Apple Loses Fourth Place to Xiaomi in Booming China Smartphone Market

[crashoverride77]

It's not the best phone. It's the best iPhone.

Which phone is better?
[doublepost=1487497737][/doublepost]

Well there lies the hypocrisy.... when apple has markert share, it's a critical measure of success , Apple Watch , when apple drops to say like 5 here, it's a worthless measure , it's not MR editors that are the problem, it's the diehard fans that contradict themselves and frankly just make up facts to suit thier story at a given time, meaning no matter what the news, it's all positive for apple.

Hint markert share should be very very important to you, the less units you sell the higher the price to maintain the profits . That means you are paying more each year for apple products and gloating they have record profits while more and more people leave. I finally stopped when iPhone 7 plus with AppleCare was about £1038. Next model is rumoured to go up in price . Give me markert share and cheaper prices anytime!!!!!

Your current CEO is raising prices and saving money everywhere , like the crap intel modems, the more that leave, the more prices will raise so the ones staying can be smug they have the most expansive and therefore the best phone....no price does not mean the best. More and more people I see getting fed up with pricing and just wanting a phone, prices have frankly become ridiculous levels that surpass laptops

And than you end up like android OEMs, broke
[doublepost=1487497840][/doublepost]

Yawn...Apple does the same.

Yawn, they don't.
[doublepost=1487497941][/doublepost]

This post pretty much sums up Apple software under Tim Cook - a mountain of cash and completely unwilling to spend it to improve product quality.

This comment sums you up perfectly. Can't even quote properly

 

[MH01]

And than you end up like android OEMs, broke

Enjoy paying more and more each year, though there comes a time you price yourself of reach of the average consumer, as the value is no longer there. Might want to read up what happened to apple when jobs left ..... fragmentation and prices ....it's already happening.

Remember those cheap PC OEMs at the time.....

 

[Rod Hartz]

It's just too expensive. Apple needs to cut the price. You can buy almost the same for half price from Chinese vendors like Oppo/Vivo/1+, Xiaomi, ZTE...

 

[Zirel]

Well there lies the hypocrisy.... when apple has markert share, it's a critical measure of success , Apple Watch , when apple drops to say like 5 here, it's a worthless measure , it's not MR editors that are the problem, it's the diehard fans that contradict themselves and frankly just make up facts to suit thier story at a given time, meaning no matter what the news, it's all positive for apple.

Hint markert share should be very very important to you, the less units you sell the higher the price to maintain the profits . That means you are paying more each year for apple products and gloating they have record profits while more and more people leave. I finally stopped when iPhone 7 plus with AppleCare was about £1038. Next model is rumoured to go up in price . Give me markert share and cheaper prices anytime!!!!!

Your current CEO is raising prices and saving money everywhere , like the crap intel modems, the more that leave, the more prices will raise so the ones staying can be smug they have the most expansive and therefore the best phone....no price does not mean the best. More and more people I see getting fed up with pricing and just wanting a phone, prices have frankly become ridiculous levels that surpass laptops

Apple just so happens to have the marketshare in units of the Wearable market. So what? They have all the value share too.

Android phones are for poor people that can't afford an iPhone, every Android phone out there has significant problems in the real world that oftenly don't get to the papers. Very few buy expensive androids, like the pixel, and for example, the "oh-so-powerful" Note 7 in the first quarter was only selling 2.5 million, that was the number of the recall.

The press is practically owned by Google and Microsoft and most readers are the no-lifers unemployed or the kids, that don't buy smartphones and laptops, buy games consoles and PCs. They basically feed an echo chamber of people that are completely disconnected from the reality and don't step outside their home.

Apple haters here are ridiculous and "MacRumors" is a sad joke in Apple circles.

You don't have any facts to prove that about Intel modems, all that's being said is regurgitating some BS written by Qualcomm to spread FUD against Apple and against their competitors.

And no, Tim Cook did lower the margins this year.

 

[szw-mapple fan]

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 also suspect this is one of the biggest reasons Apple decides to release iPhone 8 along with the 7s this year instead of waiting another year with the 7s.

 

[JGRE]

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

Where do you get this from? Apparently, looking at above stats,Apple is the best non-Chinese smart phone seller in China. I don't see Samsung anywhere. Pretty amazing.
[doublepost=1487503165][/doublepost]

You are entitled to your personal beliefs. But it's just that: A personal belief. The iPhone with its crippled OS is the last phone that I would buy. Huawei and several other companies offer a much better value. And after all, smartphones are just consumer products with an extremely short lifecycle.

