Early iPhone 5 Purchases Trend Toward iPhone 4S Upgraders and Black Models Amid Long Lines

[everything-i]

Originally Posted by kiantech

I still find this data nonsense. The people who wait in line are a different breed then people who prefer to have the phone delivered to them.

Totally agree, this is a poor sample set to come up with any kind of statistic. So basically iGeeks and other folks idiot enough to queue up outside a shop for days prefer black iPhones and upgrade every year. No surprises there

[macnerd93]

I'm quite contempt with my 32GB 4S its not even a year old yet. I only got it on launch day. I'll upgrade maybe next year. Need to save for the new iMac as my '09 MBP is so slooooooow

[John.B]

Maybe their survey is flawed, but I don't think I know a single person upgrading to the 5 from the 4S, and if you were you'd be far better off to wait for the unlocked versions of the 5 that will be coming out in the next week or two (at the same price as the non-subsidized models)....

I'm definitely upgrading to the 5 from my 3GS, and most other people I know are upgrading from the 4.

[toshmac]

some people just want to have the latest and greatest. there's a huge following of people who upgrade every year. to each his own

[darkslide29]

Originally Posted by John.B

Maybe their survey is flawed, but I don't think I know a single person upgrading to the 5 from the 4S, and if you were you'd be far better off to wait for the unlocked versions of the 5 that will be coming out in the next week or two (at the same price as the non-subsidized models)....

I'm definitely upgrading to the 5 from my 3GS, and most other people I know are upgrading from the 4.

Semi-subsidized price for upgrading early from AT&T for a 32gb was $299+250 early upgrade fee= $549 (plus tax), while the unlocked off contract price is $749 (plus tax), so it was not worth getting the unlocked one. I sold my 4S for $475, so it paid for most of my 5. Not all of it, but enough to make it an easy upgrade choice for me.

Besides that though, I agree that their survey is probably flawed and not a true indicator of what's going on. There is no way saying that 50% of owners are upgrading can hold true for the population. Crappy survey.

[Time Less]

Originally Posted by RoboCop001

lol 100 people is enough to say that it's a trend?

statistics, they're all lies.

[Celf]

It's absurd to make a newsitem about the length of a waiting line.

[Sora]

There is nothing that shows this data has any external validity (i.e.: applying to those who are receiving home delivery of the iPhone 5). As such the use of the data can only be interpreted within the confines of which it was collected (i.e.: this is what we can say about people who lined up to purchase the iPhone 5). And even then, i'm sure that unless everyone is interview there is sure to be some bias (ecological fallacy).

[Ianthin]

From what I've been reading, the main reason folks are getting black phone is that they were more plentiful than the whites. I want one myself, but from what I'm hearing there aren't any to be had in my area, from AT&T at least.

[TsunamiTheClown]

Black is the new white.

[dim.thelights]

Can someone (pretty) please tell me the weight of an iPhone 5, packing included?

Thnx and my apologies for the off topic message...

[tdhurst]

100 people? You have to be kidding me.

That tells us jack ****.

[DVDxR]

Originally Posted by RoboCop001

lol 100 people is enough to say that it's a trend?

Assuming 8 million launch day sales (probably much less, but it really doesn't matter much, we know it will be in the millions and the numbers don't change that much from 2M to 8M), a 95% confidence level and a CI of ~10 then yea, 100 users would be statistically acceptable. Not great, but usable.

There are other confounding factors (lack of geographic diversity in the sample size, for example) but I'd imagine the overall trends outlined would be correct.

[jagsrock]

Some of the factors not included in their "survey" is the fact that anyone who has an iPhone with Verizon is not eligible for an upgrade until 10/10. There will be another significant sales day when the verizon IP4 owners can upgrade.

Also, here in St. Louis there were about 100 people or so in line at the Apple store in the mall. Across the street at the Verizon store, only about 15 a few minutes before 8. As the guy in line told me..."But they don't clap for you when you walk in the store" and another "even though the line is longer here, camping overnight in the mall is much more comfortable than outside at the Verizon/ATT/Sprint store".

[taxiapple]

Originally Posted by mantan

I agree completely. This sample was the most diehard Apple fans that'll endure long lines on launch day.

Ummm...it said 36% were from non iPhone users

[darkslide29]

Originally Posted by dim.thelights

Can someone (pretty) please tell me the weight of an iPhone 5, packing included?

Thnx and my apologies for the off topic message...

Eh, I'm not home to weigh the box on a scale, but I can tell you that UPS lists the weight of my package (brown shipping box included) as 0.40 Kg.

[skinnylegs]

This phone flat out rocks. It looks like a piece of art and it is lightning fast.

[QCassidy352]

Originally Posted by cdsfire

My 4S is slick and smooth on iOS 6. I'm having trouble seeing what the big push from 4S to 5 is for.

I find this attitude so strange. 4s --> 5 is the second biggest hardware change they've ever done (after 3GS --> 4). Bigger screen, thinner, lighter, new materials (including stronger glass), 2x processing power, 2x graphics power, 2x ram, faster wifi, better rear camera, much better front camera, new dock connector, new antenna design, better battery life, and oh yeah, LTE.

Don't get me wrong - I still have a 4s, and it's a great phone and runs iOS 6 really well. But they upgraded practically every aspect of the hardware from 4s to five. It's a huge upgrade compared to 3G --> 3GS, 4 --> 4s, or even original --> 3G.

[agadosz]

if people need to change their cell phone every 10 months?

[theluggage]

...4s upgraders and black models

Naomi Campbell bought one?
Cool!

[gkarris]

Originally Posted by b166er

This is shocking. I feel like its not much of an upgrade from the 4S. Not enough to sign for another two years and pay full price. From a 4 I'd understand.

Not really - a bunch of people I know have to have the latest iPhone and stand in line on launch day and pay the early upgrade fees.

It's nice when you have a steady job and money....

[SeniorGato1]

This is not exactly the norm as the first 100 folks are extreme Apple fanboys

[cburton]

Walmat here where I work has plenty ... if you want white 16gb. I think that's all they got in.

[riz22]

This research really seems extremely limited. Not only was this counting 100 people not millions, but these are huge Apple Fans who are standing in line. This is the only way the 4S -> 5 figures make any sense.

These are people who look forward to partying in line waiting for a huge product launch willing to pay more to upgrade and nothing more.

When the real numbers are released overall I'm sure there will be more 4 -> 5 upgraders than written here...

[QCassidy352]

Originally Posted by SeniorGato1

This is not exactly the norm as the first 100 folks are extreme Apple fanboys

36% were coming from something other than an iPhone.