Apple Loses Fourth Place to Xiaomi in Booming China Smartphone Market

[5105973]

It seems everybody has missed a very important point, subtle but incredibly important. For those who have never worked or lived in Asia this will sound strange but the number '7' is bad (bad unlucky in the asian psyche) whereas the number 8 is good (incredibly lucky). So If Apple focus on the number '8', I predict a large growth in Asian sales and riot in the shops.

As a former owner of a Note 7 I may just decide to become superstitious. Though I do like my iPhone 7.

I checked out a Huawei Mate 9 last night. Overall it was a very nice phone but you do sacrifice quite a bit on camera quality (despite the Leica name) when you go down to that price level from the Samsung and IPhone stratosphere. What I don't know is what the phones they reserve for the Asian and European markets are like. Those have way better specs than the phones they sell here.

The best bang for my buck I ever had so far was the HTC 10 for $525. That phone compares well to my more expensive Samsungs and IPhone 7 Plus. That phone is made in Taiwan, I believe.

 

[iLog.Genius]

It seems everybody has missed a very important point, subtle but incredibly important. For those who have never worked or lived in Asia this will sound strange but the number '7' is bad (bad unlucky in the asian psyche) whereas the number 8 is good (incredibly lucky). So If Apple focus on the number '8', I predict a large growth in Asian sales and riot in the shops.

I'm sure there may be some truth to that but I don't think it's as big of a deal as some may suggest. You're absolutely right that numbers like the #4 is not well-taken by the Chinese community/population but the same type of people who don't like the number 4 on their license plates are still out buying cars like a BMW 4-Series or Audi A4 yet it hasn't stopped sales of those cars, for example, to slow down.

My point is, while the number may be frowned upon with the Chinese, it's not applicable on all consumer goods. I can see not wanting "4"s on something personal like a license plate but when it comes to the actual good (phones, cars), I don't think it matters that much - people will buy regardless.

 

[bobajoul]

Who cares, and how profitable is Xiaomi? Apple laughs all the way to the bank.

 

[macintoshi]

It seems everybody has missed a very important point, subtle but incredibly important. For those who have never worked or lived in Asia this will sound strange but the number '7' is bad (bad unlucky in the asian psyche) whereas the number 8 is good (incredibly lucky). So If Apple focus on the number '8', I predict a large growth in Asian sales and riot in the shops.

Well thats theyr way of believing, i hope that number judges them, for its unluck to them, cause they are beeing evil...

 

[Zaft]

Even though it is nice to have security its not the main reason I choose IOS.
I choose iOS because of ease if use, facetime and imessage,

The days of getting skype working with my parents are gone, they just click facetime and they see my daughter.

 

[getbretweir]

Not all the China phones are cheap. There are higher-end phones that are full spec phones with all the features you want. The difference? They aren't selling them at 50% profit margin, and those companies don't maintain billions of dollars cash made off their high profit margins. Apple COULD beat those numbers if their phones weren't upwards of $1000 USD.
Look around and see what some of these Chinese companies are offering for a couple hundred bucks. Phones with features that you'll not find even in Apple phones. It's actually pretty amazing what you can get for a few hundred dollars.

Yup. And you don't even have to go to China to get em. Take the One+ for example ... If Apple used the exact same hardware they'd charge $900+ easy

 

[SomaliPride]

China imposes heavy tariff on foreign companies to help their companies. iPhone 7 base price is currently around $1000 in china. With that price tag Apple has little chance to compete in China's unfair market. Samsung and other foreign companies are facing the same problem.

Europeans and American are too stupid. They let Chinese import products with little to no tariff, but can't sell anything in China at reasonable price.

 

[BoltmanLives]

2009: China rich "iPhone is here" YEA! Buy BUY BUY

Today: Meh
[doublepost=1487435968][/doublepost]

Who cares, and how profitable is Xiaomi? Apple laughs all the way to the bank.

If so thats sad..that is the way Microsoft used to think, how many windows seats sold.
They got better, now its about customer delight quotient with products they can uniquely deliver.

"We will be insatiable in our desire to learn from the outside and bring that knowledge into Microsoft, while still innovating to surprise and delight our users." -Satya Nadella

"MAU-Monthly Active Users is the health metric of any service" -Phil Spencer

----

This is NOT the way Apl thinks...in Apl its all about margins and what margin to hit the #, that's ok when you have desirable products...that seems to be a fleeting endeavor though recently as that requires new/hot...like Spencer's Gifts

 

[macTW]

Apple doesn't mind this. They target the top end of markets, while other Chinese brands target various levels and tiers beneath them.