The iPhone with its crippled OS? Please, do explain!
[doublepost=1487503397][/doublepost]

I also suspect this is one of the biggest reasons Apple decides to release iPhone 8 along with the 7s this year instead of waiting another year with the 7s.

He? So, originally you suppose that Apple would release the 8 this year and the 7s the year thereafter? And now, they going to release a 8 and a 7s at the same time? I really do not understand your logic.

 

[Piggie]

It's a luxury item to people in China fool. The article is about China.
You laugh as fools laugh. Because you're a fool.

Thanks

Honestly this is the cleverness of Apple's marketing team.

How do we mass produce in the hundreds of millions an item, that so cheap hundreds of millions of people own them.
They are so common you see them everywhere, even children at school have them.

And yet, at the same time be able to market them as luxury items.

It's an amazing marketing trick to pull off, and full credit for being able to do it, as if you'd set that as a challenge in the past, most would say no way can you have both.

 

[I7guy]

Just my opinion, but I think it's a more appropriate because the iPhone is a high volume, commodity device analogous to a high volume, commodity car brand like a Toyota to Samsung's Ford. They are ubiquitous. They're everywhere and can be purchased just about anywhere. That's not BMW, Audi, Porsche, Ferrari, or any other high end brand that some like to throw around as comparisons to iPhones. Again, it's not a bad thing.

But I think while the iphone is a high volume, commodity device, it's a well made one with the innards being custom made, more similar to a BMW. BMWs are ubiquitous; Mercedes is the same, Audit and Porsche...at least in my neck of the woods. But nonetheless that conversation could be picked apart of what constitutes "car ubiquity", but IMO the iphone is more comparable to a BMW.
[doublepost=1487510249][/doublepost]

Well there lies the hypocrisy.... when apple has markert share, it's a critical measure of success

There is no doubt android is successful as per the marketshare argument, but other than google who profits from each phone sole, which phone manufacturers are making profits from their phones from their marketshare?

That's an entirely different discussion.

 

[zzLZHzz]

I'm sure you've thoroughly researched the Chinese market, the price of phones, the mix of models, and how much each company is making, before weighing in.

I would say the those companies has phone for different segment of the market which range from low-cost to flag-ship products.

And sometime I find that those low-cost device are extremely value for money especially if compared to samsung since they could have similar spec and yet probably half the cost of it. I won't do a direct comparison between them and iPhone due to OS. Personally I would rather use a Windows Mobile than Android, unfortunately the latest Windows Mobile device aren't available in my city.

What makes China on the opposite of the world opt for Oppo and Vivo while everyone else is using either a Samsung or iPhone and the new comer Pixel. Also they don't have Samsung?!



I looked up huwawie and Oppo they are around $400-$600 range. Seems similar to iphone.

In Singapore we have low-cost huawei/xiaomi which range from around $200 to similar pricing of iPhone.
In fact I have one Huawei Ascend Y511 which I use alongside with my iPhone because some apps aren't available on the iOS and from on gsmareana, it is about 100EUR http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_ascend_y511-5910.php

 

[TallManNY]

But I think while the iphone is a high volume, commodity device, it's a well made one with the innards being custom made, more similar to a BMW. BMWs are ubiquitous; Mercedes is the same, Audit and Porsche...at least in my neck of the woods. But nonetheless that conversation could be picked apart of what constitutes "car ubiquity", but IMO the iphone is more comparable to a BMW.
[doublepost=1487510249][/doublepost]
There is no doubt android is successful as per the marketshare argument, but other than google who profits from each phone sole, which phone manufacturers are making profits from their phones from their marketshare?

That's an entirely different discussion.

Google doesn't materially profit from Android sales. It gives away the OS and then participates by data collection and the Google Play Store. But the Android market doesn't buy enough stuff in the Google Play store to make this a material revenue source for Google. This is one reason why Google made the Pixel and Nexus phones. They are doing most of the work on Android, while making fairly little money.

The analogy to BWMs is a good one. There is one crucial difference which folks thought was material. The thought was that developers would develop first and maybe only for Android because of its market share. (Kind of like if Luxury Cars had to go to different gas stations.) What happened was that the Android market share is proving a bit illusionary. It doesn't track with engagement and use that well. Android users use their phones very different than iPhone users. I suspect some of the devices are secondary devices getting less engagement. Others are sold to very poor people who will not pay anything for Apps or even in App purchases. And they aren't even worth that much to run ads to. So really iPhone is on very even footing with Android even outside of the U.S.

