Apple considers cheaper HomePod in face of lackluster sales: In a note seen by AppleInsider, Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities sees lackluster demand through the supply chain for the HomePod. As a result of market forces, and strong competition in the sector, he suspects that Apple is considering building a lower-cost model for a future release — but has not as of yet started any serious work on the concept.
It isn't clear how accurate the HomePod sales figures that Kuo is predicting are. Initial HomePod sales reports derived from a questionable source that has historically underestimated sales suggested that Apple stores were selling 10 HomePods per day per retail location, meaning that Apple is still selling around 21,000 per week in the three countries that it is available.
If the numbers are accurate, and stay at 10 units per day, this would lead to 630,000 sold just through Apple Stores through the end of the year not including what's already been sold, units sold by retailers like Target and Best Buy, and what may be sold by Apple online. This also does not include any holiday increase in sales, as Christmas 2018 will be the first holiday season that the HomePod will be available.
If Apple sells 630,000 HomePods just at retail, this is still a $220 million business in itself.
It isn't clear how accurate the HomePod sales figures that Kuo is predicting are. Initial HomePod sales reports derived from a questionable source that has historically underestimated sales suggested that Apple stores were selling 10 HomePods per day per retail location, meaning that Apple is still selling around 21,000 per week in the three countries that it is available.
If the numbers are accurate, and stay at 10 units per day, this would lead to 630,000 sold just through Apple Stores through the end of the year not including what's already been sold, units sold by retailers like Target and Best Buy, and what may be sold by Apple online. This also does not include any holiday increase in sales, as Christmas 2018 will be the first holiday season that the HomePod will be available.
If Apple sells 630,000 HomePods just at retail, this is still a $220 million business in itself.