Apple CEO tells Reuters he expects double-digit iPhone sales growth in holiday quarter
Apple CEO Tim Cook told Reuters he expects iPhone sales to rise by double digits year over year in Apple’s holiday-focused fiscal first quarter of 2026, a forecast that topped Wall Street estimates as the company cited demand constraints and China-related launch delays in the prior quarter.
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A stronger-than-expected outlook
Apple CEO Tim Cook said he expects iPhone sales in the current holiday-focused quarter to grow by double digits compared with a year earlier, and forecast overall company revenue growth of roughly 10% to 12%. The guidance, given in an interview with Reuters, exceeded analyst expectations tracked by LSEG.
The upbeat outlook arrives after Apple faced constraints meeting demand for certain iPhone models in the quarter that just ended. Cook said demand was difficult to satisfy for several iPhone 17 variants and some older iPhone 16 models.
China and product timing were key issues
Cook also pointed to delays in China around the launch of an iPhone Air model as a major factor weighing on sales in that market in the prior quarter. He characterized the delay as the “primary reason” the company’s sales contracted there, while also signaling optimism that Apple can return to growth in China in the new quarter.
Why investors are watching closely
Apple’s iPhone cycle remains the company’s key driver for revenue and sentiment, and holiday-quarter performance often shapes expectations for the rest of the fiscal year. Investors are also tracking whether supply constraints ease quickly enough to convert demand into shipped units, and whether Apple’s momentum holds in China amid competitive and regulatory pressures.
With the guidance now on the table, markets will be focused on follow-through: actual iPhone unit availability, regional mix, and whether China sales stabilize as delayed launches clear.