 

[BoltmanLives]

The iPhone is not for everyone, it's for those who want the best phone.

Nah that's a Lumia or X3, iPhone is for those that think its the best phone. What gate? this year #ChipGate ..that's bad design and/or materials

The reality: today is iPhone is about the only phone that works with all the Apple Devices and media collections you collected over the past decade or so, "moving on" is daunting . For that convenience some pay top dollar. At-risk Apl users created daily, like in China many are over the top dollar part of it, they did not collect as much proprietary media and devices either.Top dollar for "convenience" sake ....does not fly ,especially when new and amazing tech is whizzing by.

MOST will decide renting an apl iphone like a house or car is NOT a great idea, some are ok hence apl users on the monthly iPhone for life plan. Reminds me of TIMESHARES. My phone was "paid off" day 1, a great deal.

Keep in mind a family of 4 is FOUR rentals...ouch, worse than a car lease or a mortgage payment where all share in the cost.

 

[9081094]

The iPhone is not for everyone, it's for those who want the best phone.

Define best... it's quite obvious that Chinese people are not paying for an Apple logo only. Huawei is selling well built smartphones with technology comparing to apple's latest and greatest. All of that for a price considerably less than Apple. Huawei phones are number one in the Netherlands too now. If Apple wasn't that eager on profits and get its focus back on delivering the best money can buy I would get my love back to the company I used to like. Apple used to be a front runner in technology. Something that justified higher prices. Today their products are stalling (hard-and software). Consumers are taking notice and an iPhone 8 will already get beaten by other vendors months before it will see the light of day. Only a fool will pay $ 1000 or more if you can have the same or better for far less.
[doublepost=1487437362][/doublepost]

Apple doesn't mind this. They target the top end of markets, while other Chinese brands target various levels and tiers beneath them.

Huawei is taking on Apple in the Netherlands too by offering the same the iPhone 7 plus has to offer for half the price. You say huawei doesn't target the top?

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Chinese are smart, they realize they don't have to pay a lot to have a great phone.

Debatable. But they might realize its silly to pay a lot money for the most secure consumer phone when you live in a country where privacy doesn't exist.
[doublepost=1487437721][/doublepost]

Huawei is taking on Apple in the Netherlands too by offering the same the iPhone 7 plus has to offer for half the price. You say huawei doesn't target the top?

Reminds me of the de-badged Chevy Malibu ads where "customers" think it's a BMW or Audi with it's sleek styling and array of amenities. Either they were paid off to say that, i.e., actors, or they don't really understand what makes a BMW or Audi a BMW or Audi and those cars are not in their market in the first place -- Chevy Malibu is.

 

[bladerunner2000]

Why do I get the feeling the iPhone 8 won't live up to expectations?

Considering the iPhone 7 didn't live up to expectations, it won't be surprising if the 8 also sucks.

 

[BoltmanLives]

Debatable. But they might realize its silly to pay a lot money for the most secure consumer phone when you live in a country where privacy doesn't exist.
[doublepost=1487437721][/doublepost]

Reminds me of the de-badged Chevy Malibu ads where "customers" think it's a BMW or Audi with it's sleek styling and array of amenities. Either they were paid off to say that, i.e., actors, or they don't really understand what makes a BMW or Audi a BMW or Audi and those cars are not in their market in the first place -- Chevy Malibu is.

Most secure consumer phone is NOT from Apl:

Windows Phone Is the Most Secure Mobile Platform
http://mobilityarena.com/windows-phone-is-the-hardest-os-to-crack-white-hat-hacker/
Windows Phone picks up all nine FIPS 140-2 certifications, clears path for government customers
http://www.windowscentral.com/windowsphone-gets-all-nine-fips-140-2-certs



IT should be as it runs...WINDOWS 10 Mobile and not some shoddy mobile OS

 

[Ramius]

The downfall begins. Especially as these amazing chinese brands have learned to make smart phones that looks and performs like an iPhone for 1/3rd of the price.

