iPhone 4S sales slowing as Apple readies iPhone 5 launch

By Salvador Rodriguez

July 23, 2012 12 AM PT

Analysts say they believe sales of Apple’s iPhone 4S have begun slowing as more users sit on the sidelines awaiting the arrival of the next iPhone.

With the Cupertino, Calif., tech company releasing its latest earnings report Tuesday, analysts expect that Apple will announce it sold fewer iPhone 4S units than it did in the previous quarter.

Apple sold more than 35 million of its latest smartphone last quarter, but Andy Hargreaves of Pacific Crest Securities told Bloomberg he expects this quarter’s number to be closer to 25 million while Katy Huberty of Morgan Stanley expects the number to be more than 31 million.

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A recent survey by ChangeWave Research is also showing evidence that a slow down is happening.

The survey shows 14% of all consumers are saying they are “very likely” to get the next iPhone while 17% say they are “somewhat likely.” The numbers are higher than last year when 10% of consumers said they were “very likely” and only 11.5% said they were “somewhat likely” to get the iPhone 4S.

And on the other end of the spectrum, the numbers have also improved for Apple with fewer people saying they are “unlikely” to get their next phone.

If the company does announce a lower number it will be a repetition of last year when iPhone 4 sales began to slow leading up to the launch of the iPhone 4S in October.

The sixth-generation iPhone, which some around the Web are mocking up, is expected to launch in October and come with a larger and improved screen.