Prior to the launch of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, it was reckoned that the smaller, 4.7-inch model would greatly outsell its more sizeable counterpart. After all, the phablet market was / is still considered niche in spite of its growing popularity, and given how long iPhone fans had been content with a 4-inch-or-smaller display, the 5.5-inch canvas of the iPhone 6 Plus — and the sheer size of the device’s footprint as a result — would surely prompt the users towards the standard iPhone 6. But following on from a report last week documenting reservation figures in China, which suggested that the 6 Plus was not just more popular than expected, but actually favored over the smaller variant, it has now emerged that Apple may be switching its production strategy to cope with the unforeseen interest.
As per Digitimes, Apple is reshuffling its system of production to ensure that more iPhone 6 Plus units are manufactured. This will lessen the focus on the 4.7-inch model, which will lose out slightly in terms of units shipped, but given the unexpected demand for the iPhone 6 Plus, it’s a logical step that will ensure consumers get the device they want more quickly.
Shipments for the iPhone 6 will drop by "3-4 million units" compared with original expectation, continues the report, but with many prospective iPhone 6 Plus owners having been unable to secure their desired handset for a number of weeks now, this change should pay heed to the rather tedious waiting game.
Of the 10 million new iPhone units Apple shifted in its very first weekend, the overwhelming majority were iPhone 6. But with the Chinese market showing something of an affinity to the bigger device, the 6 Plus is definitely picking up, and with both handsets having managed to exceed 4 million reservations in China in the first 24 hours alone, the October 17th launch cannot arrive quickly enough for both Apple and its considerable army of Chinese fans.
The Bendgate saga may have blemished the launch of Apple’s biggest smartphone to date, but with the "scandal" now seemingly dead in the water, the iPhone 6 Plus is clearly selling in high numbers.
With Samsung rolling out the Galaxy Note 4 this month, it’s going to be a fierce battle at the top end of the smartphone market.
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