Apple CEO Tim Cook Calls Reports That iPhone XR is a Flop 'Bologna'

[b0fh666]

Still waiting for a smaller XR, this is the model everyone will buy.

same here

 

[chatin]

No lines on launch day except in Japan so that's a day 1 retail flop. Apple is working on slow sales but not slow enough to set off alarm bells.

 

[MRrainer]

The thing with Tesla is: the future of the car isn't too great. In Asia, a lot of people don't have one and never will, relying on public transport. Europe is on the same trend, to a lesser degree.
Same for home-automation: home-ownership outside the US is often way, way lower. People live in rented apartments where the most they can do is install a lightbulb and a home-speaker...

 

[ntlman]

The thing with Tesla is: the future of the car isn't too great. In Asia, a lot of people don't have one and never will, relying on public transport. Europe is on the same trend, to a lesser degree.
Same for home-automation: home-ownership outside the US is often way, way lower. People live in rented apartments where the most they can do is install a lightbulb and a home-speaker...

Well, the high end market obviously has the most profit points available for Apple to take advantage of if they were to make this theoretical purchase. But there are potential benefits for renters in big cities (ie like me):

• Given Apple's penchant for being able to take one piece of technology and shrink it to a still usable form factor, I wouldn't be surprised to see an electric scooter (the Vespa kind, not Bird kind) be something they develop after they were to acquire the electric power train technology that Tesla has built to date. Or at the very least, electric bicycles, which are becoming a real thing
  • They're not for me, but Apple convinced large numbers of people to pay up for a luxury watch/health monitor that will be unusable after 5 years. If they could get more people to buy more bicycles (albeit incredibly advanced and high priced ones), I think that is a net positive
• Renting an apartment in a building that utilizes a power cell system to deliver power to the units could theoretically allow users with synced HomePods to optimize power usage for things like your lights or other things controlled by HomeKit software
• A lot of commuters organize ride share pools where they actually lease the van themselves and take responsibility for parking and maintenance of it. In theory, an Apple/Tesla could start producing those type of commuter vehicles as a future model offering

 

[mebehere]

Let's see. Retail price for iPhone 6 64GB was $750 at launch. They were back ordered because everyone wanted the new bigger screen iPhones. Limited supply. So, how did you buy it for $399 on launch day? Was there a trade-in? Was there a payment schedule? Was it a buy one get one half price? Was it a special promotion to add an additional line? There has to be some explanation. Apple doesn't just sell a phone to a customer for $350 below retail on launch day, so this must have been a trade-in or some type of third party promotion.

The point is that the iPhone 6 and iPhone XR with the same storage are priced the same. As another benchmark, the iPhone 6+ with 16GB was priced the same as the XR with 64 GB. Apple didn't suddenly make it unaffordable to own a new iPhone offering.

There are third party deals on the XR too. But, I can't really attribute third party pricing structures to Apple when evaluating if the new XR is affordable in comparison to older models. Besides, it would be very complicated to do because there are so many variations.
[doublepost=1547181110][/doublepost]

I wonder if this has less to do with changes to Apple's pricing structure and more to do with Nordic currency devaluation. I mean you can't hold Apple responsible for global currency fluctuations.

As I pointed out, at launch in the US, you can buy an XR with 64 GB for the same price as a 6+ with 16 GB. Yes the 6+ was the "flagship", but that is a meaningless label. The XS/XS max are far superior top of the line products. You just can't compare the iPhone 6 with the XS. Apple would have to sell the XS for $650. That's 35% off the base price....which is basically their average margin across product lines. That is not what for profit companies do. Apple could not stay in business and sell products with no profit margin.

I believe it was subsidized. Like all previous models.

 

[Mainsail]

I believe it was subsidized. Like all previous models.

So, it was the carrier that increased the price and affordability not Apple.

That was an industry wide change that the major carriers implemented and impacted all types of phones.....not just iPhones

 

[Mars56]

can he just say that stuff or are there people that will hold him responsible if he's lying?

