Every September, like clockwork, Apple (AAPL) hosts a “Keynote” event to show off its latest tech – and every year, without fail, it ends up being the single most predictive day of the year for AAPL stock.
It’s a bona fide holiday around our office.
The LikeFolio team watches in real time as Apple buzz skyrockets and consumers tip their hands to which hot new products they love, which they plan to buy, and which they’re less than impressed with…
And our data engine goes into overdrive to turn the flood of social media buzz into investable insights that can make you money.
In years past, the dataset we’ve gathered from this event has helped our members avoid 30%-plus losses and net double- and triple-digit gains.
This year’s event, dubbed “Wonderlust,” fell on September 12, 2023 – and Apple used it to introduce a tricked-out, titanium-clad, USB-C equipped iPhone 15 lineup.
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That’s huge.
With iPhones commanding over half the smartphone market in the U.S. – as of June, 54% of us were on iOS compared to 45% on Android – the success or failure of a new iPhone launch can make or break Apple’s year.
That 30% loss I just mentioned? Triggered by Apple’s lackluster iPhone X release a few years back. But with our intel – and a secret weapon called the Social Heat Score registering AAPL at a 14 out of 100 – our members knew to stay away. (More on that here.)
Spoiler alert: This year’s iPhone release is heating up social media. And we can once again turn the buzz into a moneymaking game plan.
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Insider Tip: How LikeFolio Filters Out the “Bad Apples” 🍎
Scanning social data for mentions of “Apple” isn’t as simple as it is for a company like “Facebook.” A query for “Apple” will reveal tweets about the company, the fruit, the childhood board game… and plenty of colloquialisms.
To make sure we’re isolating the relevant “Apples,” we use a mix of custom keywords and Boolean logic to narrow our search and get results faster.
![](https://derbycityinsights.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ESP-Insiders-Guide-Img-1_Brand-Map-Example-1-300x230.png)
And because consumers don’t always speak about brands in a logical (or grammatical) way, something called “natural-human language application” ensures our data accounts for all the possible variations – like “closed my rings” over “Apple Watch Series 4.”
Currently, we’ve got 200 tags helping us track iPhone references – and that’s for just one of Apple’s product lines.
After capturing hundreds of millions of social media posts since this year’s event…
Cross-referencing each one with thousands of custom keywords to isolate mentions of Apple’s brands, products, and services…
And distilling it all into our proprietary consumer demand and sentiment metrics…
Our 2023 Apple Investor Report is officially here.
Dive into Apple’s new product launches, consumer reactions, the potential game-changer of the USB-C switch, and whether the iPhone 15 lineup is living up to the hype…
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During its “Wonderlust” event, Apple released four iterations of the new iPhone 15 priced from $799 to $1,199, along with updates to its newer core product offerings – the Apple Watch and AirPods.
The iPhone 15 Lineup
- iPhone 15
Features Super Retina XDR, A16 bionic chip, advanced 48-megapixel camera system with auto portrait mode and 4K recording.
- iPhone 15 Plus
A larger variant of the iPhone 15, optimized for those who prefer a bigger display.
- iPhone 15 Pro
Described as the “most Pro iPhone” by Apple, this is the one that comes in extra-special titanium. It’s designed with gaming in mind, features the new A17 Pro chip, and has a Pro camera with multiple lenses.
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
Showcases flagship camera capabilities with a 120 mm-equivalent lens, 25% larger sensor, and 5x telephoto lens.
The New and Improved Apple Watch and AirPods
- Apple Watch Series 9
Powered by the new S9 chip, which is 60% faster with “all-day” battery life. New features include access to health data with Siri, Name Drop, Double Tap, and the ability to ping your iPhone. The upgraded Apple Watches range from $399 to $499.
- Apple Watch Ultra 2
The Apple Watch Ultra – a much sturdier, and much pricier – version of the Apple Watch designed to endure the elements was the headliner at last year’s September Keynote.
It was a huge hit with the outdoorsy crowd, even with its $799 price tag. This year, we got the new model – also featuring the upgraded S9 chip, Double Tap and on-device Siri features, and precision-finding capabilities.
- AirPods Pro 2
Not to be left out, the AirPods Pro 2 feature the USB-C connector, and are priced at $249. Additionally, wired EarPods with a USB-C connector will be available at $19.
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The Hits: iPhone 15 Steals the Show
So far, the iPhone 15 lineup is gaining positive traction with consumers, with buzz currently pacing 3% higher on a year-over-year basis.
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The first batch of iPhone 15s are landing in the hands of many consumers this week, and with those deliveries came reports of potential overheating issues.
![](https://derbycityinsights.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/iPhone-Overheating-Reports_Sept23.png)
The news hasn’t impacted Apple’s Consumer Happiness rating yet. In fact, iPhone sentiment has seen a four-point boost since the product announcement.
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Just keep in mind that this is the first week these products are reaching consumers, so it will be imperative to monitor this data to determine whether these issues have any real impact on iPhone 15 demand.
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The Misses: Apple Accessories Fall Flat
With the iPhone 15 stealing the show, the Apple Watch and AirPod launches had a tough act to follow.
And after a breakout year for the Apple Watch in 2022, this lineup had an especially high bar to clear. Consumer interest in both products is failing to reach levels achieved in 2022.
![](https://derbycityinsights.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Apple-Watch-AirPods-Interest-Over-Time_Sept23.png)
We’ll be watching to see what the holiday season holds for these go-to “gifts.”
The Game-Changers: USB-C Surprise Win
A common thread throughout these launches was Apple’s switch to a USB-C charging device. While ruffling a few feathers, and generating more than a few memes…
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We believe this move could prove to be a game-changer for Apple.
- Universal Standard and Ecosystem Consistency
By adopting USB-C, Apple aligns its products with an industry-wide standard, ensuring easier compatibility for users across devices. This move also brings consistency within Apple’s ecosystem, as products like the MacBook and iPad Pro already use USB-C.
- Enhanced Performance
USB-C offers faster data transfer rates and supports higher power delivery, leading to quicker file transfers and reduced charging times, enhancing the overall user experience.
![](https://derbycityinsights.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/apple-report_bottomline_narrowbanner-1024x178.jpg)
Among Apple’s core product updates, the new iPhone lineup is turning heads. Web visits are up by 4% year-over-year in a positive indication of consumer interest.
![](https://derbycityinsights.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Apple-Web-Visits_Sept23.png)
We’ll continue to monitor all products ahead of a critical holiday season – but early metrics suggest…
Apple still has consumers right where it wants them when it comes to their favorite device. 📱
MegaTrends subscribers secured 121.53% gains from AAPL last year with early access to insights like these and the help of our Social Heat Score, which leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to distill hundreds of millions of individual data points into a single score that tells us which stocks to buy and when.
![](https://derbycityinsights.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Social-Heat-Score.gif)
If a stock registers a Social Heat Score over 70, you buy it. If it registers below 30, you short it.
It’s that simple.
To find out how you can start using this powerful device to your advantage today and see which stocks it’s targeting next, click here.
Until next time,
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Andy Swan
Founder, LikeFolio
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