9 of Top 10 U.S. Smartphone Activations on Christmas Day 2020 Were iPhones

[sideshowuniqueuser]

Of course, people will buy what they like and enjoy using, and I'm not against it.

However, it is difficult for me to understand how 6.1" smartphones are so popular, because I've tried to use the XR or the iPhone 11 with one hand, and it slips from my hand and falls to the Apple Store table. And reaching to control center with my thumb is impossible (it was a bit difficult on 5.8" iPhones, but it is impossible with a 6.1" iPhone).

What leads me to think, do people actually leave everything on the ground (bags, books, etc) and stop everything they're doing, to use their smartphone with both hands simultaneously??? I personally find that a waste of time, but for each their own. I need to use my smartphone with one hand to be able to keep doing things in my life while I answer a text or a chat message or even this post on MacRumors while I travel on the bus hanging with one hand to the bus bars.

And no, my hands aren't tiny. They are average, with long thin fingers.

I have an SE2, and use it with both hands, even if I have to stop and put things down, but don't normally use it actually on the run like that. I simply don't have a clamouring need for a phone I can use in one hand.

I absolutely love it that Apple made a mini so that people had the choice, and I hope they keep making it, even if it isn't a huge seller, and also hope they make a mini pro, for the same reason, but I will never buy either.

For me the size criteria is the biggest phone that will easily and comfortably fit in my pocket. So if anything, I'd like a bigger phone, but the 12 Pro Max is way out of budget for what I could justify to spend on a phone.

I type on my phone with one hand while the other hand holds the phone, but I've noticed that most people, especially younger people, type with both their thumbs with both hands holding the phone. The one handed typing like you're describing is an unusual minority.

Everyone is different. Long live choice.

And now Apple, please bring us a bigger screen MBA without thinking you therefore need to bump up the base specs. There is no reason not to have:
MBA 12, 14, 16, and 18", with all spec variations
MBP 12, 14, 16, and 18", with all spec variations
Sure, some won't sell in high numbers, but as long as they're making a profit, all is good.
I'll be straight to the store to pick up an 18" MBA with base processor/graphics specs and 16GB/1TB options.

 

[coop3422]

Finally. Proof that people really won’t put their money where their mouth is and buy a small iPhone.

The dream of the mini Pro is dead and I’m ready to move on finally.

typing this from my 12 Pro, came from an 8 and won’t go back.

It's a shame, as I'm part of the group saying we need small phone options. Thing is, I'm not willing to go back to iOS until they offer an Always on Display, I'm not willing to give it up. And unfortunately, no Android maker offers a solid compact phone.

 

[sideshowuniqueuser]

Part of the mini problem is the price. We expected it to be the same price as the SE 1 Price.

I think you're partly right, it was too expensive. But then again, it has exactly every feature of a 12, just with smaller screen and battery, so you can't really expect it to have been SE2 prices.

I also think there might have been an even bigger market, especially amongst well to do women, for a mini pro. So basically a cute small phone, but high end and prestigious. The exclusive pro-only colours would be paramount, and maybe some exclusive girlie mini-pro-only colours. But they only gave those women who wanted a cute small phone, a budget option, which is a no go for many of them.

 

[I7guy]

I don't believe these numbers, how would they know which phones were activated? The numbers are sketchy.
iPhone 11 sold more than iPhone 12? LG K30 is the top selling android device? You would think more Samsung or Google Pixel would be there.


Indeed, and its bothering me. People are using their phone as their sole digital device and at that point it makes more sense to have a larger screen.

I use it more like a PDA. Sure a bigger screen would be better for reading but then it will be hard to operate using one hand. Is there a place between smartphone and tablet? People seem to think so.

The carriers know which phones were activated based on the imei or other serial numbers. Apple for sure has all of this detail information about iphone activations and they ain't talking. The question is how much are the carriers being paid to turn over this information. In the US at least in order to get any sort of picture, t-mo, att and vzw have to be polled, unless of course some proprietary sampling algorithm is in place and these numbers are as estimated as the number of gas stations in North America. (old interview question)

Did you notice that new phone activations actually fell YoY? Provided data does not specify the sales for other phone models but Apple products being a prototypical XMas gift is not a new thing. I am pretty sure they dominated XMas sales last year too so it's conceivable that reported 23% drop was caused in large part by drop in iPhone sales.

The article didn't specify that Apple activations fell 23%. Of course, one can do their own fuzzy math and come up with any numbers they want. And this is activations on one day and doesn't relate to sales. It's conceivable the reported 23% drop came from android.

 

[InGen]

People who are claiming that the battery life is an issue with the 12 mini haven't used it. I replaced my iPhone X with a 12 mini and the battery life is actually better than the X. It lasts all day just fine. The lowest I've been able to get it in a day, with above-normal usage, is 30%.

This perspective might have something to do with the Phone you're upgrading from. You can be forgiven for feeling an upgrade in battery performance coming from an iPhone X, but those of us upgrading to the Mini from the previous years 11 Pro or 11 Pro Max feel it straight away because the contrast between an 11 Pro and Mini shows itself straight away

 

[JoB4031]

I replaced my 8+ with a 12 mini and love it for it's size. I liked the original SE for it's size and the 8 plus for its speed. The 12 mini rolls that all into one device with even better battery life than I got with my SE. If they incorporate touch ID back into the phone i will definitely upgrade as I much prefer that over face id. Otherwise this phone should carry me through the next few years.

