Jefferies Flags Weakening Demand for iPhone 18 Pro Models

If you've been eyeing an iPhone 18 Pro and worried about waiting weeks to get your hands on one, here's some news — you might not have to wait long at all. And that's actually not great news for Apple investors.

Jefferies analyst Edison Lee published a research note Monday flagging what the firm sees as mounting evidence that demand for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max is cooling off. The warning signs? Shorter-than-expected delivery times, softer resale prices on the secondary market, and intel gathered from Apple's own supply chain. When delivery windows shrink, it typically means fewer people are fighting over limited stock — which can signal that the hype just isn't there the way Apple would like.

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Resale prices are another useful real-world gauge of consumer enthusiasm. When a flagship phone commands strong prices on the secondary market, it usually means demand is outpacing supply. Declining resale values, on the other hand, suggest buyers aren't exactly scrambling. Combined with supply chain chatter pointing to order cuts, Jefferies is painting a picture of a premium product that may be struggling to justify its price tag in the current economic climate.

For everyday Apple fans, none of this means the iPhone 18 Pro is a bad phone — it just might mean you'll have more negotiating power at checkout than in previous years. For shareholders, though, premium iPhones are a critical revenue driver, so any demand softness in the Pro tier is worth watching closely. Apple has not publicly commented on the Jefferies findings.

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