iPhone X Apple is losing its mainstream, non-fan core with the X

[thelookingglass]

my department is comprised of 11 people, 9 of which have iPhones, and 4 have already upgraded to the X....

your statistics are heavily flawed

Yeah, this is definitely closer to my reality. iPhone users will continue to stay iPhone users. And the other reality is that most people just don't care about this stuff as much as we do. A ton of people are content to simply upgrade to the 8 or 8 Plus. Or even the 7 and 7 Plus.

 

[thesaint024]

You personally might not watch videos on your phone but many of us do and dislike a screen that unlike the plus models its just long and asymmetrical. Stretching the screen just longer up is not a good option. And I dont like the "Necessary Evil" of the notch just because now we're all supposed to hate the bezel because Apple said so.

No you're not supposed to do anything because Apple says so. That's why there are other iPhones and Android devices out there for those of you that don't like the X for what you want to do. But saying that the X is awful and good for no one is not really accurate. Listing all useful features as "gimmicks" does not help your cause. Life is too short to be a mad at a company for not developing a device for your individual needs. They're in it to make money, and evidence says they're doing that well.

 

[44267547]

Nobody has suggested the X is a flop

Yes, they have. It's been all over these threads for weeks by many using the comparison based on what they "See" in the public, workplace, who they know, their surrounding demographic, etc. See Post #67 more Specifically of what I was referring too. It's more of someone can't pass judgement on how well of a device has been selling because they never see one.

Also, I think @Michael Scrip is saying let's wait for numbers to determine the overall sales of the iPhone X versus making insinuations based on pretenses that don't add up to anything based on what someone does or does not see for iPhones in the public.

 

[thesaint024]

Nobody saw it happening when London overtook Rome many years ago as the biggest city in tbe world.

And nobody is seeing now that Android is slowly overtaking ios as the superior platform.

Like a lot of Apple diehards in this thread alone, Apple is taking for granted what people want in an ios device in 2017 and taking for granted the offerings of Android relative to ios.

Sales may be going well for Apple at the moment but if Apple keeps up the incremental change appraoch, they will start losing ground. Every year Android becomes more and more refined. The days of poking stick at Android for being a disjointed, laggy and malware prone software are long gone. People who still assert that today are stuck in 2012. Things change, except Apple's philosophy of increnental change. London overtook Rome and Android is catching up to ios.

Incremental change won't get you more market share, but continued refined improvement and added features which add to the user experience will.

I give it 10 years before Apple loses its crown as the smartphone king. Look at what happened to Nokia. Things change.

This is based largely on what happens with these bendable screens both Apple and Samsung are working on. How each approach it will go a long way to deciding who is the biggest seller in a decade's time. Knowing Apple, it will build a fold out screen device to simply mimmick an ipad-like screen. Think Plus model which really didn't offer anything to take advantage of the extra real estate other than offer extra real estate. And knowing Samsung, it will do a lot more than that, it will be Note 8ish-like where the wow factors will be through the roof.

Apple, you've been warned, change your approach or be the next Nokia within 10 years time.

This is all cyclical. New companies pop up and take the crown. Apple fans continue to buy Apple products because of their user-first vision. They aren't taking anything for granted, they rely on iPhone for the majority of their profits. They sell iOS as premium devices that are higher priced than competitors. There is clearly a market for phones that have premium builds and easy OS's. Many people like tinkering and customizing and the latest experimental gadgets. That has always been Android and PC. I enjoy those things as well, but not for a device I need to work 100% of the time. Apple never really positioned itself to be the dominant player in any market, it just happened because the earlier iPhones were so good. They always play the niche, premium market. To everyone's surprise, everyone's mom wants the iPhone too. They now play to a much larger audience. Having experimental tech that's not ready for primetime doesn't suit the new iPhone crowd, and it never represented Apple's vision.

When iPhone becomes less prevalent and loses it's crown, it's not going to make any difference to me. I will buy what works for my needs. If I'm the last person who buys an iPhone, that's fine with me. I don't know why you or anyone else cares about Apple maintaining top position in this. Unless you're a major shareholder, who cares. But yeah, it's at least several years away from that even remotely being true.

