Apple announces Q4 results, shifts 51m iPhones in three months

Apple iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C

Apple iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C




Apple has held its latest quarterly profits call with the Cupertino-based company confirming it shifted a staggering 51 million iPhones during the last three months of 2013.


Despite the flagship iPhone 5S having been hit by widespread stock shortages at launch, Apple has announced that its smartphone sales between October 2013 and December 2013, the launch window for its new phone, set a new company record.


With 51 million iPhone handsets sold, the figure marks a near 10 per cent year-on-year rise in sales, up from 47.8 million handsets sold during the same period 12 months earlier.


Despite announcing record iPhone sales, Apple’s Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer failed to detail how the iPhone sales split was distributed between the outgoing iPhone 5, flagship iPhone 5S and cheaper, more colourful iPhone 5C.


While the company’s iPhone sales are sure to grab headlines, the recent launch of the iPad Air and iPad Mini 2 have also set records.


Following the two tablets’ launches late last year, Apple has announced that Q4 iPad sales topped 26 million units, up on the 22.9 Apple tablets sold during the previous year’s final quarter.


On top of strong mobile performances, Oppenheimer suggested that Q4 2013 was “one of the best Mac quarters ever” with 4.8 Mac devices shifted, again up on the 4.1 million units a year previous.


It’s not all sunshine and lollipops for Apple, however, with the company’s former star performer, the iPod continuing to see drastic sales declines.


With Apple’s CFO suggesting he expects the iPod slump to continue, the company revealed iPad sales were down 52 per cent year-on-year.


Next, read all the latest iPhone 6 news and rumours