In recent days, discussions about the "iPhone 16 series" have once again ignited consumer enthusiasm. On April 24th, according to the well-known leaker "LeaksApplePro," Apple is planning to increase the starting storage capacity of the iPhone 16 Pro to 256GB, while the price may remain at the current level of $999 (starting at 7999 yuan domestically). This news immediately sparked lively discussions among netizens, with many expressing, "Finally getting rid of the mediocre 128GB."
Currently, the iPhone 15 Pro series phones on the market with a starting storage space of 128GB are finding it challenging to meet consumers' daily usage needs. With the prevalence of high-definition videos and large applications, even simple tasks like taking photos, recording videos, and using social apps like WeChat can quickly fill up the phone's storage space. Therefore, the iPhone 16 Pro series will increase the starting storage to 256GB, undoubtedly greatly enhancing the user's storage experience.
However, despite the storage capacity increase being a major highlight that consumers anticipate, Apple still struggles to regain lost market share in the fiercely competitive market with just this improvement alone. Recent data released by the market research firm Counterpoint Research shows a significant drop in iPhone sales in the Chinese market in the first quarter, with a steep decline of 19%, causing Apple to fall to third place in the intense market competition. This performance is considered the worst quarterly performance for the iPhone in the Chinese market since 2020.
At the same time, global statistics also reflect a downward trend in Apple iPhone sales worldwide. A report by the well-known research firm IDC indicates a 9.6% year-on-year decrease in global iPhone shipments in the first quarter. Several institutions analyzing this trend predict that the decline in Apple's sales in the Chinese market may exceed its overall performance globally.