 

[Guyp16]

The smaller phones won't happen until they can make the FaceID hardware much smaller.
Else, they'd have to rely on touch-id again, which I doubt they'd do.

And even then: I'm a fan of small phones (they're way easier to handle) - but for far, far, far more people, their phone is also their primary media consumption device. They want a big screen. Apple does not believe there's sufficient demand in the market outside of a vocal minority.

That, and selling a big phone for big money is more profit than selling a small phone for less profit.

There are also almost no decent small phones in Android-land. If that was a viable niche, some Android manufacturer would jump on that opportunity. But it's not happening.

Now I've gone out and bought an Xr and I'm covered for the foreseeable future.

It’s not the size of the handset regarding SE ( I thought they should replace even if it was a bigger unit) it’s the starting price imho. That’s my main point.

As for Apple and customer service- forget it, they’ve dropped the ball totally since Ron Johnson left years ago and staff like myself realised they were no longer customer centric - I’m ex Apple and now work independently supporting Apple customers due to Apple dropping the ball so much. I really wish their customer support was as good as several years ago. I’m sad to see the company losing core values.

 

[cics]

Until almost yesterday you wouldn't have had many chances to have your phone's battery swapped so easily. Even for your premium-priced beloved items.

Really? I use my MacBook for work, I had a problem with my keyboard 3 or 4 years ago. Fixed in 1 hour and I was ready to work again. I don't want to imagine how would the experience have been with Dell, Samsung or any other manufacturer.

 

[Guyp16]

Really? I use my MacBook for work, I had a problem with my keyboard 3 or 4 years ago. Fixed in 1 hour and I was ready to work again. I don't want to imagine how would the experience have been with Dell, Samsung or any other manufacturer.

Even as an Ex Apple employee I have to say you were extremely lucky, with a 1 hour turn around!! It must of been a fairly easy issue, but at least it was dealt with.
Apple are excellent at honoring UK consumer Law though especially when other uk retailers flout the 6 yr criteria, Apple in large part will not. The company is still nowhere near as strong as when Ron Johnson controlled retail

 

[cics]

Even as an Ex Apple employee I have to say you were extremely lucky, with a 1 hour turn around!! It must of been a fairly easy issue, but at least it was dealt with.
Apple are excellent at honoring UK consumer Law though especially when other uk retailers flout the 6 yr criteria, Apple in large part will not. The company is still nowhere near as strong as when Ron Johnson controlled retail

I was in Australia back in the day and had a couple of buttons not working. Of course I had also other serious issues, but in general Apple's customer care is unmatched, at least compared to other tech manufacturers.

 

[sofila]

Really? I use my MacBook for work, I had a problem with my keyboard 3 or 4 years ago. Fixed in 1 hour and I was ready to work again. I don't want to imagine how would the experience have been with Dell, Samsung or any other manufacturer.

Apple to Offer $29 iPhone Battery Replacements, More Battery Health Info in iOS.
Before this you couldn't have a battery replacement for iPhones "out" of Apple's policy, no matter your will.
[doublepost=1547592923][/doublepost]

But in general Apple's customer care is unmatched, at least compared to other tech manufacturers.

I also agree with this. Except when Apple denies to give help.

 

[cics]

Apple to Offer $29 iPhone Battery Replacements, More Battery Health Info in iOS.
Before this you couldn't have a battery replacement for iPhones "out" of Apple's policy, no matter your will.

So the out-of-warranty battery replacement was impossible before December 2017?

 

[Guyp16]

I was in Australia back in the day and had a couple of buttons not working. Of course I had also other serious issues, but in general Apple's customer care is unmatched, at least compared to other tech manufacturers.

In the past customer service was great not so much now especially in light of all the class actions which have had to enforce repairs since 2011. The company was excellent but the reason I’m independent is because they dropped the ball.