 

[mi7chy]

Another pay to play marketing firm like JD Power.

 

[msp3]

The real question we should be asking is: what is the LG K30!?

after looking it up it’s apparently a small phone made of quality materials (metal) unlike Samsung’s which have regressed back to cheap plastic. Some carrier/retailer promotion must have moved mountains of them...

 

[Populus]

Rene Richie did a video on the mini and it makes sense for it to do poorly now.

The mini isn’t the Phobos more people buying the ‘newest’ iPhone will go for. It’s the phone aimed at people who upgrade when they need to.

I think we’ll see it rise in popularity when it is an older device. Or if they do a mini style SE.

That would be sweet, a 5.4” SE

 

[Baymowe335]

They don’t want big ones either, do they? If they did then why has the biggest iPhone NEVER been the highest selling one since they started doing large phones ?

The medium sized one is the main market then the large and small are both smaller

That’s because you’ve been trained to think a 5.8” screen isn’t large. All the iPhone lineup are large screens until the mini, which is still quite large. The point was, people don’t want small screens like 4 inches anymore.

The Max size would likely be the most popular, but it’s also more expensive.

 

[Analog Kid]

Amazing how Apple has the top 9 most activated phones this Christmas and the discussion somehow became “12 mini sucks”. All we know from the data presented is that there is one non-Apple product that beat it on one particular day— might it be that some folks are over extrapolating?

 

[44267547]

I'm not willing to go back to iOS until theyoffer an Always on Display.

Then you’ll be on android for quite a while. Because Apple has no reason to offer AOD, when they could have for years now. It’s not a crucial feature that’s going to entice others to upgrade solely from android to an iPhone, it’s more of a trivial add-on at best, but with your mindset, you wouldn’t be the majority of how consumers think with upgrading, you’d be the minority.

 

[TantalizedMind]

I have owned my iPhone XR for 26 months now. I don’t have any plans on upgrading. It’s that great of a phone.

I’m on my phone most of the day at work (12 hour shifts) and a few hours after work. It’s my main “computer” as well. Battery life is amazing.

 

[aleni]

damn, no iPhone 12 mini. That means gonna hold on my mini for the next 5 years.

 

[Brien]

I doubt it’s selling “poorly,” but I’ve repeatedly said people want larger screens, not smaller.

Where is my 7.5” iPhone?

 

[Brien]

That is part of it. The fact that Apple did the gold bling color for the 12 Pro kinda speaks for itself.

Another part is that most people in China/Asia use mass public transport, and they consume their entertainment while on it. So many people prefer features like larger screens and better battery life, especially at the prices Apple is charging for iPhones.

Even cheap Redmi phones now have 6.5" screens.

It does make me wonder if 6.5” becomes the new floor and 7-8”+ becomes a thing...

 

[Baymowe335]

Where is my 7.5” iPhone?

Maybe someday with zero bezel.

 

[0924487]

How do we get rid of "Flurry Analytics" from our devices?

 

[shabagiuly]

I think the Mini will sell better in others areas than US. subsidizing phones is still a thing in US so prices are less visible for customers and they can afford the most expensive device. But in Europe, we often have to pay for our devices. So with a 100€ lower price the mini is a good option. I hope we’ll have global sales one day.

 

[davie18]

That’s because you’ve been trained to think a 5.8” screen isn’t large. All the iPhone lineup are large screens until the mini, which is still quite large. The point was, people don’t want small screens like 4 inches anymore.

The Max size would likely be the most popular, but it’s also more expensive.

Lol okay. So iPhones come in multiple sizes and rather than splitting them appropriately you just think they are ‘small’ for iPhone 12 mini and ‘large’ for everything else. Okay dude, sure. The 12 and 12 pro max are the same size 🤷‍♂️

3.5 inch was considered large in 2007, too. Times change.

 

[I7guy]

Another pay to play marketing firm like JD Power.

Can you name one that MR has cited in the past that isn't "pay to play"? Where the analytical firm exists solely for goodwill to "edumacate" us consumers and where their data and methodology are available for public inspection?

 

[Williesleg]

Flurry?

 

[Scipster]

Can someone please explain to me how 9 out of 10 phone activations over Christmas were iPhone and yet Apple still has a minority share of the marketplace?

I honestly always thought Apple had the lion's share of the US marketplace, but then the anti-trust scrutiny happened and now everyone is saying otherwise.

 

[vipergts2207]

Can someone please explain to me how 9 out of 10 phone activations over Christmas were iPhone and yet Apple still has a minority share of the marketplace?

I honestly always thought Apple had the lion's share of the US marketplace, but then the anti-trust scrutiny happened and now everyone is saying otherwise.

This is U.S.-only data. And Apple does have (bare) majority market share in the U.S.

 

[The Game 161]

Can someone please explain to me how 9 out of 10 phone activations over Christmas were iPhone and yet Apple still has a minority share of the marketplace?

I honestly always thought Apple had the lion's share of the US marketplace, but then the anti-trust scrutiny happened and now everyone is saying otherwise.

market share is very high in the US which is all this chart is from.