Apple Loses Fourth Place to Xiaomi in Booming China Smartphone Market

[MH01]

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

It's often not kids many times passionate fans

 

[swm]

checked prices on amazon.
cheapest huawei quality smartphone goes for $100 w/o contract.
so does oppo. xiaomi even below $70. vivo starts at $150.
even the refurb iPhone SE 16GB is at $290.
so what's the next new thing? water is wet?

 

[Splatt123]

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

I used to think like that.

Got a Samsung S7 Edge now.

Don't anymore.

(If you don't believe me, you can see my iPhone 1St Gen listing on eBay now, currently at £199. Just an example that I was here at the beginning but switched when Android and Samsung took over)

 

[0997853]

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

The best phone respawns next month. It's called Nokia 3310.

 

[Abazigal]

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.

I don't see the hypocrisy.

Apple's products tend to be more expensive than the competition. By definition, they should be selling in way fewer quantities, and make up for it in the form of higher margins.

So when Apple is shipping more products than the competition despite its higher prices (who are banking on low prices to drive volume sales), this says a lot about both the success of Apple's products and the perceived lack thereof with regards to the competition.

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!!!!!

Market share is important, but it is not the be all and end all of what makes a great product. 14% may not sound like a huge figure on paper, but it is still a very large number of iPhones sold in an absolute sense. More than enough to sustain its own thriving ecosystem.

And considering that Apple has problems ensuring sufficient quantities of iPhones for sale, your suggestion doesn't really apply to them.

As it turns out, Apple has both market share and profits on its side. Best of both worlds.

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

Specs are the means, user experience is the end. Could the iPhone be improved, yes. Do I still have a product which looks great and works great? Yes. As such, I lose no sleep fretting over what the iPhone could have been.

 

[TallManNY]

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

Umm, I think you missed the point of that article. The number was the total profit and revenue since the release of Android. Not a yearly number.

From the article:
Oracle did not speak on the methods it used to obtain the figures it attached to Android. But if the $31 billion total is correct, Google has earned less money from Android throughout its existence than Apple earned from iPhone sales in fourth quarter of 2015, when it brought in $32.2 billion in revenue.

I suspect Google mines data from Android that is much more valuable than $31 billion in revenue over the last 10 (is it that long?) years. But it doesn't seem like it makes a material amount of money compared to its ad revenue from search.

 

[Larry-K]

Even Trump holds dearly to his old cheap android phone. Oh, maybe some Macrumors members are more important than POTUS.

At this point, pretty much all of them are.

 

[69650]

Apple seem to have bet the whole company on the iPhone 8.

 

[iSayuSay]

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.

I don't know why you associated Porsche with iPhone. Yes they are more expensive than average counterparts, but Porsche does not get slower, only newer Porsche gets faster.

While iPhone feels fast and smooth out of the box, it will be getting slower over time with several iOS updates. It's like Apple deteriorates each gen iPhone by design. I still keep a 5 which bogs down with iOS 10. Of course it was fast on iOS 7, but now it's barely usable.

For a more-expensive-than-average phone, I don't think that's appropriate. They used to say the software designed specifically for each hardware, but in fact, it's the same OS with heavier loads and less features for older phones. Many people paid a bit of fortune (if paid in cash, outright) for their iPhones. But it deteriorates as fast as "cheap" Android phone. That leads to a question "Why pay more for the same $***?"

So I can't blame more people in China or HK or anywhere else to look away from Apple. Android has its problems too, but at least mostly, they're affordable. I'll admit that iPhone gets better updates and supports, but it's nothing else than OS iteration. The main features are kept for the newest product, and the smoothness is taken away too.

 

[I7guy]

Umm, I think you missed the point of that article. The number was the total profit and revenue since the release of Android. Not a yearly number.

From the article:
Oracle did not speak on the methods it used to obtain the figures it attached to Android. But if the $31 billion total is correct, Google has earned less money from Android throughout its existence than Apple earned from iPhone sales in fourth quarter of 2015, when it brought in $32.2 billion in revenue.

I suspect Google mines data from Android that is much more valuable than $31 billion in revenue over the last 10 (is it that long?) years. But it doesn't seem like it makes a material amount of money compared to its ad revenue from search.

