If you’ve read my iPhone XR Vs iPhone XS and Vs iPhone XS Max guides, you’ll know that it is actually Apple AAPL +1.47%’s new budget-friendly XR which is by far the most exciting model this year. But now the iPhone XR is finally available to buy, something appears very wrong…

On Friday respected Loup Ventures analyst Gene Munster expressed his surprise that the iPhone XR was the first new iPhone in generations not to sell out within hours of going on sale. But now it’s much worse.

Three days later it appears every capacity and colour of iPhone XR model on Apple.com is still available with launch day shipping (October 26th).

This raises one obvious counterargument: maybe Apple managed to make so many iPhone XRs that it can meet any demand? The problem is this isn’t convincing.

First, Apple has never managed to do that in the 11-year history of the iPhone - shipping dates slip from days to weeks often in minutes. Second, the iPhone XR sales date was delayed a full month behind the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max because of widely reported production problems. For Apple to have solved these problems then produced record-breaking numbers seems outlandish at best.

The hope, of course, is the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max ride to the rescue.

To that end, sales have been positive with early reports stating they have sold more than the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus during the same period last year. That said, they were a fourth generation design with the all-new iPhone X (also delayed that year) looming on the horizon. Furthermore, sales of both the iPhone 7 and iPhone 6S before it are reported as being higher.

So, given the iPhone XR was expected to sell more than the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max combined, something is amiss.

Especially, to reiterate my opening statement, the iPhone XR really is the model you should buy. It retains the best core features of the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, combines them with better battery life and comes in a more head-turning range of colours. In fact, you can buy two 64GB iPhone XRs for just $50 more than one 512GB iPhone XS Max.

Some clarity may arrive early next month as Apple is due to report its next financial quarter on November 1st. The company never breaks down iPhone sales by model, but (*refreshes pages, finds all iPhone XR models still available day one*) cause for serious concern is building…

By: DocMemory
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