iPhone 15 Lineup - Apple and Samsung continue to lead the US market

On September 12, Apple unveiled the iPhone 15 lineup, including four new models: iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. As expected, the company is bringing a USB-C port to the iPhone, replacing the lightning port after ten years.

Starting at 5 a.m. PDT, September 15th, Apple is accepting preorders. Less than an hour after pre-orders started, the iPhone 15 Pro Max has completely sold out, with most colors and options having a 2-3 weeks delay.

Lighting was introduced on September 12, 2012, in conjunction with the iPhone 5. Compared with USB-C, which is already ubiquitous on Android devices, today's Lightning port feels outdated. However, it has been Apple’s cash cow.

The MFi Program is a licensing program that Apple introduced for developers of hardware and software peripherals that work with Apple's iPod, iPad, and iPhone. In addition to Apple's $99 annual membership fee, manufacturers who apply for MFi certification also pay $2,060 per factory audit, according to the Science and Innovation Board Daily.

The considerable profitability that the lighting port has makes it understandable that Apple retained it even though it appears behind the times. However, in October last year, the EU adopted a law requiring universal USB-C chargers by 2024. In order to keep the European market, Apple was compelled to adhere to the new regulation, making the iPhone 15 lineup the first lineup to bid farewell to the lightning port.

In the US mobile phone market, Apple and Samsung continue to lead with substantial market shares, holding steady at 54-57% and 29-30% respectively from August 2022 to August 2023. Meanwhile, smaller players such as Motorola, Google, and LG maintain their positions with minor fluctuations in their market shares.

As for Chinese vendors, OnePlus and Xiaomi have exhibited gradual growth over the years, showcasing their increasing influence in the market. Huawei maintains a relatively low presence. Last month, Huawei unexpectedly released the Mate 60 Pro, equipped with chips produced by SMIC's most advanced process, officially returning to the 5G high-end market.

Hangyu Fan, Joshua Shangyi, and Max Ren Contributed to this article