Apple Alert: Way More People Want The Watch Now Than They Did 2 Months Ago

Morgan Stanley is out with a new report on Apple Inc. AAPL that names the tech giant one of its best stock ideas in North America.

In addition to boosting iPhone and Watch estimates by 6 percent on "strong demand," the firm also shared a few charts with readers.

iPhone Estimates Higher Than Revised Estimates

AlphaWise Tracker, a tool developed by the firm, projects sales based on Google Analytics data. As the chart shows, AlphaWise estimates now project iPhone sales of 53 million units this quarter, above the ~40 million figure from a year ago. Since the final quarter of 2008, estimates -- and the reported figures -- have risen steadily.

Related Link: Talking 'Applesphere' With UBS

Of note, iPhone sales data now exhibits more seasonality than it did a half-decade ago.

Almost Half Of iPhone Users Haven't Upgraded Yet

This graph is fairly self-explanatory. According to a Morgan Stanley survey conducted in November and December of last year, 46 percent of current Apple users plan to upgrade in the future. A major portion of them will do so within two years.

Way More People Plan To Buy The Watch Than Just Two Months Ago

The "Definitely Would Buy" segment of this graph is key. In December, 5.6 percent of iPhone owners polled "definitely" wanted to buy the Apple Watch. In March, that figure fell.

Now, it's above 17.3 percent -- well above Morgan Stanley's forecast of 10 percent.

That, the firm said, is the reason behind its guidance boost described above. Combined with the 7 percent of iPhone owners who "probably" will buy the Watch, nearly a quarter of all Apple smartphone users will wear a Watch.

That's the first step toward creating the "Applesphere" UBS is so excited about. Apple shares recently traded at $130 in Thursday's pre-market.