Yeah, I keep getting tempted. I've had my SE longer than any other phone I've had (from memory), I did take another look at the XS in a shop last week but I noticed there was image retention on the OLED screen, something I'm sure people said was a "thing of the past" but the rounded-square home page icons were clearly visible on all light backgrounds! I know that wont likely be a problem on my own phone not displaying the same screen 24/7 but still, losing the headphone jack, the home button, the size and weight and then that on top are a lot of things going in the "cons" pile. I can certainly afford it, but at £700-800 I can forgive some things, at £1000 for a phone I expect a lot.
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Apple Lowers Revenue Guidance for Q1 2019 Citing 'Fewer iPhone Upgrades' Than Anticipated
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Yeah, I keep getting tempted. I've had my SE longer than any other phone I've had (from memory), I did take another look at the XS in a shop last week but I noticed there was image retention on the OLED screen, something I'm sure people said was a "thing of the past" but the rounded-square home page icons were clearly visible on all light backgrounds! I know that wont likely be a problem on my own phone not displaying the same screen 24/7 but still, losing the headphone jack, the home button, the size and weight and then that on top are a lot of things going in the "cons" pile. I can certainly afford it, but at £700-800 I can forgive some things, at £1000 for a phone I expect a lot.
I think that it is a bit premature to say, "I told you so" and I think it is also too early to say, "move along, nothing to see here."
Having said that, it IS reason for rational concern. Over the past 4 or so years, the value proposition of Apple products have been on the decline. Setting aside the effect of the Apple Reality Distortion Field, Apple has produced modest products that relied more heavily on marketing and mystique than on day-to-day practicality and usefulness. That is not to say that Apple's customers don't get use from Apple's products... we do. But that the use that most get is not in line with the price they paid.
The littlest improvements incorporated in the latest generation were over-hyped as revolutionary and "must-have". While at the same time, the removal of ports and capabilities where heralded by loyal customers as a good thing (after an initial brief wave of complaining by some)
I've often said during that time that it was wise for Apple to reap the rewards of creating a culture that was willing to pay a premium for modest products. And they made record profits.
Beyond all the glitz, spin, and marketing pizzazz, Apple at its core is a smartphone company. It wasn't always like that, but that is what it has been for the last 4 or so years. Now that the market has matured and reaching saturation, it is time for Apple to adjust course.
I believe that Apple has anticipated this and has been holding back on the REAL enhancements to the existing product line for such a time as this. Real, honest-to-goodness upgrades to the mac, macbook, iPad, HomePod, etc. If that is true, expect to see some exciting things within the next 12-18 months. If not, as I said in the "what do you want to see from Apple in 2019"... Apple, you do you.
I'm sure there's something for everyone in this post to pick at, and so it goes.
Having said that, it IS reason for rational concern. Over the past 4 or so years, the value proposition of Apple products have been on the decline. Setting aside the effect of the Apple Reality Distortion Field, Apple has produced modest products that relied more heavily on marketing and mystique than on day-to-day practicality and usefulness. That is not to say that Apple's customers don't get use from Apple's products... we do. But that the use that most get is not in line with the price they paid.
The littlest improvements incorporated in the latest generation were over-hyped as revolutionary and "must-have". While at the same time, the removal of ports and capabilities where heralded by loyal customers as a good thing (after an initial brief wave of complaining by some)
I've often said during that time that it was wise for Apple to reap the rewards of creating a culture that was willing to pay a premium for modest products. And they made record profits.
Beyond all the glitz, spin, and marketing pizzazz, Apple at its core is a smartphone company. It wasn't always like that, but that is what it has been for the last 4 or so years. Now that the market has matured and reaching saturation, it is time for Apple to adjust course.
I believe that Apple has anticipated this and has been holding back on the REAL enhancements to the existing product line for such a time as this. Real, honest-to-goodness upgrades to the mac, macbook, iPad, HomePod, etc. If that is true, expect to see some exciting things within the next 12-18 months. If not, as I said in the "what do you want to see from Apple in 2019"... Apple, you do you.
I'm sure there's something for everyone in this post to pick at, and so it goes.
Kick up backside they needed with pricing. Plus, this was inevitable as everyone has good smartphones which don’t need to be upgrade on a yearly basis now. I for the first time did not upgrade as price was too high and very happy with iPhone X. On bright side services and wearables are doing great. Don’t be surprised to see changes, for example, yearly iPhone release cycle goes to 2 yearly.