 

[cics]

Apple to Offer $29 iPhone Battery Replacements, More Battery Health Info in iOS.
Before this you couldn't have a battery replacement for iPhones "out" of Apple's policy, no matter your will.
[doublepost=1547592923][/doublepost] I also agree with this. Except when Apple denies to give help.

Ok guys, Apple's Customer Care sucks. Happy now? You are free to switch over to Samsung or any other brand if they provide you a better experience. We live in a free world

 

[sofila]

So the out-of-warranty battery replacement was impossible before December 2017?

You had to pass through Apple's diagnosis, which deliberately ignored a large number of issues. But this had already been discussed until the last drop. Only class actions and world wide bad press changed Apple's approach.
[doublepost=1547593566][/doublepost]

Ok guys, Apple's Customer Care sucks. Happy now? You are free to switch over to Samsung or any other brand if they provide you a better experience. We live in a free world

Ok, your words, not mine. I've dealt with Apple's customer care in the last 25 years and overall I feel satisfied with their service. But that doesn't mean that no issues happened during those years. There's not only black or white. You always satisfied? Good for you.

 

[MRrainer]

Really? I use my MacBook for work, I had a problem with my keyboard 3 or 4 years ago. Fixed in 1 hour and I was ready to work again. I don't want to imagine how would the experience have been with Dell, Samsung or any other manufacturer.

Dell, Lenovo, HP offer NBD - or even 4h on-site service.

In Apple-land, you've either got to buy your own spares (if you're a business with more than a handful of devices) or contract a local Apple Authorized Reseller/Service-Provider that specializes in this kind of stuff and will keep spares available to you, for a price.

 

[LizKat]

The smaller phones won't happen until they can make the FaceID hardware much smaller.
Else, they'd have to rely on touch-id again, which I doubt they'd do.

And even then: I'm a fan of small phones (they're way easier to handle) - but for far, far, far more people, their phone is also their primary media consumption device. They want a big screen. Apple does not believe there's sufficient demand in the market outside of a vocal minority.

That, and selling a big phone for big money is more profit than selling a small phone for less profit.

There are also almost no decent small phones in Android-land. If that was a viable niche, some Android manufacturer would jump on that opportunity. But it's not happening.

Now I've gone out and bought an Xr and I'm covered for the foreseeable future.

I came to approximately the same conclusions.

However, I was and am very fond of the SE sized phone and in fact am thinking of switching up their relative tasks in my gear, making the XR the WiFi only device --a mini skinny tablet lol-- and then getting an annual prepaid Mint Mobile SIM for the SE to use as a cellphone, and just be done with ATT.

To my account at ATT I'd been bringing fully paid-for iPhones. for about two or three upgrades already, and the contract had expired, but on that no-contract account they still maintained a line discount hoping I'd finally cave and go with their Next upgrade thing.

But no, since I live in a half-dead zone anyway and can barely get a signal in my car in the driveway, forget about inside the house. I don't want another contract with a major carrier. WiFi calling is my go-to in the house and so I figure having the SE on a prepaid annual SIM will be fine for when I'm in towns with signals. I like that small form factor so much better for the phone part of an iPhone.

I'm going to get the Amazon Mint Mobile test packet for $5 and make sure my SE is carrier unlocked or get it unlocked and check out the compatibility and signal strength where I shop, and then buy a 12-month prepaid and just revert to using that SE for my cellphone. All this just for the size and fit into my pocket.

See I don't regret the XR upgrade as a device, it's wonderful,.. as a mini-skinny tablet, and as insurance, i.e. having hardware that can take a few iOS upgrades and not wallow in self-pity as its chip ages. I just don't want to use it as a phone unless and until the smaller phone dies or apple EOLs it and won't sign the iOS any more.

The XR upgrade is the last time I'm getting a phone from Apple though unless they bring equivalent of X-SE to market and maintain that smaller factor in the phone product line going forward.