New sales data issued by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) revealed a clear trend among users towards purchasing the highest-priced Apple versions, as the iPhone 17 Pro Max topped the list of the best-selling models in the new series.
The numbers showed that the iPhone 17 Pro Max accounted for 27% of the total early sales of the iPhone 17 series, while the iPhone 17 Pro came in second place with 25%. Thus, the share of the Pro models combined reached 52% of total initial sales, which is a notable increase compared to the iPhone 16 series, in which the share of the Pro and Pro Max together did not exceed 39%.
In contrast, the standard iPhone 17 maintained a strong presence of 22%, confirming its continuation as the primary choice for the middle class of users. As for the iPhone Air model,
Despite the marketing hype that accompanied its launch, it achieved only 6% of early sales, declining from the performance of the iPhone 16 Plus, which recorded 8% during the same period last year.
When returning to the previous generation’s numbers, the iPhone 16 Pro Max topped sales by 23%, followed by the iPhone 16 by 21%, then the iPhone 16 Pro by 16%.
This shift in the iPhone 17 series indicates the willingness of a larger number of users to pay a higher price in exchange for the best specifications, especially with the improvements related to thermal performance in the new Pro models, thanks to the aluminum chassis and the vapor chamber cooling system, which has been reflected positively on the gaming experience.
In the same context, the data showed that the exclusive advantages of the Pro models, such as larger screens, advanced camera systems, and longer battery life, are still the deciding factor for a wide segment of buyers, superior to factors such as thinness or the middle price category. The results also showed Apple’s continued difficulty in establishing a strong position for a fourth model located between the basic category and the Pro category.
Overall, although these numbers reflect only early sales, they confirm a recurring pattern that Apple has witnessed over several successive generations: strong demand for the Pro and Pro Max models, stable interest in the base model, and fluctuating performance for alternative versions.
