The basic models of the latest iPhone family, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, are facing lukewarm sales in China.

According to market research firm Sandalwood Advisors, sales volume for basic models of the iPhone 14 series dropped 71% in the first 11 days post-launch, which included a week of pre-orders and four days of public release as of September 19, compared to last year’s iPhone 13 versions in the same sales period.

While basic models are not that popular in China's market, higher-priced models perform well. Sales of Pro and Pro Max jumped 38%, according to the Sandalwood report released last Friday.

In total, the iPhone 14’s overall line-up recorded a 6% decline in unit sales volume.

“The sales performance of the iPhone 14 series reflects the changes in the iPhone product line strategy amid the global macroeconomic downturn, deficient consumer demand, and rising supply chain costs,” Sandalwood said.

Earlier this month, TF Securities analyst Kuo Ming-chi said that the iPhone 14 Pro Max, the most expensive model, is expected to be the most popular, accounting for 30% to 35% of the new product line. Kuo is renowned for his precise analysis of Apple's business in China. 

In his latest report, it was said that orders of the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus were likely to be cut, and if such a production line switch is made, iPhone 14 Pro models would take up 60% to 65% of total shipments for the iPhone 14 series in the second half of 2022, up from a previous estimate of 55% to 60%.

China’s smartphone shipments plunged 31% in July to 19.1 million, according to the latest data by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology. For the first seven months of 2022, total smartphone shipments in China reached 153 million units, down 23% from the same period last year.