Apple is cutting orders for the components to build iPhones because of weak demand for the new iPhone 6S, according to a new report by Credit Suisse

Apple is cutting orders for the components to build iPhones because of weak demand for the new iPhone 6S, according to a new report by Credit Suisse

But a potential miniature iPhone, rumored to be released early next year, could help boost iPhones sales, Credit Suisse says in the report

Credit Suisse says its Asia Tech Team has confirmed that Apple’s has recently lowered its orders from suppliers, and that Apple now plans to build 70 million to 75 million iPhones in December and 45 million to 50 million iPhones in March

The Asian giant is headed for its slowest growth in a quarter of a century this year and economists are concerned that it will miss Beijing’s official growth target of 7%

That’s lower than what Wall Street has been expecting and point to a "subdued" iPhone cycle for the next few quarters driven by weak demand for the 6S, Credit Suisse says

In a previous report, Credit Suisse blamed the softer demand for the iPhone 6S on the lack of apps that really take advantage of the phone’s new "3D Touch" feature

But not all is lost, Credit Suisse says: People who have iPhones tend to keep them, and Apple’s new iPhone installment plan program will put it into the hands of more people than ever before

In fact, Credit Suisse expects that "over time," the iPhone install base will hit 615 million users, thanks to Apple’s aggressive efforts in growing that business. In its most recent earnings report, Apple announced it had sold 48.05 million iPhones

Plus, if Apple follows through with the rumors and releases a smaller, lower-cost four-inch-screen iPhone in the first half of next year, Credit Suisse says, it could open up the market and make the device appealing to a larger audience

The mini-iPhone could add 62 cents a share to Apple’s bottom line in calendar year 2017, Credit Suisse reckons, and could drive iPhone unit shipments to 265 million in the long term

And unlike what happened with Apple’s iPhone 5C flop, a smaller iPhone would be enough unlike the current flagship 6S that it wouldn’t confuse the market, according to the analysts