 

[I7guy]

Google doesn't materially profit from Android sales. It gives away the OS and then participates by data collection and the Google Play Store. But the Android market doesn't buy enough stuff in the Google Play store to make this a material revenue source for Google. This is one reason why Google made the Pixel and Nexus phones. They are doing most of the work on Android, while making fairly little money.

The analogy to BWMs is a good one. There is one crucial difference which folks thought was material. The thought was that developers would develop first and maybe only for Android because of its market share. (Kind of like if Luxury Cars had to go to different gas stations.) What happened was that the Android market share is proving a bit illusionary. It doesn't track with engagement and use that well. Android users use their phones very different than iPhone users. I suspect some of the devices are secondary devices getting less engagement. Others are sold to very poor people who will not pay anything for Apps or even in App purchases. And they aren't even worth that much to run ads to. So really iPhone is on very even footing with Android even outside of the U.S.

The bolded has been proved incorrect as that information was inadvertently been outed during the Oracle trial(?). In fact, I believe the number outed was $21B. Google makes out well on android market share.

http://www.theverge.com/2016/1/21/10810834/android-generated-31-billion-revenue-google-oracle

 

[freediverx]

The Chinese market is a mixed bag for Apple. Its rapidly growing population of middle and high income consumers is a relatively new phenomenon and the country's culture has yet to fully adapt to its newfound wealth.

On one hand you have China's "tuhao", the status-obsessed nouveau riche who will eagerly buy whatever they perceive as the most luxurious and prestigious products to flaunt their recently acquired wealth. On the other hand, you have the cultural phenomenon of "chabuduo" which is at odds with the idea of investing a premium for quality when you can save time, effort, and money by settling for "good enough".

 

[Born Again]

Which phone is better?
[doublepost=1487497737][/doublepost]

And than you end up like android OEMs, broke
[doublepost=1487497840][/doublepost]

Yawn, they don't.
[doublepost=1487497941][/doublepost]

This comment sums you up perfectly. Can't even quote properly

Pixel

 

[lincolntran]

You are entitled to your personal beliefs. But it's just that: A personal belief. The iPhone with its crippled OS is the last phone that I would buy. Huawei and several other companies offer a much better value. And after all, smartphones are just consumer products with an extremely short lifecycle.

Like the one you quoted, this is also just your opinion.

 

[FelixDerKater]

Samsung doesn't make that chart?

 

[TechGeek76]

Hint markert share should be very very important to you, the less units you sell the higher the price to maintain the profits .

I've been telling them this for years, they all laugh and state Apple/Jobs didn't care about it. Which is complete horse****, EVERY company is concerned about market share INCLUDING Apple. They think because they make more profits that they don't NEED market share, which the sane of us understand that without it, you don't make money even if you're Apple.
[doublepost=1487520274][/doublepost]

Yawn, they don't.

Oh lord. Yes they do. Please, just....stop.
[doublepost=1487520334][/doublepost]

Enjoy paying more and more each year, though there comes a time you price yourself of reach of the average consumer, as the value is no longer there. Might want to read up what happened to apple when jobs left ..... fragmentation and prices ....it's already happening.

Remember those cheap PC OEMs at the time.....

They just don't get it. The defense of Apple is just quite....disturbing.
[doublepost=1487520438][/doublepost]

I put you in your place and badly. Just be a man and take instead trying to save face.
It makes you look like a biggger fool.

Oh god, you really think you put him in his place? And you call HIM a fool? Bragging that you "put someone in their place"? That...makes you look like the fool. Grow up.
[doublepost=1487520549][/doublepost]

you are one poster in here that would know about fanboys.... unlike yourself I enjoy tech from all companies .

Sorry I cannot take it seriously when you judge MR posters or other tech companies , its just an ongoing joke peace

I don't take anyone who defends a company like they do, and makes up their own facts as they do to defend them, seriously.

 

[rp2011]

I've been telling them this for years, they all laugh and state Apple/Jobs didn't care about it. Which is complete horse****, EVERY company is concerned about market share INCLUDING Apple. They think because they make more profits that they don't NEED market share, which the sane of us understand that without it, you don't make money even if you're Apple.
[doublepost=1487520274][/doublepost]Oh lord. Yes they do. Please, just....stop.
[doublepost=1487520334][/doublepost]
They just don't get it. The defense of Apple is just quite....disturbing.
[doublepost=1487520438][/doublepost]
Oh god, you really think you put him in his place? And you call HIM a fool? Bragging that you "put someone in their place"? That...makes you look like the fool. Grow up.
[doublepost=1487520549][/doublepost]
I don't take anyone who defends a company like they do, and makes up their own facts as they do to defend them, seriously.