Chinese consumers can make or break companies fairly quickly... look at Dolce&Gabana!
The fact is the Chinese economy is slowing and the trade/political tensions between China and the US are THE major factor. While the West starts to ban Huawei from government installs, China hits back with anti U/S sentiment. Thats bad for Apple and bad for other US companies.
It doesn’t matter how cheap Apple makes the iPhone. If Trump is seen to offend China, Apple sales will tank by virtue of being a high profile US company.
Like I said look at Dolce&Gabana.
The fact is the Chinese economy is slowing and the trade/political tensions between China and the US are THE major factor. While the West starts to ban Huawei from government installs, China hits back with anti U/S sentiment. Thats bad for Apple and bad for other US companies.
It doesn’t matter how cheap Apple makes the iPhone. If Trump is seen to offend China, Apple sales will tank by virtue of being a high profile US company.
Like I said look at Dolce&Gabana.
You are of course correct and if I could predict the exact point of peak smartphone demand I would not be posting on Macrumors. I would be off enjoying my own private continent someplace.
Apple has had and really is still having a hell of a run. But the margins they enjoy are an anomaly and simply not sustainable for a computer hardware OEM.
Now is this quarter just a blip as some are saying or is it a trend. That I can’t say. Well have to wait and see.
I will say, however, that the previous companies that have run off the cellphone/smartphone cliff have done it a lot faster and a lot harder than their supporters expected.
Apple can of course pivot over to services. But Apple’s services business is dependent on its hardware user base, particularly for iPhones.
I know several people have commented about how long Apple products last. In fact, we just upgraded my wife’s iPhone 6 to an iPhone XR after four years of use. The original battery was at 76%. But I have to ask everyone, if you didn’t think an iPhone would last four years, would you still be willing to pay the price Apple is charging?
I’m one of the many who took advantage of the cheap battery replacement earlier last year, for my iPhone 6 Plus.
I had thought that would tide me over until the new iPhones were released. Then when the iPhone XS and XS Max, the price was pretty high...so I thought I would wait and see what the XR was like before I chose one.
XSMax is out of my price range here in Australia, so I narrowed it down to XS vs XR. I definitely prefer the XS over the XR. Smaller, lighter and thinner and overall more comfortable to hold. Better screen, better camera.
So I ended up keeping my iPhone 6 Plus. :/
XS is still expensive. XR clearly inferior.
So I’m holding out another year to save a bit more $ for the next model...or perhaps an Apple Sale!!
I had thought that would tide me over until the new iPhones were released. Then when the iPhone XS and XS Max, the price was pretty high...so I thought I would wait and see what the XR was like before I chose one.
XSMax is out of my price range here in Australia, so I narrowed it down to XS vs XR. I definitely prefer the XS over the XR. Smaller, lighter and thinner and overall more comfortable to hold. Better screen, better camera.
So I ended up keeping my iPhone 6 Plus. :/
XS is still expensive. XR clearly inferior.
So I’m holding out another year to save a bit more $ for the next model...or perhaps an Apple Sale!!
The price yeah ... but for me the lack of quality and the no innovation culture is the thing not to want any apple products. I just unsafe buying high priced tech which easily fails, like Mac keyboards. Bending and cracking phones and pads.
I could suggest to the board, stop being so cheap and greedy, and include a damn headphone adapter with every single iOS device. Oh and put the power extension cord back in the box with all their laptops. That was removed as another way to make you pay more for it..
More and more can see they’ve removed items from boxes and hiked prices across the board. All of a sudden they’ve got ludicrous amounts of money, and then the sales start to fall...
More and more can see they’ve removed items from boxes and hiked prices across the board. All of a sudden they’ve got ludicrous amounts of money, and then the sales start to fall...
It's clear Apple decided to maximise revenue streams to cushion any potential drop in revenue from a perceived lack of innovation. The iPhone, like all smartphones, has matured. The previous model of consumers upgrading every year, or even every two-years is no longer sustainable nor feasible.
Whether it be price or innovation, the conclusion is the same; people have little reason to buy new Apple products at the same rate.
Everyone understands this. Everyone but Apple.
Sorry there is NO softening demand and no saturated market. Apple is THE ONLy manufacturer having this issue and publicly stating so. That’s why their stock and their supplies where hurt yesterday!!
Facts. Not conjecture or opinion.
[doublepost=1546519894][/doublepost]Apple,
Time to expedite those AR glasses and make the Watch a hell of a lot smarter to replace the iPhone in 4yrs or less.