Seriously considered buying the Oppo F1S when I was in Thailand last year. Theres virtually no reason for people in this market to pay three times more for the iPhone. Based on what they are looking for, what they need, and normal peoples economy, the iPhone is just stupidly expensive without any justifications for the high price.

 

[Bart Kela]

Why do I get the feeling the iPhone 8 won't live up to expectations?

For some, no iPhone will ever live up to expectations because those people have unrealistic ones.
[doublepost=1487439619][/doublepost]

Most secure consumer phone is NOT from Apl:

Windows Phone Is the Most Secure Mobile Platform
http://mobilityarena.com/windows-phone-is-the-hardest-os-to-crack-white-hat-hacker/
Windows Phone picks up all nine FIPS 140-2 certifications, clears path for government customers
http://www.windowscentral.com/windowsphone-gets-all-nine-fips-140-2-certs



IT should be as it runs...WINDOWS 10 Mobile and not some shoddy mobile OS

Ahahahahahahaha!!!

The Mobility Arena article is over a year old.

The Windows Central article is over three years old.

Time doesn't stand still. Operating systems change, new vulnerabilities are discovered.

Apple releases a new one every with multiple minor updates, and some bug release updates as well. You cannot assess the security of today's consumer phone models with 3+ year old analyses.

 

[DevNull0]

As far as I know People in China rather buy Chinese products. Apple will loose this market.
Who are the owners of these Chinese companies ?

And yet Timmy wants to kiss the ass of the Chinese market while giving a huge middle finger the the Americans. He figures he's got the American market locked up no matter what he does so he's free to pursue everything else.

 

[antonis]

Debatable. But they might realize its silly to pay a lot money for the most secure consumer phone when you live in a country where privacy doesn't exist.

In contrast with what ? US ?

 

[69Mustang]

Apple's data

Source? I ask because every data point I've observed says Apple is down in China. That data includes Apple's own financial reporting.

These articles are loaded with BS.

What exactly is BS in the article?

 

[macTW]

Define best... it's quite obvious that Chinese people are not paying for an Apple logo only. Huawei is selling well built smartphones with technology comparing to apple's latest and greatest. All of that for a price considerably less than Apple. Huawei phones are number one in the Netherlands too now. If Apple wasn't that eager on profits and get its focus back on delivering the best money can buy I would get my love back to the company I used to like. Apple used to be a front runner in technology. Something that justified higher prices. Today their products are stalling (hard-and software). Consumers are taking notice and an iPhone 8 will already get beaten by other vendors months before it will see the light of day. Only a fool will pay $ 1000 or more if you can have the same or better for far less.
[doublepost=1487437362][/doublepost]
Huawei is taking on Apple in the Netherlands too by offering the same the iPhone 7 plus has to offer for half the price. You say huawei doesn't target the top?

Until they refine their software, no they do not. Smashing specs into a device for paper impressiveness isn't shooting for the top.

 

[TechGeek76]

Source? I ask because every data point I've observed says Apple is down in China. That data includes Apple's own financial reporting.


What exactly is BS in the article?

If it doesn't fit their narrative of what Apple should be, it's BS, didn't you know?

 

[Tycho24]

It seems everybody has missed a very important point, subtle but incredibly important. For those who have never worked or lived in Asia this will sound strange but the number '7' is bad (bad unlucky in the asian psyche) whereas the number 8 is good (incredibly lucky). So If Apple focus on the number '8', I predict a large growth in Asian sales and riot in the shops.

The 1600's called (err, I mean.... sent a parchment), they want their baseless ignorant superstitions that almost nobody makes real world decisions over back.

 

[pat500000]

The iPhone is not for everyone, it's for those who want the best phone.

Subjective, isn't it?

 

[Solomani]

Not surprised. Chinese phone company doing well in own home country, playing well with Chinese government support/subsidies, and has the benefit of Chinese laws/courts. No brainer.

 

[TheShadowKnows!]

And what OS do you think these other phones come with???
The fact is that you don't need to store your password anywhere to have it stolen. Simply typing it on an Android phone (in an app or a browser) can be enough. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keystroke_logging This is where a walled garden becomes important.
[doublepost=1487425910][/doublepost]
Since the others are highly insecure, color-oversaturated play things, the best iPhone is the best phone.

You would make Schiller proud. Take a deep breath, because it is just a fooking [phone, communicator, music player] and nowhere near $1,000 retail, unless it is your only computer.