Reading your replies, take your own advice and grow up.
And of course I put the internet troll in his place. And you too.

 

[iSayuSay]

Those who say iPhone is the best phone. Maybe try buying your iPhone outright next time. Try paying $1000 upfront, annually to get your "best fruity phone in the world" and let's see what it's gonna be in 3 or 4 years? I bet the mighty 7+ will be slow as molasses with iOS 12 and later.

I'm done with this iPhone = best phone nonsense. Not everybody on planet Earth could opt for a data plan and cheap down payment for your phone. That only happens in Planet 'Murica.

Everybody else out there will come to their senses and buy whichever phone fits their bill outright. It's just a phone after all. Even Trump holds dearly to his old cheap android phone. Oh, maybe some Macrumors members are more important than POTUS.

 

[skinned66]

Sadly, that's apparently how some of these people think. They like to trot out that profit like it's something that impacts them. And isn't market share shrinking? Less product sold, less profit but some of these guys think market share means nothing.

These people don't understand that they're competing against their past performance rather than their competitiors'. Sales went down, and the phones sold didn't go up in price to offset the loss. It's not something to be flippant about.

 

[joy.757]

Can't really say I'm surprised.

 

[szw-mapple fan]

He? So, originally you suppose that Apple would release the 8 this year and the 7s the year thereafter? And now, they going to release a 8 and a 7s at the same time? I really do not understand your logic.

I meant that apple is doing 7s and the 8 this year rather than doing another year of the 7 series this year (and the 8 in 2018) that will be unpopular in the Chinese market.

 

[rp2011]

Those who say iPhone is the best phone. Maybe try buying your iPhone outright next time. Try paying $1000 upfront, annually to get your "best fruity phone in the world" and let's see what it's gonna be in 3 or 4 years? I bet the mighty 7+ will be slow as molasses with iOS 12 and later.

I'm done with this iPhone = best phone nonsense. Not everybody on planet Earth could opt for a data plan and cheap down payment for your phone. That only happens in Planet 'Murica.

Everybody else out there will come to their senses and buy whichever phone fits their bill outright. It's just a phone after all. Even Trump holds dearly to his old cheap android phone. Oh, maybe some Macrumors members are more important than POTUS.

Who's even saying anything like this?
We're talking about the economics of China today. Whatever you think of any brand is irrrelevant when affordability to its specific market is what will drive sales.
If one brand does what the customer needs at a better price, end of story.

I'd love to drive a Porsche, but for me right now it doesn't make sense to me at the present time. Is it better than my mustang in getting to work or anything else? It depends on you as a consumer and your particular needs and affordability.

 

[MH01]

Reading your replies, take your own advice and grow up.
And of course I put the internet troll in his place. And you too.

reading your replies, please take your own advice also

 

[robeddie]

Many companies would take this into consideration, they will skip version 4 and 7.

Apple didn't obviously have the foresight to change the version number.

If Asian markets are so important to them, what were they thinking?

You guys need to look into this more before taking it as absolute fact from a guy who posts on macrumors.
Not only are you being so jinoistic to believe that a modern chinese individual would be so shallow to base a purchase on whether it contains an 'unlucky' number ... but its not even entirely true in the first place:

7 七, QĪ- LUCKY/UNLUCKY
Like 5, 7 has both positive and negative connotations in Chinese culture. For the positive side, 七 sounds like both 起 (qǐ), which means “start” or “rise”, and also 气 (qì), which means “vital energy”. Seven is also seen as a lucky number for relationships. The Qixi Festival (七夕節), also known as the Chinese Valentine's Day, falls on the 7th day of the 7th month in the lunar calendar. The 7th month is also known as the “ghost month” in China, where ghosts and spirits are believed to rise from hell to visit earth. While ghosts may be seen as omens, the ghost festival in the 7th month is widely celebrated. 7 may also be considered unlucky because 七 sounds like 欺 , meaning “cheat”.

 

[rp2011]

reading your replies, please take your own advice also

Lol, yes putting kids in their place is not the grown up thing to do.