Apple stock has rallied in the two days following the release of its new iPhones, erasing the company’s 2025 losses.
With an around 4% gain on Monday, Apple stock is now up slightly more than 2% for the year, becoming the last of the tech megacaps to turn positive.
The company unveiled new iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods models on Friday, including the midrange $999 iPhone Air, marking the first significant redesign in years. Analysts say early shipping times suggest strong demand.
“Our tracking of iPhone ship dates on Apple’s own website, and various carrier websites, indicates that as of Sept. 22, ship time for the iPhone 17 (18 days) is more extended versus last year’s iPhone 16 (10 days),” Bank of America Securities analysts wrote in a note Monday.
Pre-orders in China, a key market for Apple, also point to robust demand.
Release-day photos from Beijing showed hundreds of customers lining up at the Sanlitun flagship store, while JD.com flagged record preorders for the 256GB base iPhone 17.
However, the iPhone Air is absent from the Chinese launch as regulators review its eSIM-only design.
Sustaining momentum in China remains a challenge for Apple, where Huawei and Xiaomi have eroded market share in recent years.
Apple is banking on its new lineup and temporary regulatory delays being resolved to maintain sales growth in the region.
In India, preorders rose about 19% year over year, setting the stage for a strong festival-season performance.
In the US, carriers are offering trade-in promotions to offset higher sticker prices, indicating Apple is managing cost sensitivity in its home market.
AI features and analyst optimism on Apple stock
Despite lagging in AI chip and data centre investment compared with rivals, Apple’s new devices include AI-driven features.
The AirPods Pro 3 automatically translates spoken text, while the new Apple Watch uses machine learning to warn users about high blood pressure risks.
Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said in a research note, “The Street is clearly underestimating this iPhone cycle in our view…after a few years of disappointing growth.”
Ives raised his price target for Apple shares to $310 from $270, implying a potential 26% gain from Friday’s close.
He added, “The AI monetization piece could add $75 to $100 per share to the Apple story over the coming few years as it finally plays out…No ‘AI premium’ is factored into Apple’s stock at current prices which makes this a compelling large cap tech name to own.”
Ives cited shipping times and a “pent-up consumer upgrade cycle,” estimating that hundreds of millions of users globally have not upgraded their iPhone in the past four years
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