Chop chop!
That would be a suicide for Apple. Making worse products and increasing the price would be terrible idea.
Reposting the same tired meme over and over again doesn’t make it any less irrelevant.
Funny. I don’t like Cooks direction of a premium brand of Apple but his vision has created a direction for Apple:
AR this huge push will benefit soon enough.
AI their new leadership better triple down as it’ll be needed to marry the mention directly above and below.
Watch: Tim’s contribution not Steve. Add 100x better Siri, Apple innovation with Ui navigation and with AR glasses ... you have a completely new product mix that fully can replace the traditional smartphone yet can work with Macs when home or travelling.
iCloud with secure travelling system preferences, user ID like handoffs and you got it made!!
There is no general anti-American sentiment in China. Yes, there are people who are anti-American, so there are people who hate China to death in America. China is. It monolithic as some of you people think. Apple aren’t directly targeted by any means.
Apple has problem with China for fairly long time. Each of everytime Apple announce its earning, Greater China area always see slow down. This is not the first time nor this would be last time.
If Apple wants to success in China. It need to produce something that fear towards interest of Chinese consumers. Apple need to include features that Chinese consumers wants. I think inclusion of deal SIM card is good starts. Now, iOS need to run two instants of same apps at same time. For example, almost all Android phone sold in China has ability to run two instants of WeChat at same time, meaning people can switch between two WeChat accounts by running two WeChats at sametime. This is just an example. If Apple wants to charge more than 10,000RMB for a phone, they better include something that no other phones offers. Currently, I don’t see how iPhone is must have or worth the price for Chinese consumers when they can get samiliar offering with dramatic lower price point.
Problem with Apple in China is not people hate America, it is Apple not offering products specialized toward Chinese consumers and better competiting offers.
I am still using my 6plus and SE. Plus recently I bought a Huawei P20 Pro to use on the side. Apple still has certain advantages but the gap is getting smaller each day.
So Tim is blaming poor sales on a $50 discount on battery replacements among other things, but price increases was not a factor at all.
I'm actually getting my son's 6s battery replaced today. Locked in on the $29 price (I showed up for my appointment but they couldn't do it due to high volume, gave me sort of a raincheck). He refuses to let that phone go due to the missing headphone jack on the newer phones.
While I'm on the subject, my daughter also refused to let me upgrade her iPad Mini 4. She positively will not move to larger iPad. I wanted to get her an iPad 6 from the holiday sales, so that she can stop hoarding my iPP 10.5 to draw with the Apple pencil
I also wanted either a new Macbook Air or Mac Mini, but I couldn't let myself pay $1200 or $800 with their base 128GB storage. I would've bought one or the other if base was 256GB. My wife's company normally upgrades their iPhones every two years which should've been this year, but they're stuck with their iPhone SE for at least another year.[doublepost=1546521505][/doublepost]
I'd say they understand just fine, as they saw this coming when they announced that they will no longer report unit sale numbers. They're just too stubborn to admit it. Despite my effort to force my children to upgrade, they refused lol.
From my anecdotal experience (as opposed to talking like this was fact), people in my circle g nearly didn’t upgrade every two years. A certain segment of the family are serial upgrades but they were that exception.
I upgrade the family every two to four year depending. Apples phones are so damn good that people don’t have to upgrade every year.
Apple understands this perfectly well.
Amazing how a 10-year-old movie geared towards kids (WALL-E) nailed this perfectly. Most movie-goers loved the movie and, subsequently, ignored the message.
It's a smartphone. It can help make your life a little easier. Is spending $1K+ every year worth it? What benefit are you receiving from that? Is that improving your life? (Yes, I understand that some folks may need to do so for business needs, etc.). Wouldn't putting that that smartphone down and interacting with others be so much more fulfilling?
Maybe this is part of the reason why sales are down? Why spend $1K+ every year for something that provides no additional benefit?
I'll cite one example: Look at the amount of videos on YouTube of people recording concerts. Honestly, watching the concert through a phone to show the world that you were there? How much did you spend on those tickets? Put the phone down and enjoy the show. Take a picture or two. You'll notice a lot more. Trust me, experiencing the show and forming lasting memories of the sights, sounds, smells, etc. is way better than a blurry video with awful audio. If you're a friend of mine, I'd rather hear directly from you about your experience, not view a crappy video that tells me nothing about how you felt. "Yeah, it was great! Did you see my video?" Please.