https://techcrunch.com/2023/05/04/iphone-sales-help-apple-beat-revenue-forecasts-for-q2/

Everyone knew this would be rough quarterly earnings report, but the question was just how rough. Facing broader economic headwinds and a slowing smartphone market, Apple reported its second straight quarterly sales drop. Still, the company managed to beat Wall Street forecasts, on the strength of better-than-expected iPhone revenue.

Apple itself issue no formal guidance ahead of earnings, a move implemented and maintained since the earliest days of the pandemic. Apple sold $51.3 billion worth of iPhones for Q2, beating an expected $48.8 billion for the quarter. The category’s growth amounted to only 2% for the quarter, but it’s still being regarded as a win.