Apple Dominates Holiday Sales With Nearly 50% of All New Device Activations

[DakotaGuy]

1% of the phones were small screened... It's time to face reality that most consumers have moved on to medium and large screens. Maybe Apple will make a small 4" phone again, but if you think it's going to break above 3-5% of sales I think you'll be disappointed.

 

[Flow39]

I wonder how well the Apple Watch did this holiday season....


"tumbles weeds pass by......"

I actually saw about 4 people with new Apple Watches today where I work, which is a surprise for me. I barely see any every day still. I thought that would change over the Christmas holiday with a bunch of people getting them as gifts but apparently not.

 

[Flow39]

This is definitely the case for me. I remember laughing at my friends' large phones a few years ago when I had my iPhone 5. I had to eat my words.

Same here. Back in 2012 I was making fun of a friend with a Galaxy S3 and asked why he needed a laptop in his pocket. Fast forward to 2015 and I carry a Nexus 6 with a 6" display now haha

 

[Zirel]

Its important to point out that the export decline comes effectively solely from a single area: Hong Kong, an area thats been economically tumultuous since this Summer.

Other areas were a mix of stayed-on-pattern (from -14) or even a rise. Some Apple Watch markets have seen export growths as high as 40%.

Not a single area, but Hong Kong, the biggest watch market, the biggest offender.

However, it doesn't matter, Apple didn't had any competition from Android, Samsung and Microsoft.

Yes, Fitbit may even won Apple, but it's a fitness band, and people can upgrade from a Fitbit to an Apple Watch, if they want a sports tracker PLUS a smartwatch, and Fitbit doesn't offer an upgrade from the Apple Watch.

 

[DakotaGuy]

Remember: Apple is Doomed

Apple is doing very well, however they are living on a one-hit wonder at the present time. Take away the iPhone and they'd be hurting. I know the Watch was designed to diversify the product mix, but honestly I don't think it's ever going to be much more then a hobby product in a niche market.

 

[Flow39]

Apple is doing very well, however they are living on a one-hit wonder at the present time. Take away the iPhone and they'd be hurting. I know the Watch was designed to diversify the product mix, but honestly I don't think it's ever going to be much more then a hobby product in a niche market.

I'm curious to see how the Watch plays out in the next couple years. Part of me believes it'll become a common item that nearly everyone will have, but the other bigger part of me thinks that it will be a niche product like you said. Honestly, how many non-tech enthusiasts have the desire to pony up $400 for a watch when a phone is $650? The answer is probably not many. Plus the Watch is just an accessory to the phone, not a stand alone device (which I don't want it to be, but still). It's not necessary and it costs a good sum of money, which is why I think it won't sell well.

 

[cdmoore74]

I admit I was one of them. Got myself an iPhone 6s Plus 64GB and abandoned Android.

Honestly the 6s Plus is a great phone. Once you have used big screened phones, you just cannot go back to a smaller one. Everything looks crammed on a smaller iPhone 6s and on the 6s plus there is a whole lot of room.

I went with the iPhone 6s because for 3 years straight I had a 5.5" Android phone and the size was getting to me. While I still like Android over iOS they just don't make a premium 4.7" phone running stock Android. I even picked up a Nexus 6 for $200 during Black Friday (I never turn down excellent deals) but the smaller size and speed of the 6s keeps me coming back. At the end of the day I just don't require a large screen while on the go or at work so I use the Nexus at home. But I definitely want the speed and features and I pray that the iPhone 7 is not gimped. I also pray that the person who designed the iPhone 6 battery case is not on the iPhone 7 design team because I have zero problems going back to Android if Apple screws it up.

 

[gaximus]

Or like the folding phone that Samsung keeps predicting each year that they'll put into limited production.

(I'll be first in line when they finally do!)

View attachment 607652

That thing looks wider than the 6s plus when closed, so doesn't really solve the problem of wanting a 4" screen that expands. It's like a really thick, wide, phone with tons of bezel. It doesn't solve any problems. Only creates them. I phone with a pico projector would be a better solution.

 

[fourthtunz]

Same with me lol. And it is also possible to use it with one hand. It takes practice. The secret is basically to move your 4 fingers freely in the back and use your thumb to reach or press. When typing with the keyboard, use your pinky as a dock for a brief moment.

