iPhone 17 Wait Times Highlight Product Mix Challenges, UBS Reports

Apple’s iPhone 17 launch is showing mixed wait times across markets, with UBS Evidence Lab noting that product mix, rather than pure demand, is driving availability trends. While higher-end Pro models are performing steadily, longer delays for the base version raise questions about consumer behavior.

In the U.S., the iPhone 17 Pro Max faces an average 26-day wait, nearly unchanged from the iPhone 16 Pro Max at 27 days and shorter than the 39-day wait for the 15 Pro Max. The iPhone 17 Pro averages 12 days, quicker than the 16 Pro’s 18 days. Apple’s new iPhone 17 Air holds at nine days, aligning closely with the 16 Plus. However, the 17 Base shows a 13-day delay, up from eight days last year, signaling possible shifts in buyer preference.

European and Japanese markets show similar dynamics. Europe’s 17 Pro Max holds at 24 days, but the 17 Base averages 17 days, more than double last year’s figure. In Japan, the 17 Pro Max waits at 25 days, slightly shorter than last year, while the 17 Base stretches to 24 days compared with 15 previously.

China presents a unique case, as regulators have not yet approved the iPhone 17 Air. Wait times for the 17 Pro and Pro Max hover around 25 days, significantly longer than the prior cycle, while the 17 Base has also extended by over two weeks.

UBS analysts highlighted that Apple launched seven models this year, down from nine previously, while the iPhone 17 Base now starts at $799 with 256GB storage. These changes may be nudging buyers toward cheaper options, potentially weighing on Apple’s average selling prices.

UBS concluded that while high-end demand remains solid, lineup shifts and regional variations are distorting year-over-year comparisons, making product mix a critical factor in assessing iPhone 17 demand.