But still it's a hefty valuation over time.

 

[ndolebay]

Samsung doesn't make that chart?

Samsung Smartphone already dead in China.

High price, low quality, bad service!

 

[TechGeek76]

Oh, maybe some Macrumors members are more important than POTUS.

There are some that probably do think that way.
[doublepost=1487560836][/doublepost]

reading your replies, please take your own advice also

Ugh..nevermind.

 

[Fenez]

I buy everything, I use everything. It comes down to eco system. The actual phones and their uses are almost all the same. There isn't any flagship or mid priced phone that can't do anything that any other device can't, including the iPhone. Phones are now just a commodity item and will have to be treated as such, history shows what happens to companies that ignore the trends. The whole truth is that you simply don't have to spend more than $4 or $500 to get a slick well built device that does everything. I'm just a tech geek so I buy everything because that's my vice, but if I were to be completely honest with myself I would have to admit that no phone is really worth a grand or close to that. If you could name something that a particular phone does that another can't then you could make a case that maybe you should spend close to a $1000.

 

[nofear1az]

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

And because you think it's the best, it must be then, right?!

 

[rp2011]

I don't know why you associated Porsche with iPhone. Yes they are more expensive than average counterparts, but Porsche does not get slower, only newer Porsche gets faster.

While iPhone feels fast and smooth out of the box, it will be getting slower over time with several iOS updates. It's like Apple deteriorates each gen iPhone by design. I still keep a 5 which bogs down with iOS 10. Of course it was fast on iOS 7, but now it's barely usable.

For a more-expensive-than-average phone, I don't think that's appropriate. They used to say the software designed specifically for each hardware, but in fact, it's the same OS with heavier loads and less features for older phones. Many people paid a bit of fortune (if paid in cash, outright) for their iPhones. But it deteriorates as fast as "cheap" Android phone. That leads to a question "Why pay more for the same $***?"

So I can't blame more people in China or HK or anywhere else to look away from Apple. Android has its problems too, but at least mostly, they're affordable. I'll admit that iPhone gets better updates and supports, but it's nothing else than OS iteration. The main features are kept for the newest product, and the smoothness is taken away too.

Well you just said what I said.
And I also said it didn't matter the brand. As long as it suited your needs.
I only mentioned Porsche because it's a gorgeous yet impractical car that people like. I do.

You guys just need to chill. Some people here just like to bitch out of knee jerk reactions than actually reading or thinking.

 

[BeforeTheMeds]

I used to think like that.

Got a Samsung S7 Edge now.

Don't anymore.

(If you don't believe me, you can see my iPhone 1St Gen listing on eBay now, currently at £199. Just an example that I was here at the beginning but switched when Android and Samsung took over)

The wife has an s7 edge, I have a6s plus. I am trying to talk her into trading. Her last phone was an iPhone and she doesn't want another. When I get this one paid off through the iphone upgrade program I'm leaving.

 

[adib]

I was wondering why the iPhone went from a BMW to a Toyota. But sometimes the nuances get lost in online forums; do I wasn't being derogatory only wondering what the scale of phone models are mapped to cars.

The iPhone was never a "BMW". A Lexus maybe, but nowhere near the price scale of BMW. You're confusing with Vertu and Gresso – those may be "BMW"-scale phones.

 

[Zirel]

The iPhone was never a "BMW". A Lexus maybe, but nowhere near the price scale of BMW. You're confusing with Vertu and Gresso – those may be "BMW"-scale phones.

What?

Where I live Lexus and BMW cost the same.

 

[MH01]

I don't see the hypocrisy.

Apple's products tend to be more expensive than the competition. By definition, they should be selling in way fewer quantities, and make up for it in the form of higher margins.

So when Apple is shipping more products than the competition despite its higher prices (who are banking on low prices to drive volume sales), this says a lot about both the success of Apple's products and the perceived lack thereof with regards to the competition.


Market share is important, but it is not the be all and end all of what makes a great product. 14% may not sound like a huge figure on paper, but it is still a very large number of iPhones sold in an absolute sense. More than enough to sustain its own thriving ecosystem.

