Apple Again Tops Holiday Sales With 44% of All New Mobile Device Activations

[WannaGoMac]

The good news is... those iPhone 6 were sold in countries where current-generation iPhones are very expensive and thus unreachable.

The fact that they bought an Apple phone instead of some other Android phone is still a good thing.

I think some people here are getting the wrong impression about this iPhone 6 news though.

iPhone 6 isn't stealing sales from the iPhone X. No one is ready to buy an iPhone X but they decide to buy an iPhone 6 instead. The iPhone 6 is its own thing.

iPhone 7? That's a whole other story.

EDIT: I'm not concerned about the iPhone 7 news either.

There are probably tons of people who still have iPhone 6 today and thus an iPhone 7 would be a hell of an upgrade. Remember... that's still two generations newer: 6 --> 6S --> 7

[doublepost=1514397886][/doublepost]

Yep... though if we're in the slowdown now... we won't know until after it happens.

I agree though... maturity and saturation will happen at some point.

Instead of an 2 year average refresh cycle... it might go to 3 years.

People will still buy new phones though... just not as often.

Someone will always be ready to buy a new phone every day.

Mark my words, phones will be upgraded about as often as home computers in the near future -- basically until they break or are painfully slow, so try 4 years. I love this stuff but even I am holding onto my 6+ as the new models really dont offer much improvement in user experience. Compare the massive leaps from iPhone 2g -> 6, then 6-> X. The big differences in day to day use just arent as massive anymore.

 

[gnasher729]

Yep, this is typical Apple marketing spew (yeah I know it's a third party, but you can easily look at the way the data is presented and see who the bias is toward). If you look at actual sales, Android OS devices outsell Apple something like 19 to 1. It's not even a competition anymore like it was 5 years ago. LOL. The world has spoken and Android is the Windows and iOS is the Mac. It'll always be that way. Apple isn't going anywhere but Android is always going to be the dominant force by far.

You are funny. A bit sad, but funny.

Apple doesn't compete for unit sales. They beat Android in revenue (where one iPhone X for $1000 counts more than 19 Android phones for $50 each). They completely obliterate all the Android sellers in profits (what a coincidence, the some 19 to 1 number, but this time for real).

 

[MH01]

Obviously software available on dozens of hardware makers devices is going to outsell software available on one manufactures devices. What’s your point?

You can manipulate numbers to make a cool story that does not represent reality ... markerting 101

 

[KPOM]

Mark my words, phones will be upgraded about as often as home computers in the near future -- basically until they break or are painfully slow, so try 4 years. I love this stuff but even I am holding onto my 6+ as the new models really dont offer much improvement in user experience. Compare the massive leaps from iPhone 2g -> 6, then 6-> X. The big differences in day to day use just arent as massive anymore.

This may be why the iPhone X is priced like a MacBook.

 

[MH01]

You are funny. A bit sad, but funny.

Apple doesn't compete for unit sales. They beat Android in revenue (where one iPhone X for $1000 counts more than 19 Android phones for $50 each). They completely obliterate all the Android sellers in profits (what a coincidence, the some 19 to 1 number, but this time for real).

No, you are too funny . Comparing iPhones top model to $50 androids and talking about revenue .... Think big... $5000 iMac pro....

Please Refrain calling others views as sad when you apply logics like that .

 

[gnasher729]

So the chart shows 44% for Apple, and I’m assuming 56% for Android (based on your comment).

So inquiring minds want to know: where is the supposed 85% Android vs 15% iOS market share that Android fans always bring up?

I’ll tell you why - because that’s a made up statistic by people who need to go back and retake Grade 6 math.

There's another logical explanation: The majority of Android buyers never activate their phones. If 85% of all phones sold are Android, but only 22.5% of those get activated, you'll end up exactly with 44% vs. 56% of activated phones.
[doublepost=1514399693][/doublepost]

No, you are too funny . Comparing iPhones top model to $50 androids and talking about revenue .... Think big... $5000 iMac pro....

Please Refrain calling others views as sad when you apply logics like that .

Remind me to never go into business with you. And may I remind you that (a) the $5,000 iMac Pro is not a phone, and (b) that Apple actually makes more than 50% of all profit in the PC market.