 

[MarkB786]

I realize the example I shared with is not a good one. We all got it, but guess what...it’s company issue so the price tag is $0. Everyone really likes it though.

Yeah, company-issued makes a difference. Are Apple products the only choice? I think given the choice of a free phone, I would still go for the Note 8. Have had it for a couple of months (after 10 years of iphones) and really like the pen and other Android features. Somewhat liberating. It is, however, more challenging to get the latest system updates since those are left to the carrier and Samsung.

 

[ex android dan]

Yeah, company-issued makes a difference. Are Apple products the only choice? I think given the choice of a free phone, I would still go for the Note 8. Have had it for a couple of months (after 10 years of iphones) and really like the pen and other Android features. Somewhat liberating. It is, however, more challenging to get the latest system updates since those are left to the carrier and Samsung.

We can choose any Apple device, or one of two Samsung devices. I don’t know which two as those aren’t of interest to me.

I would have kept my 7+ if I had to buy the phone myself. $1,200 is a chunk of change for a phone.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Yes, they have. It's been all over these threads for weeks by many using the comparison based on what they "See" in the public, workplace, who they know, their surrounding demographic, etc. See Post #67 more Specifically of what I was referring too. It's more of someone can't pass judgement on how well of a device has been selling because they never see one.

Also, I think @Michael Scrip is saying let's wait for numbers to determine the overall sales of the iPhone X versus making insinuations based on pretenses that don't add up to anything based on what someone does or does not see for iPhones in the public.

I use that metric as a general observation because it’s unusual not to see a nearly released iPhone in my part of the world. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to think this year is slightly different judging by the fact I haven’t even bumped into one person that owns one.

Sure the figures Apple releases and more reliably the retail figures we’ll get in the new year will give us a better idea. We’ve also got people making the claim the X is the ‘best selling ever’ based on the same guesses and I think personal observation make that very hard to believe.

 

[Applejuiced]

No you're not supposed to do anything because Apple says so. That's why there are other iPhones and Android devices out there for those of you that don't like the X for what you want to do. But saying that the X is awful and good for no one is not really accurate. Listing all useful features as "gimmicks" does not help your cause. Life is too short to be a mad at a company for not developing a device for your individual needs. They're in it to make money, and evidence says they're doing that well.

Oh yeah, others opinions bother you about your phone?
So if we dont like the iphone X we are not allowed to talk about it? We should just purchase other phones and not post about it on a discussion forum? Maybe you should stop reading threads like this instead of trying to tell others what to do 😉

 

[PanAm-L1011]

The X seems to be appealing to the core fan base, but so many people I know are either sticking with their current iPhone or going to another phone vendor. In our office not a single person out of 30 is remotely interested in the X. Of these, about 3/4 are iPhone users. Five of those (including me) have switched to an S8 or Note 8. In past years, there was a palpable excitement about the new phones. This round has fallen very flat. Where does Apple go from here? Yes, the X is selling well overall, but Apple is losing its mojo and edge as they slowly run out of ideas. Are the exciting days gone? Is the iPhone just another phone to most people outside of the fan base?

In our office of 12, 5 of us have gotten the X. I don't think Apple is losing it's mojo at all. Of the 7 non-Xers, 1 has the 6 and the rest have the 7 or 7 Plus. All of us have Apple. Our president asked if anyone could test our new app on Andriod, and no one has an Android phone.

I have another friend who was upset that I walked in a got one while he had to wait for his pre-order. He tried daily for two weeks to find one in a store, to no avail.

 

[jd369]

I was excited about the X until I saw the price. I got my 7 for $100. Now Im expected to pay $700 for the new phone just a year later? Hell to the no.

 

[skottichan]

I was excited about the X until I saw the price. I got my 7 for $100. Now Im expected to pay $700 for the new phone just a year later? Hell to the no.

Wow, $100 for a 7, I'm guessing you bought it after the 8/8p release, because I spent close to $1K for my 7 Plus when it came out..

 

[jd369]

Wow, $100 for a 7, I'm guessing you bought it after the 8/8p release, because I spent close to $1K for my 7 Plus when it came out..

I bought it when it launched. Verizon had a $650 trade in credit for the 6 or 6S so I only paid $100 out of pocket at the store.

