Quarterly iPhone Sales Will Lag, Despite SE's Popularity, Says Analyst

Despite Apple’s “hit” with the $399 SE, launched in April (see 2004150049), the company’s fiscal Q3 numbers will be "suppressed” due to smartphone weakness in the U.S., said eMarketer Friday, before the company's Thursday earnings report for the quarter ended June 30. Most analysts expect Apple revenue to struggle to match last year's numbers as a result, but services will likely remain a growth area, with people spending more time on their smartphones during the pandemic, said analyst Yoram Wurmser. The analyst expects continued growth in App Store, iCloud and Apple Music revenue. Apple Pay should get a boost from heavier use of mobile pay platforms, he said. EMarketer expects Apple’s share of U.S. smartphone users to remain flat, at a 45.6% share by year-end; Android’s share will be 53.8%, dominating smartphone usage through 2022. U.S. iPad shipments will be “stagnant” at 79.5 million shipments this year for 45.1% of tablet share, from 45.6% last year. Some 53% of Americans, 176.1 million, will use a tablet at least once a month this year, said the research firm. In 2020, Apple will generate $24.83 billion in U.S. e-commerce sales, 10% higher than in 2019. Its 3.5% share, 10% higher than in 2019, is 3.5% of total U.S. e-commerce sales, it said.