 

[Martyimac]

Mark my words, phones will be upgraded about as often as home computers in the near future -- basically until they break or are painfully slow, so try 4 years. I love this stuff but even I am holding onto my 6+ as the new models really dont offer much improvement in user experience. Compare the massive leaps from iPhone 2g -> 6, then 6-> X. The big differences in day to day use just arent as massive anymore.

I agree. I bought a new 8 Dec.5, didn't really love it and thankfully it had a fault that was enough to convince me to return it on Dec. 15. There was not $700 worth of value, to me.

 

[deanthedev]

You can manipulate numbers to make a cool story that does not represent reality ... markerting 101

Do you think the numbers in this article were manipulated? The poster replied to certainly thinks so.

 

[gnasher729]

Price matters but the X did not fail at all. It was the 3rd highest selling phone behind two phones that cost less than half of the iPhone X. Had it only gotten 5% or less then yes fail. We picked my son up a new iPhone 7 32gig for $549, which is quite a bit cheaper than my and my wife iPhone X.

What some people dont realise that what matters to Apple is total revenue and total profit, not the revenue and profit from any single phone model. They have stretched their phone range out so there is no single price point where they give Samsung a chance. If you went to the store to look at the iPhone X and left with an iPhone 7, that's cash in Apple's packet. There are plenty of people who enter the store because of the iPhone X and leave with an iPhone, any model.

 

[DNichter]

Enjoy your speedy X, those of us with older iPhones dont appreciate the 50% CPU speed reduction on iOS 10/11./. I can always replace the battery, just tell me it needs it and I will do it... dont slow the thing down.

In old days my iPhones would shut down as they got older and I actually liked it because it indicated it was time for a battery replacement.

You realize that only happens if you have a bad battery or it has exceeded its expect life value, right? I mean, people can't be this naive, can they? This isn't just a blanket throttling across the board.

 

[MH01]

Remind me to never go into business with you. And may I remind you that (a) the $5,000 iMac Pro is not a phone, and (b) that Apple actually makes more than 50% of all profit in the PC market.

I would not go into business with you, Cause you are comparing android cheapest to apples most expensive ! You should be comparing androids cheapest unit to Apple cheapest .... the iMac pro was sarcasm based on that bad business logic .

Heard of premium android devices ? Yeah compare those to the x for revenue profit ....

 

[WannaGoMac]

You realize that only happens if you have a bad battery or it has exceeded its expect life value, right? I mean, people can't be this naive, can they? This isn't just a blanket throttling across the board.

Yes I am fully aware. You wrote what you prefer, I wrote what I prefer in terms of how Apple handles battery aging.

Give me a darn message " Hey user your battery sucks now, so were gonna slow your phone down until you get a new one. Love Apple"

 

[Martyimac]

You realize that only happens if you have a bad battery or it has exceeded its expect life value, right? I mean, people can't be this naive, can they? This isn't just a blanket throttling across the board.

I think all the noise on MR on either side makes it difficult to determine the actual issue.

 

[44267547]

Apple failed. iPhone 7 or 6 is sold more than X. It's not because people like them but X is overpriced.

This is not an inappropriate comparison. The iPhone 6 has been on the market for three years, where as the iPhone X has been available over a Month.

Both The iPhone 6/7 versus the iPhone X are also entirely two different segments of phones in pricing. The iPhone X likely wouldn't be the first choice for many consumers just based off the price point, but it doesn't make it any less successful of iPhone because "Apple failed."

 

[DNichter]

I think all the noise on MR on either side makes it difficult to determine the actual issue.

Very true. This is no place for facts or reason.

 

[truthertech]

Can't help but notice again the way the numbers are presented look good for Apple. But in reality, it shows Android activations surpassed Apple if you look at the actual numbers. Does Apple know they can't just manipulate stats into becoming number 1?

Apple isn't interested in being number one in sales of smart phones. They, not surprisingly, are content to have anywhere from 90 to 100% of the ENTIRE industry profits for smart phones. Just like tablets. Apple owns 85% of the tablet market over $200 because that's where the profits are and where they can sell the type of product they are interested in selling. They have no interest in producing a cheap $50 tablet at a loss just to have market share of the low end.