And considering that Apple has problems ensuring sufficient quantities of iPhones for sale, your suggestion doesn't really apply to them.

As it turns out, Apple has both market share and profits on its side. Best of both worlds.


Specs are the means, user experience is the end. Could the iPhone be improved, yes. Do I still have a product which looks great and works great? Yes. As such, I lose no sleep fretting over what the iPhone could have been.

Your reply summarises it. You have effectively spun that apple has both markert share and profits ..... and this is the hypocrisy I talk about , always the best, facts always are spun to support that arguement .

I suggest you study up on supply and demand , it does not support your argument of markert share.

 

[Klyster]

"I'm just a Maserati in a world of Kia's......" \m/

 

[Abazigal]

Your reply summarises it. You have effectively spun that apple has both markert share and profits ..... and this is the hypocrisy I talk about , always the best, facts always are spun to support that arguement .

I suggest you study up on supply and demand , it does not support your argument of markert share.

There is no hypocrisy. What other company sells a smartphone at the same price as the iPhone, in the same quantities as the iPhone? None.

Apple literally enjoys the best of both worlds in this regard. High volume of a an exceptionally profitable product.

I know of supply and demand. And the reality is that even as the ASF of the iPhone increases, demand increased as well. The iPhone defies conventional disruption theory and basic economics.

 

[MH01]

There is no hypocrisy. What other company sells a smartphone at the same price as the iPhone, in the same quantities as the iPhone? None.

Apple literally enjoys the best of both worlds in this regard. High volume of a an exceptionally profitable product.

I know of supply and demand. And the reality is that even as the ASF of the iPhone increases, demand increased as well. The iPhone defies conventional disruption theory and basic economics.

Only apple sells products at thier price point and quantities.

We are talking about markert share, not apple price point markert share, cause there is only apple .

See this is another classic thread that is about markert share and the usual suspects are turning it into profit.

Is it that difficult to stay on topic?

 

[Abazigal]

Only apple sells products at thier price point and quantities.

We are talking about markert share, not apple price point markert share, cause there is only apple .

See this is another classic thread that is about markert share and the usual suspects are turning it into profit.

Is it that difficult to stay on topic?

The problem with this discussion is that it’s based on the premise that market share is all that matters. I can’t believe it’s 2017 and people are still making this argument with a straight face.

Simply focusing on market share in a vacuum is meaningless. You know that. Companies are in the business of making money. Market share is something, but it's not everything.

Apple critics can only use market share to make Apple appear that it is anything but winning.

 

[MH01]

The problem with this discussion is that it’s based on the premise that market share is all that matters. I can’t believe it’s 2017 and people are still making this argument with a straight face.

Simply focusing on market share in a vacuum is meaningless. You know that. Companies are in the business of making money. Market share is something, but it's not everything.

Apple critics can only use market share to make Apple appear that it is anything but winning.

What's frustrating is that the article in question is just stating what the markert share is, so can I ask why the need of so many on here to get thier panties in a twist?

I'm sorry but some of the worst trolls are actually the most loyal and vocal fans on here, every news topic must be twisted to be pro apple. Happens with every story, and they are the first ones to cry vistim when android trolls post here, that my good sir is the definition of hypocrisy . Calling out others other things you do.

I suggest you look at history and what happened last time apple was in this situation of being profitable while not having markert share, also when Steve left. I base by assumptions on history repeating iteself. Already apple prices are going up and up..... have a read of appLe history .

For others apple's 5 th in China in regards to markert share. Simple as that. Yes they are still making a huge amount.

 

[Radon87000]

Good. They will start getting destroyed in Europe too considering the state of their services there and the price of the iPhone.$1k for LG's second screen, Microsoft's iris scanner, Sharp's bezelless body, Samsung's OLED and Samsung's wireless charging and just 32GB storage. Tim Cook can take both the non premium LCD iPhone and the overpriced OLED iPhones and shove it where the sun doesnt shine
[doublepost=1487585314][/doublepost]

TThe iPhone defies conventional disruption theory and basic economics.

Nope. Jewellery and many products like the BMW's sales increase when the price increase. Its a Veblen good