 

[thesaint024]

Oh yeah, others opinions bother you about your phone?
So if we dont like the iphone X we are not allowed to talk about it? We should just purchase other phones and not post about it on a discussion forum? Maybe you should stop reading threads like this instead of trying to tell others what to do 😉

OK, you can state your opinion, but saying the X is awful in every regard makes you look a little childish/irrational. No phone is awful in every way. Your opinions don't bother me, I love my phone. You are spreading misinformation to people for some strange reason. Sorry, but whining about how a company doesn't care about you does bother me, and I respond. Rational complaints about something don't bother me. I have plenty of complaints as well. Enjoy whatever phone you're using, I don't even know what that is since you complain so much about the X you don't have.

 

[1rottenapple]

In my experience the first month after a release is where I used to see the flurry of people upgrading. When the iPhone 6 came out my office was full of them and people actually discussed it. Probably because it was the first big iPhone. I didn’t see much of a buzz last year with the 7 and this year is perhaps more muted again. Since the size increase I think people are perhaps keeping phones longer. I think i’ll see a few more 8’s around the office over the next 6 months rather than the X. It reminds me of the Apple Watch in that it sells well, but not everybody needs it.

This. I remember the hype with iPhone 6. I haven’t heard people discuss the X.

 

[sean000]

Apple knew the X would be a stretch for some in terms of cost and changes, so they released the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus at the same time. Mainstream fans who are ready to upgrade (mostly users of the iPhone 6 and older) have a safe and less expensive option in the 8 series. My mother just upgraded from a 6+ to the 8+ and she loves it. The reason she loves it? She said it's exactly the same as her 6+ (meaning there was no learning curve), but it takes much better photos of her puppers. 😀

I don't think true mainstream users think as much as some people do about switching between iPhone and Android. Most mainstream users avoid change and nothing about the iPhone 8 would drive them to Android. Mainstream users don't complain that the 8 is boring because it's just like the 7 or the 6. The fact that it looks and feels like a faster/better version of the same iPhone is a virtue for them. If you like to switch platforms or upgrade to a new design like the X because you enjoy the novelty, or because you obsess over the display, or because you obsess over the hardware and performance specs: You are not mainstream.

If the X did not exist, and the iPhone 8 was offered as the only flagship, would you have stayed with Apple instead of switching to Samsung? It sounds like you were just ready for something new, and the Samsung appealed to you more. That means you are not mainstream. I have a lot of mainstream smartphone users in my family and extended family. Most are iPhone users and a few are Android users (it's very clear who is who because of the whole blue bubble vs green bubble thing). When I say these are mainstream users I mean they don't even know when a new model gets released. They don't follow the hype and watch announcements from Apple and Samsung. They don't get as excited about new features or improvements. They only get interested in upgrading when their current phone starts to feel slow and/or has trouble holding a charge throughout the day. They actually kind of dread upgrading, because they don't want to learn anything new, but they do look forward to getting a new model that simply works better and faster. They don't care if it's the best and the fastest. Just better and faster than their old device.

 

[thesaint024]

Apple knew the X would be a stretch for some in terms of cost and changes, so they released the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus at the same time. Mainstream fans who are ready to upgrade (mostly users of the iPhone 6 and older) have a safe and less expensive option in the 8 series. My mother just upgraded from a 6+ to the 8+ and she loves it. The reason she loves it? She said it's exactly the same as her 6+ (meaning there was no learning curve), but it takes much better photos of her puppers. 😀

I don't think true mainstream users think as much as some people do about switching between iPhone and Android. Most mainstream users avoid change and nothing about the iPhone 8 would drive them to Android. Mainstream users don't complain that the 8 is boring because it's just like the 7 or the 6. The fact that it looks and feels like a faster/better version of the same iPhone is a virtue for them. If you like to switch platforms or upgrade to a new design like the X because you enjoy the novelty, or because you obsess over the display, or because you obsess over the hardware and performance specs: You are not mainstream.

