iPhone XR Could Account for Over Half of New iPhone Sales in Second Half of 2018

Global shipments of Apple's new iPhone lineup should exceed 85 million units in the second half of the year, according to research conducted by DigiTimes, with the more budget-friendly iPhone XR expected to account for over half of all sales.

iphonexr

Shipments of the LCD-based 6.1-inch iPhone XR are expected to account for over 50 percent of combined shipments of the new three models being released, although the availability of the iPhone XR will come on October 26 compared to September 21 for iPhone Xs and Xs Max.

Total iPhone shipments – including older-generation models – are expected to top 127 million units in the second half of 2018, representing "modest growth" for the tech giant's mobile business. Meanwhile, Apple's total smartphone revenue is likely to reach nearly $100 billion in the second half of the year, which is a 10 percent increase compared to the previous year.

The estimates for the new iPhone XS, XS Max and XR are said to be based on supply chain information, combined with Apple's annual sales and the average selling prices over previous years.

Apple's lower-spec iPhone XR features an edge-to-edge "Liquid Retina" LCD display with wide color and True Tone support, and the same all-screen design as the OLED-based iPhone Xs and Xs Max, but with an aluminum frame instead of stainless steel.

Other downgrades from the iPhone XS that make the XR cheaper include a single-lens rear facing camera instead of the dual lens on the XS, and a lack of 3D Touch support.

It comes in White, Black, Blue, Coral, Yellow, and (PRODUCT)Red colors, and will be available in 64GB, 128GB and 256GB models. Pre-orders for Apple's new smartphones begin on Friday, September 14, ahead of an official launch a week later on Friday, September 21 in over 30 countries and territories.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

Apple Logo Zoomed

Tim Cook Teases Plans for Apple's Upcoming 50th Anniversary

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:54 pm PST by
Apple turns 50 this year, and its CEO Tim Cook has promised to celebrate the milestone. The big day falls on April 1, 2026. "I've been unusually reflective lately about Apple because we have been working on what do we do to mark this moment," Cook told employees today, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "When you really stop and pause and think about the last 50 years, it makes your heart ...
wwdc sans text feature

Apple Rumored to Announce New Product on February 19

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:22 pm PST by
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld. The report, citing industry sources, is available in English on Macworld. Apple announced the iPhone 16e on Wednesday, February 19 last year, so the iPhone 17e would be unveiled exactly one year later if this rumor is accurate. It is quite uncommon for Apple to unveil...
Finder Siri Feature

Why Apple's iOS 26.4 Siri Upgrade Will Be Bigger Than Originally Promised

Friday February 6, 2026 3:06 pm PST by
In the iOS 26.4 update that's coming this spring, Apple will introduce a new version of Siri that's going to overhaul how we interact with the personal assistant and what it's able to do. The iOS 26.4 version of Siri won't work like ChatGPT or Claude, but it will rely on large language models (LLMs) and has been updated from the ground up. Upgraded Architecture The next-generation...
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by
While the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate is now available ahead of a public release, the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April. Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far. iOS 26.3 iPhone to Android Transfer Tool iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
maxresdefault

Apple Shows Off a Key Reason to Upgrade to the iPhone 17

Saturday February 7, 2026 9:26 am PST by
Apple today shared an ad that shows how the upgraded Center Stage front camera on the latest iPhones improves the process of taking a group selfie. "Watch how the new front facing camera on iPhone 17 Pro takes group selfies that automatically expand and rotate as more people come into frame," says Apple. While the ad is focused on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, the regular iPhone...

Top Rated Comments

Mydel Avatar
97 months ago
I hope they will take huge financial hit next quarter. The prices are a joke. And that comes from the person who can afford it! I need to see the review of the XR to decide. Overall I would say that is my next phone but I wanna see how the screen looks like. Im not overly optimistic taking under consideration the PPI
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Ebok Avatar
97 months ago
I hope they will take huge financial hit next quarter. The prices are a joke. And that comes from the person who can afford it! I need to see the review of the XR to decide. Overall I would say that is my next phone but I wanna see how the screen looks like. Im not overly optimistic taking under consideration the PPI
Agree. I can afford the high end model without taking a financial hit.

But as I get older I’m becoming more smart with my money. $1700 in Canada for the Xs Max because it has OLED and a better camera is just stupid.
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
M.PaulCezanne Avatar
97 months ago
720p display for $750?
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dan9700 Avatar
97 months ago
I just want that blue wallpaper
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
69Mustang Avatar
97 months ago
In a way, I think it was smart for Apple to offer a separate launch, which emphasizes the XR to have its own sole launch in October by itself.
That separate launch is to ensure first adopters choose the top of the line, higher cost offerings. The S will have it's moment in the sun all to itself. It is the smart play.

The R is going to be a compelling offering for Apple. Minus the screen tech (OLED), resolution, and dual cams, the R has virtually all the goodies of the S. The resolution shouldn't be that big of a deal for anyone coming from one of Apple's previous none - plus models. Might be a let down for Plus model owners though. Either way, I like the R. My girls are getting this phone... next year.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Narcaz Avatar
97 months ago
Ya think? Genius prediction given the prohibitive pricing on the XS models... :rolleyes:

Glassed Silver:mac

Faced with an unclear upgrade path, 6/S/7 Plus owners could decide to wait another year instead of buying the Xr with a lower display ppi and lack of dual camera/ 3D Touch. The clear successor in form of the XS Max won't be an option due to increased price. Apple is pushing too hard on price elasticity with the XS Max. It almost feels like they abandoned the european mass market.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)