When don't they? Has anyone said, 'this screen is too big, wish it was smaller' IF portability or space is not a concern? (yes, I know, when portability is a concern some like smaller screens, if only a smaller screen could unfold to a larger screen). I expect you to get quite pedantic here.
But I find the iPhone Pro Max screen too small for prolonged web browsing. Would love a fold then.
2% of a really big number is still a big number. Not a flop.
Which is it? A flop or a niche? because those aren't even close to the same thing. You seem to be trying to state they are equivalent for your 'objective facts', but calling a 'cat' a 'dog' doesnt make the cat into a dog.
It will be a niche, yes. A flop, no. I define flop as to Apple not seeing a profit materialize and stops making them.
Btw, the Mac Studio is definitely a niche. It sells well enough that Apple is on the 3rd iteration. Not a flop.
You play loosely with language, you also use 'compromise' to mean 'flawed.' Again, nope. I would think a captain of digital industry such as yourself would know every single product made, digital or material, is a compromise. telll me one that is not. Heck even the Mona Lisa was a compromise from a larger canvas to what is essentially a doodle of Leonardo's. Folks actually in industry come up with user specs that inherently contain compromises. Just saying.
Shrugs, is it really a full-on competition, slab vs foldable, or two different markets in similar spaces? Semantics maybe, in the end doesn't matter. It is clear that Apple likes to sell expensive products to people with deep pockets, to date these people have often been buying iPhone Pros whether they need them or not. But they are getting bored, they want 'innovation' so Apple is courting them by giving them 'choice', not 'competition.' The iPhone Air is expensive and aimed to give iPhone Pro owners a choice from just next years Pro. Likewise the Fold will be expensive and will give the deep pocket crowd another choice to spend on. Not a flop.
Not sure exactly what you are saying, but my go to device is an iPad mini. I own an MBA, a MBP, a Mac Studio with two ASD's, two iPad pros, the 13 and 11, the aforementioned iPad mini, and yes, an iPhone Pro Max, and the majority of my screen time is on my mini. I like the form factor for casual reading in a variety of places, easy to hold, big enough screen to contain more than a few sentences, you get the idea (I hope), but I cant always carry it on me. For me, my iPhone Pro Max is the compromise I use it as a phone (shocking), sometimes a camera, and its portable so it can fit in my pocket and don't need a backpack And in a pinch I can use it to read email and even occasionally MR. But I much prefer the browsing experience on my iPad mini. following along? I carry a Pro Max, so I have accepted the bulk, but I would love a bigger screen. Wow, if only it folded up to fit in my pocket, but I could open it no matter where I was in the fricking world and use it like I use my mini. What a concept!
So? For productivity my goto is my Mac Studio if I am at home, the MBP if I am in the office, and the MBA if I am on the road. For web browsing my goto is the aforementioned iPad mini. I use the iPad Pros primarily for sitting on the deck enjoying the view while selecting photos to edit or throw out (later on the Mac).
I hear you. I have a Stanley steamer, and a Lamborghini. Oh and a horse and buggy. There are essentially the same thing, though the fuel and waste products vary. 4 wheels. locomotion.
Not clear what point you are even trying to make. but yeah. there are differences in what those devices could do that outweigh the superficial similarities.
Yep a new concept that people have been talking about (and wishing for) for over a decade, decades if you count Isaac Asimov, and which hit the market 6 years ago. There is a lot of pent up demand for a decent fold, and typically Apple releases decent.
Oh didnt quote this but too good to pass up commenting on...
"People use smartphones for its intended purpose: it’s mobile. A key driver of why people use smartphones is its portability and ability to use it with one hand."
One would think a titan of industry could afford a pro max. An oft repeated criticism of the Pro Max is it is too big to use one handed. I know I have never used mine one handed. Okay, maybe 0.05% of the time. In the car I use Siri. Most places I hold with one hand and operate with the other. And I am not alone.
You make a lot of statements you consider as objective but which are opinion and often wrong. I would love a smaller phone that I could use one handed comfortably but unfolded to give me an iPad mini experience.
To conclude. I reject your definition of 'flop' to be a 'niche.' Apple will make them. They will sell. There already are a product category, in time they will be for Apple too. They don't have to take over mainstream to be a success.