If the X did not exist, and the iPhone 8 was offered as the only flagship, would you have stayed with Apple instead of switching to Samsung? It sounds like you were just ready for something new, and the Samsung appealed to you more. That means you are not mainstream. I have a lot of mainstream smartphone users in my family and extended family. Most are iPhone users and a few are Android users (it's very clear who is who because of the whole blue bubble vs green bubble thing). When I say these are mainstream users I mean they don't even know when a new model gets released. They don't follow the hype and watch announcements from Apple and Samsung. They don't get as excited about new features or improvements. They only get interested in upgrading when their current phone starts to feel slow and/or has trouble holding a charge throughout the day. They actually kind of dread upgrading, because they don't want to learn anything new, but they do look forward to getting a new model that simply works better and faster. They don't care if it's the best and the fastest. Just better and faster than their old device.

I think all of our moms upgraded to the 8+. 😀 No offense to non-moms who bought the 8!! Just saying moms like big screens and minimal learning curve. Totally agree with your assessment of the real world. Most iPhone upgraders just buy whatever iPhone is out at the time and don't care about specs and features.

 

[rui no onna]

Apple knew the X would be a stretch for some in terms of cost and changes, so they released the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus at the same time. Mainstream fans who are ready to upgrade (mostly users of the iPhone 6 and older) have a safe and less expensive option in the 8 series. My mother just upgraded from a 6+ to the 8+ and she loves it. The reason she loves it? She said it's exactly the same as her 6+ (meaning there was no learning curve), but it takes much better photos of her puppers. 😀

I don't think true mainstream users think as much as some people do about switching between iPhone and Android. Most mainstream users avoid change and nothing about the iPhone 8 would drive them to Android. Mainstream users don't complain that the 8 is boring because it's just like the 7 or the 6. The fact that it looks and feels like a faster/better version of the same iPhone is a virtue for them. If you like to switch platforms or upgrade to a new design like the X because you enjoy the novelty, or because you obsess over the display, or because you obsess over the hardware and performance specs: You are not mainstream.

If the X did not exist, and the iPhone 8 was offered as the only flagship, would you have stayed with Apple instead of switching to Samsung? It sounds like you were just ready for something new, and the Samsung appealed to you more. That means you are not mainstream. I have a lot of mainstream smartphone users in my family and extended family. Most are iPhone users and a few are Android users (it's very clear who is who because of the whole blue bubble vs green bubble thing). When I say these are mainstream users I mean they don't even know when a new model gets released. They don't follow the hype and watch announcements from Apple and Samsung. They don't get as excited about new features or improvements. They only get interested in upgrading when their current phone starts to feel slow and/or has trouble holding a charge throughout the day. They actually kind of dread upgrading, because they don't want to learn anything new, but they do look forward to getting a new model that simply works better and faster. They don't care if it's the best and the fastest. Just better and faster than their old device.

Yep absolutely this. When I help family members upgrade their phone, their question is always will the new phone have all the same apps and data they have on their old phone. Really, iTunes/iCloud backup makes switching devices so easy.

When my mom's iPhone 5s's battery died, she didn't want a 6s/6s+. She just wanted another 5s. Thank goodness Apple released the SE.

 

[Applejuiced]

OK, you can state your opinion, but saying the X is awful in every regard makes you look a little childish/irrational. No phone is awful in every way. Your opinions don't bother me, I love my phone. You are spreading misinformation to people for some strange reason. Sorry, but whining about how a company doesn't care about you does bother me, and I respond. Rational complaints about something don't bother me. I have plenty of complaints as well. Enjoy whatever phone you're using, I don't even know what that is since you complain so much about the X you don't have.

You are taking my opinion and view a little too personally. Just relax and feel good about your personal smartphone decision since what you do with your money and what you purchase is your business. If a strangers post on the internet about a specific electronic device bothers you that much then you might want to seek professional help.
I never said the X is awful in every regard.
I just would not spend my money on buying an iPhone X for various reasons and Im not willing to settle for what this model has to offer.
I purchased almost every iPhone that was released but if I dont like something I will not get it but I will voice my views in this forum weather you like it or not. In the end that's what this iPhone discussion forum is about😉

 

[Juicy Box]

The X seems to be appealing to the core fan base, but so many people I know are either sticking with their current iPhone or going to another phone vendor. In our office not a single person out of 30 is remotely interested in the X. Of these, about 3/4 are iPhone users. Five of those (including me) have switched to an S8 or Note 8. In past years, there was a palpable excitement about the new phones. This round has fallen very flat. Where does Apple go from here? Yes, the X is selling well overall, but Apple is losing its mojo and edge as they slowly run out of ideas. Are the exciting days gone? Is the iPhone just another phone to most people outside of the fan base?

