Apple reports record sale in first weekend

Washington

Apple said yesterday it had sold over 13 million iPhone 6s and 6s Plus during their first weekend on the market, setting a record for its marquee product.

The company beat its previous record of 10 million in sales for the previous generation of iPhones in its first weekend in 2014. This year’s results benefited from the inclusion of the Chinese market, where regulatory problems delayed the gadget’s debut last year.

Analysts had expected the company to sell 12 million to 13 million phones this past weekend.

“Customers’ feedback is incredible, and they are loving 3D Touch and Live Photos,” Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook said in a statement. “We can’t wait to bring iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus to customers in even more countries on October 9.”

Analysts had said Apple was virtually assured to set a new record for iPhone sales with the inclusion of China, which many expect will soon be the company’s largest market.

But the figures announced yesterday suggest Apple’s iPhone sales were up overall, said FBR Capital Markets senior analyst Daniel Ives. He said the sales figures should ease investors’ concerns about how Apple will fare amid economic turmoil in China.

Moor Insight & Strategy analyst Patrick Moorhead said the sales figures also suggested Apple seized some market share from Samsung Electronics Co Ltd its chief rival in the smartphone market.