smartphone series remains strong. The analyst team led by Dan Ives of 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. Based on our estimates, about 20% of the 1.5 billion Apple Inc. phone users worldwide have not upgraded their phones in the past four years. This represents a huge upgrade opportunity for Cupertino (where Apple Inc. is headquartered), and Tim Cook and his team are looking to leverage the world's largest consumer install base to boost sales." "While skeptics and pessimists of the iPhone 17 series may point out the initial lack of Apple Inc.'s smart features, we believe that with the launch of four new iPhone models and all models being available for sale this weekend, Apple Inc.'s focus is on driving a strong upgrade cycle before the end of the year." Wedbush maintains an "outperform" rating on Apple Inc. stock with a target price of $270. Tianfeng International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also pointed out that demand for the iPhone 17 series is strong, and he believes that this series will be more popular with consumers this year than last year. Kuo posted 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 Inc.'s financial performance in the third quarter of the 2025 fiscal year." The iPhone Air is a variable. This phone was highly anticipated before its release, and it received high praise from the media during the launch event. However, due to concerns about its eSIM card by regulatory agencies, shipments of this slim smartphone to the Chinese market have been temporarily suspended. Wedbush analysts believe that this is just a "short-term hiccup" for Apple Inc. The company is currently working to ensure that this product can be sold "as soon as possible" through China Mobile, Telecom, and Unicom. Wedbush analysts said, "Although this is a short-term twist in the highly anticipated launch of Apple Inc.'s new model, we believe that with Tim Cook's dual roles as 10% politician and 90% CEO, Apple Inc. will soon obtain approval from regulatory agencies and be able to sell its popular products in this important region to ensure a smoother future for the company." In addition, Kuo stated that he believes the iPhone Air is a product that can only be fully appreciated by experiencing it personally. Kuo said, "Personally, I think products like the iPhone Air may not trigger people's buying desires just by looking at the specifications online, but after experiencing it in the store, people may feel the urge to buy." Earlier this month, Apple Inc. launched the latest iPhone series, including the slim new model iPhone Air, with a starting price of $999.