Similar to the analogy of a car (small) and an SUV (big). Once you know how to get around an SUV, a car is nothing.

It really still is a physical thing, a personal thing, although we do make judgements!
I still think the big phones are goofy and as much as I like my Iphone 6
if apple comes out with a smaller phone, I'll look at it.
Watching content is cool on the iPhone but most of the time, I'll just get out my iPad air 2
Different strokes, its all good!

 

[fourthtunz]

1% of the phones were small screened... It's time to face reality that most consumers have moved on to medium and large screens. Maybe Apple will make a small 4" phone again, but if you think it's going to break above 3-5% of sales I think you'll be disappointed.

Who knows what the sales will be? I do wonder if Apple would use the 4" iPhone as a loss leader or what their threshold for production would be..would 3-5% of sales be enough for a second run?
Interesting..

 

[Michael Scrip]

Apple is doing very well, however they are living on a one-hit wonder at the present time. Take away the iPhone and they'd be hurting.

Not really.

Sure... the iPhone is a big part of Apple's operation. But Apple's non-iPhone products would be billion-dollar businesses on their own.

Macs had $6.7 billion in revenue last quarter.
Services had $5.1 billion in revenue last quarter.
iPads had $4.1 billion in revenue last quarter.
Other had $3.0 billion in revenue last quarter.

And Apple also generates massive profit from these areas as well.

Most companies can only dream of numbers like these.

 

[melgross]

The poor sales of smaller smartphones is probably the result of a lack of stock. Few companies make them anymore. And people looking to buy an iPhone probably wouldn't want a 5s that has less storage, memory and a slower processor than Apple's other offerings. The 5c had the same issues. If Apple sold a 4" iPhone that equaled their other offerings except in display size, then we'd be able to accurately judge whether people really want that form factor.

It's hard to say. Apple sold more 5Cs than Samsung sold of their flagship model, so it could be considered to be a success.

 

[cdmoore74]

The poor sales of smaller smartphones is probably the result of a lack of stock. Few companies make them anymore. And people looking to buy an iPhone probably wouldn't want a 5s that has less storage, memory and a slower processor than Apple's other offerings. The 5c had the same issues. If Apple sold a 4" iPhone that equaled their other offerings except in display size, then we'd be able to accurately judge whether people really want that form factor.

I just got my $8 Droid mini from Verizon today (never pass up on a $8 phone that could be used as a backup) and I'm finding the typing experience to be worse. As you can see from the pic I love the size of it but with only a 4.3" display any keyboard will start to become cramped. When I use my Nexus 6 you instantly feel that the screen size makes the typing experience enjoyable. I really believe that around 4.7" to 5" is that sweet spot of portability and usability.
My wife actually wanted the iPhone 6S plus but due to Apple screwing up the stock on launch day we settled for the 4.7" and I'm glad that both of us went to that size. My Nexus 6 is too big to carry and my droid mini is too small to use. The iPhone 6s is that perfect balance.

 

[Flow39]

I went with the iPhone 6s because for 3 years straight I had a 5.5" Android phone and the size was getting to me. While I still like Android over iOS they just don't make a premium 4.7" phone running stock Android. I even picked up a Nexus 6 for $200 during Black Friday (I never turn down excellent deals) but the smaller size and speed of the 6s keeps me coming back. At the end of the day I just don't require a large screen while on the go or at work so I use the Nexus at home. But I definitely want the speed and features and I pray that the iPhone 7 is not gimped. I also pray that the person who designed the iPhone 6 battery case is not on the iPhone 7 design team because I have zero problems going back to Android if Apple screws it up.

I'm the opposite I have an iPhone 6, 2014 Moto X, and Nexus 6, and I just can't seem to get enough of the big display. I though the 4.7" was huge, then I wanted something larger so I got the 5.2" 2014 Moto X. Then I wanted something even larger, so I went with a Nexus 6. Now, I'd even like something a little bigger, about 6.2-6.3 inches.

I also really hope that the iPhone 7 is a good phone. They really need to do something special with it. I'm really liking Android and iOS both and I'm using my Nexus 6 as a daily driver now, but I will go back to iOS and the iPhone if the 7 offers a killer package of features that other phones can't match. They really need to hit it out of the park now, because we have already have a lot of what people have wanted over the last couple years (larger screens, HD displays, amazing cameras, better battery) and there aren't a lot of those big things left to add.