If I was going to chose between an iPhone X and an 8, I would definitely chose and X.

I never like the 6 design that the 8 is based off of. On the iPhone 6 event day, I remember eagerly looking at the websites to check out the new iPhone, and when I saw the iPhone 6 for the first time, I was confused because I thought it was an Android phone. It looked like every other phone on the market at the time. Now the design is several years old, it is time for a change.

I am currently using an SE, but I could picture going to the X. The only things that I wouldn't look forward to is the price and no touch ID.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

If I was going to chose between an iPhone X and an 8, I would definitely chose and X.

I never like the 6 design that the 8 is based off of. On the iPhone 6 event day, I remember eagerly looking at the websites to check out the new iPhone, and when I saw the iPhone 6 for the first time, I was confused because I thought it was an Android phone. It looked like every other phone on the market at the time. Now the design is several years old, it is time for a change.

I am currently using an SE, but I could picture going to the X. The only things that I wouldn't look forward to is the price and no touch ID.

Didn’t the iPhone 6 look pretty much like every iPhone from the front before it? Apples iconic shape/home button combo is synonymous with the brand and was used since its inception.

If you thought the iPhone has always looked like an Android phone, what’s your logic with the buttonless iPhone X? Doesn’t it look very similar to most of the other Android flagships currently on the market?

 

[Seth Matthews]

Current sales would seem to disagree with your "sample."

 

[thesaint024]

You are taking my opinion and view a little too personally. Just relax and feel good about your personal smartphone decision since what you do with your money and what you purchase is your business. If a strangers post on the internet about a specific electronic device bothers you that much then you might want to seek professional help.
I never said the X is awful in every regard.
I just would not spend my money on buying an iPhone X for various reasons and Im not willing to settle for what this model has to offer.
I purchased almost every iPhone that was released but if I dont like something I will not get it but I will voice my views in this forum weather you like it or not. In the end that's what this iPhone discussion forum is about😉

People who go onto forums to whine about Apple not caring about their feelings or saying nonsense like:

That's a pointless attempt to remove a bezel just to be different but with impractical use.
Nobody wanted a taller and thinner phone

...about a phone they don't even own need the help, professional or otherwise.

For me, I see phone, I like phone, I buy phone, I masochistically go to MR to talk about phone I bought. Others go to MR to repeatedly post about how smart they are that they didn't buy a phone because it would make them "settle". Haha, ok, you are a smart dude. You sure didn't fall for Apple's tricks like some us! Again, I'm not attempting to stop anyone from complaining, but when you say certain ... things, you will get responses. I wasn't even talking to you to begin with, and why do you keep winking at me?

 

[leon44]

I don't think they've ran out of ideas, have stopped innovating or are doomed, the X is a the most impressive update since the original imo however I've seen the same trend of iPhone users deciding now is time to try something else.

2 reasons: The competition has got too good and the price has got too high

 

[Juicy Box]

Most iPhone users are not "super fans".

I don't see how they are losing their "non-fan" base by offering an additional choice.

I liked Apple products a lot more when they didn't have too many non-fans.

Apples sales numbers will say otherwise

As an investor, I could understand why this matters, but as a consumer and potential Apple product user, why would this matter?

 

[ipponrg]

I don't think they've ran out of ideas, have stopped innovating or are doomed, the X is a the most impressive update since the original imo however I've seen the same trend of iPhone users deciding now is time to try something else.

2 reasons: The competition has got too good and the price has got too high

I think another issue is Apple is using other manufacturers as guinea pigs to vet the ideas. At previous time, Apple used to be in the front of the line in setting the bar and innovation. Now there hasn't really been anything ground breaking so far in recent releases. You could argue that FaceID / wireless charging is innovation, but the other brands have had it for a while now. The only thing I've been enjoying so far is the camera, and I DO plan to upgrade my iPhone again in a year.

I honestly would like to jump ship, but the apps + ecosystem is the largest driving factor for staying with Apple iPhone.