 

[bobdobalina]

edit

 

[Rogifan]

You can manipulate numbers to make a cool story that does not represent reality ... markerting 101

Why numbers are being manipulated? You can say this is a meaningless stat but that doesn’t mean the numbers have been manipulated. Also this isn’t coming from Apple and as far as I can tell is not something anyone at Apple is pushing. Unless you think Flury Analytics and Yahoo are in cahoots with Apple. If so supply some evidence.

 

[TallManNY]

I hate to get involved in the bickering here... but I found this:

Headline: Samsung’s Galaxy S8 isn’t selling as fast as the Galaxy S7

While Samsung was undoubtedly raking in the cash last quarter, sales of its flagship Galaxy S8 checked in a bit lower than many were anticipating. In fact, a new report from The Korea Herald reveals that S8 sales during the first 60 days following its launch are tracking markedly lower than S7 sales during a similar time frame. Whereas the S7 saw approximately 12 million in unit sales in the first two months after launch, S8 sales are believed to be in the 9.8 million range, representing a 20% drop.

If this report is true... Galaxy S8 sales were less than 10 million units for its first 2 months after launch.

That averages 5 million a month. (though its first month should be a little higher... let's say 6 million first month and 4 million 2nd month)

Are those good numbers for a flagship after launch? I'm not so sure.

I saw a report that said Apple sold 6 million iPhone X over Black Friday weekend alone... with a total of 15 million iPhone X in its first 3 weeks after launch.

So... we've got Galaxy S8 selling 6 million in its first month after launch...

But we've got iPhone X selling 15 million in just 3 weeks after launch. (probably 20 million in the first whole month)

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

No 5 million per month for the S8 is not good. And really it should not be compared to the iPhone X which is much more expensive. The X is in its own class of smartphone. Just calling the flagship isn't enough. Better to call it something like a super flagship or a luxury flagship. The pixel, iPhone 8 and Galaxy S8 are all in the same class and their sales can justifiably be compared because their per unit price is about the same.

 

[thekeyring]

Can't help but notice again the way the numbers are presented look good for Apple. But in reality, it shows Android activations surpassed Apple if you look at the actual numbers. Does Apple know they can't just manipulate stats into becoming number 1?

At this stage, Android is synonymous for "non-Apple". Apple must outsell all it's competitors combined to surpass Android.

In your view, is this is the only way for them to be Number 1?

 

[justperry]

You realize that only happens if you have a bad battery or it has exceeded its expect life value, right? I mean, people can't be this naive, can they? This isn't just a blanket throttling across the board.

My 6S has 199 cycles, 93% battery health, it's throttled.

 

[Tubamajuba]

Why numbers are being manipulated? You can say this is a meaningless stat but that doesn’t mean the numbers have been manipulated. Also this isn’t coming from Apple and as far as I can tell is not something anyone at Apple is pushing. Unless you think Flury Analytics and Yahoo are in cahoots with Apple. If so supply some evidence.

Come on, man. You’re supposed to know that any data that makes Apple look good is manipulated. “Real” data is the kind that makes Samsung and other Android phone manufacturers look better!

 

[MH01]

Why numbers are being manipulated? You can say this is a meaningless stat but that doesn’t mean the numbers have been manipulated. Also this isn’t coming from Apple and as far as I can tell is not something anyone at Apple is pushing. Unless you think Flury Analytics and Yahoo are in cahoots with Apple. If so supply some evidence.

It was sarcasm , cause Apple only compares products and not Os.... as you stated, they choose the numbers they win on....

 

[DNichter]

My 6S has 199 cycles, 93% battery health, it's throttled.

That stinks. I would bring it to Apple to see what they say. I don't doubt the accuracy of your statement, but clearly not ever 6s is affected. Must be a bad battery or something.

 

[coolfactor]

Can't help but notice again the way the numbers are presented look good for Apple. But in reality, it shows Android activations surpassed Apple if you look at the actual numbers. Does Apple know they can't just manipulate stats into becoming number 1?

This isn’t Apple’s data, but Flurry’s, correct? What did I misunderstand about your comment?