 

[JeffyTheQuik]

Nice. You work for "The Flying Carpet Maker?"

Why yes. Yes, I do! My favorite number is any with a 7 on either side of it

Same here. I can't comprehend how I used a 4" iPhone. It's almost nothing. It's a tiny baby toy. Hardly anything fits on the screen.

I'd get an iPad Pro if it had a voice cell chip in it. And for those reading, no, I would continue to use my Bluetooth headphones, and not put it up to my head.

Not really.

Sure... the iPhone is a big part of Apple's operation. But Apple's non-iPhone products would be billion-dollar businesses on their own.

Macs had $6.7 billion in revenue last quarter.
Services had $5.1 billion in revenue last quarter.
iPads had $4.1 billion in revenue last quarter.
Other had $3.0 billion in revenue last quarter.

And Apple also generates massive profit from these areas as well.

Most companies can only dream of numbers like these.

Or, to put it in pictures...

 

[JeffyTheQuik]

Deleted... I don't want to get a nastygram about multi-quoting.

 

[Precision Gem]

Same here. Back in 2012 I was making fun of a friend with a Galaxy S3 and asked why he needed a laptop in his pocket. Fast forward to 2015 and I carry a Nexus 6 with a 6" display now haha

How do you carry that phone? Does it fin in your pocket? I feel a 6+ is to large for a front pants pocket, unless you wear those big baggy pants falling off your butt.

 

[Grimes213]

Take that Samsung!

 

[SchneiderMan]

I'm not happy for Apple this time. They've only raised prices this year.

 

[StoneJack]

I am a new owner of just activated 6S plus 128 gb, have yet to adjust to large screen after my excellent 6.
But yes, with 128 gb you will liberated you don't have to worry about storage anymore. even thinking of shooting a small movie since it comes with imovie installed

 

[riverfreak]

I feel sorry for all the bad children that got lumps of Samsung coal in their stockings. Maybe next year they'll get out there and mow the lawn when their dad tells them.

 

[Flow39]

How do you carry that phone? Does it fin in your pocket? I feel a 6+ is to large for a front pants pocket, unless you wear those big baggy pants falling off your butt.

Haha yeah it fits in my pockets, although it is a pretty tight fit. I got used to the size of the phone in my hand within 15 minutes and the feel in my pocket in about a week. I honestly couldn't give up the larger screen now though, it's too nice! Another thing to note is that the height of the 6+ is actually almost identical to the height of the Nexus 6, so the difference isn't all that much between them, even though the Nexus has a .5"larger display. I wear normal straight fit pants too, and keep it in my front pocket, no baggy jeans for me

 

[BvizioN]

Well i've been using a 4.7" iPhone 6/6s since the day the 6 came out and I yearn to go back to a 4" iPhone 5s sized phone still - so you can't blanked statement everyone with that theory i'm afraid.

Of course there always will be some who prefer the smaller "mini" screens. I have even read somewhere a comment saying 3.5" was the ideal screen size (believe it or not) but as hilarious as it may sound to me, it is all to do with preferences. There are still people out there who spend hundreds of $ on a phone just to make/receive calls on it.

iPhone's hoilday sale is declining, meaning iPhone is missing steam. iPhone's decline is only starting, people start to realizing they don't need spend top dollar for smartphone and iPhone is not the best phone anymore.

Sent from Moto X Play, the best phone for your wallet.

Cute
I been hearing that every since iPhone came out on 2007. Year after year And now it is almost 2016!!

 

[Piggie]

Can someone explain how this works?

It sort of feels a bit like someone saying, of all the devices we looked at and could detect apple came out on top, but we will ignore the other 75% of similar items we were not looking at.

What does activation mean and how did they do this?

What about the mass of lower end 7 and 8 inch tablets from a whole raft of suppliers. There must be something like 3, 4
of more of these cheap tablets sold to every apple device simply on cost alone. But they are not counted or detected?

I struggle with the notion that less 100 to 200 dollar tablets are sold than ipads in total.
Although I guess this is just an American survey so that screws the results a lot

 

[MH01]

The title should be, Apple continues to dominate holiday season, they have achieved this for years.