While iPhone demand has shown signs of revival, especially in China, the upcoming earnings report will reveal initial sales of the newly launched iPhone 16 lineup and provide insight into Apple's outlook for the coming quarter.

The report is expected to address issues related to the progress of integrating Apple Intelligence features, which are considered essential to maintain Apple's competitive advantage in leveraging artificial intelligence.

The focus of the announcement — expected tomorrow (Thursday) — will be guidance for the first fiscal quarter, a period where Apple has previously seen strong demand, but is now overshadowed by questions about the company's AI strategy.

Unlike competitors like Samsung or Microsoft, which have embraced AI-driven product innovations, Apple's approach is more deliberate.

However, analysts predict Apple remains optimistic about the current cycle, especially with the iPhone 16 lineup and emerging Apple Intelligence features.

In the United States, Apple recently launched a limited version of Apple Intelligence for English-speaking users. However, this rollout is not yet available in major international markets, including China and Europe.

The partial rollout, coupled with competition from Chinese brands like Huawei, Vivo, Xiaomi and Honor, has fueled speculation that some consumers may delay purchases until 2025, when the feature becomes more widespread.

Industry forecasts show Apple iPhone sales will rise a modest 3.8% in the fourth quarter, ending a two-quarter decline. Overall revenue is expected to rise about 5.7%, with the Greater China region contributing significantly.

Analysts also noted that some iPhone models, including a variant of the iPhone 16 Plus, benefited from promotional discounts on platforms like Pinduoduo, potentially boosting Apple’s market position. This helped Apple secure the second-largest market share in China during the July-September period, according to IDC data.

Additional revenue growth is expected from other product lines, with iPad sales expected to rise 10.1% to $7.09 billion, driven by new models offering improved performance.

Services, which includes the App Store, are forecast to grow 13.3%, albeit at a slower pace than in previous quarters. The segment is facing new challenges, particularly in Europe, where regulators have accused Apple of violating antitrust rules.

The deeper investigation revolves around Apple's exclusive deal with Alphabet to make Google the default search engine on iOS — a deal that is currently under investigation in the United States.

Additionally, Apple's financial report will reflect a $10 billion, or 11.5 billion, tax charge related to a European Union court ruling against Apple in a tax dispute in Ireland.

With these factors in mind, Apple's quarterly growth results will provide both short-term perspective and the company's approach to sustaining growth in a competitive, AI-focused technology sector.

(Source Techeconomy)