Decline in iPhone Shipments Could Make Apple Worst-Performing Top Five Smartphone Brand of 2016

[DynaFXD]

It doesn't surprise me - some people don't buy phones as a fashion accessory. I am still on a 5, my mother is still on a 4S. Apple hasn't given me a reason to upgrade - Which is why we both are still using iPad 2 - there hasn't been a single feature that justifies replacing them.

While I am not here to argue your opinion or situation, I think that you are overstating a canard that is commonly heard whenever these type of discussions arise. Under the hood upgrades that a user never stumbles across (extra LTE bands and network improvements) to user tools (ApplePay) there certainly are quite a few justifiable reasons for a common person to upgrade from a 4S/5 or iPad 2 to something newer. And new buyers would have to be brain dead to buy into something 3 generations old, so Apple of course needs to keep moving forward with something for those folks even if it does not get every current user in as well. But upgrading each and every model iteration for the shear sake of upgrading? I definitely agree not worth it unless there is a feature that your work flow can really use (Pencil). Look at is this way, if someone's needs are satisfied with an iP5 or iPad2, they can probably rest easy in that they won't be upgrading to anything new anytime soon. Their expectations are pretty low compared to what the latest devices can provide, and that is an enviable situation.

 

[HooDude]

The end is nigh for Apple. Time for them to stop resting on their laurels or they'll soon find themselves struggling to catch up. Haven't they ever heard the story of the tortoise and the hare? Hahaha!

 

[Ron Johnson]

I love the iphone, but if apple wants to be the best and sell phones at a higher price point then the competition they need to make it worth the purchase.

With the removal of the headphone jack and a slight re design it will not help matters either.

The New iphone needs to have a better oled display, better battery life, better anodizing with darker space gray and a more appealing silver etc., better size options 32,64,128gb, stronger glass, and waterproofing, lastly a smaller bezel with the same size display.

They also need to take the SE, 6s, 6S+ and make them all 7's with 4", 4.7" 5.5" displays. They will have some differences like battery life probably, but they need to all have the same specs and features.

Now the new phones wouldn't need this all in the next upgrade, but they would need to implement most of this over the next couple years.

Then you take software and we have a whole new ballgame. This needs a big update in ios10 with new features like seen in other articles on macrumors. While improving reliability and software related issues.

 

[ssgbryan]

While I am not here to argue your opinion or situation, I think that you are overstating a canard that is commonly heard whenever these type of discussions arise. Under the hood upgrades that a user never stumbles across (extra LTE bands and network improvements) to user tools (ApplePay) there certainly are quite a few justifiable reasons for a common person to upgrade from a 4S/5 or iPad 2 to something newer. And new buyers would have to be brain dead to buy into something 3 generations old, so Apple of course needs to keep moving forward with something for those folks even if it does not get every current user in as well. But upgrading each and every model iteration for the shear sake of upgrading? I definitely agree not worth it unless there is a feature that your work flow can really use (Pencil). Look at is this way, if someone's needs are satisfied with an iP5 or iPad2, they can probably rest easy in that they won't be upgrading to anything new anytime soon. Their expectations are pretty low compared to what the latest devices can provide, and that is an enviable situation.

That is the whole point of my post. Nothing has been added to justify me upgrading the family - with any Apple products over the past few years.

 

[sshambles]

I think analysts and speculators underestimate the amount of people addicted to the upgrade cycle, wanting the latest version of state-of-the-art smartphone technology Apple provides from it's ecosystem.

This is dead in the water, IMO. We hear this every year, yet every year it gets blown away.

Watch this space.

 

[Col4bin]

Market saturation sucks. It happened to tablets and PCs. Need a new signature product and the Watch didn't do it.

Don't think this has anything to do with mobile phone market saturation and everything to do with the iPhone 7 "potentially" being a colossal turd. (Just a spec-bumped 6S.)

 

[639051]

Yes, sure. But did you own the 6? (Honest Q, I'd like to know)
If you did, you might agree that the 6S was not a great upgrade.
[doublepost=1461504674][/doublepost]

Yes I owned the 6 and the 6S was completely worth the upgrade for the 2GB RAM alone. I don't care about 3D Touch one bit but the faster CPU and blazing fast Touch ID sure didn't disappoint me. You're looking for something you're not going to find for probably a long time, another truly revolutionary product.

Apple, like every other OEM is going to produce faster and thinner or whatever for awhile. Blow you away features every release are simply not a sustainable concept. The world should be happy with less people buying stuff, our way of life is so absurd and out of balance anyways.

 

[BootsWalking]

I think analysts and speculators underestimate the amount of people addicted to the upgrade cycle, wanting the latest version of state-of-the-art smartphone technology Apple provides from it's ecosystem.

This is dead in the water, IMO. We hear this every year, yet every year it gets blown away.

Watch this space.

That was before carriers ended the subsidies. While many will still pay the same for their phone with our without subsidies, the fact that the full non-subsidized price is visible to them (either up front or on their phone bill but itemized separately) will make many reconsider their upgrade habits.

 

[HooDude]

Apple are a serious hardware company

LMAO.. Oh such good satire

 

[Col4bin]

After all these years, it still blows my mind when analysts make sales predictions about devices that haven't even been manufactured or announced yet.

I think there must be enough circumstantial evidence (device part and supply chain leaks, etc.) that some anaysts are using to make these claims. So far everything we've read is painting the iPhone 7 as dull and lackluster.
[doublepost=1461559356][/doublepost]

And the iconic and useful home button goes where exactly? Apple's supposed to just shove it on the back because a few tech nerds are obsessed with bezels?

To heck with the home button already. However did you get by when Apple removed the iPod scroll wheel?

 

[Soccertess]

Someone will probably flame you for this comment, but I agree.

I've used iPhones and Androids.... and really do like Android better and it's ease of use is matched to IOS these days (back in the day Android had a bit of a learning curve due to all the OEM customizations but not anymore). The price and specs are deal breakers for me and lots of people.

Th

Bang on brother! I really think there is a real lack of leadership on IOS/phone development these days. I completely blame Tim Cook and it reminds me of when Scully sank the ship.

Was going to give some examples, but people already mentioned them.

 

[Col4bin]

And what about this OLED hype? The colors look like on lsd and if you don't hold the screen exact right, it's turning green to yellow. That iphone screen is way better!

Based on OLED screens when, 2009? Take another look today, they've progressed pretty well and just might end up in the 2017 iPhone if rumors are true.

 

[jacobj]

Oh no, only 205 million units best case scenario! It's the end of Apple! How can they possibly survive on $50 million quarterly iPhone revenue when some fool says it should have been $53 million! Sell your shares quick! This thing is going to go down faster than the Titanic! We all knew it was coming. Heaven forbid if a company ever stops growing faster than it has in the past, it must mean terrible things are coming. I'd like to see follow-up analysts reports six months later when Apple or whatever company blows the lid off whatever bad was predicted to happen. It would read something like " Ummmm...... Sorry. False alarm."

Firstly I am not saying that this is the situation, but this kind of response to competitor innovation and declining sales in the face of it reminds me of Nokia.

We can try and deny it, but the reality is that Apple is on the back foot at the moment and it appears to be flailing a little.

I have many friends that were true apple Fanboys in the past because once in a while they would bring out something worth being excited about. Now, I don't know any: honestly. I include myself amongst that number.

I hate much of apple's product line; the new iPad line cripples the powerful iPad 2 by limiting top end storage to 64Gb to make the new pro the one someone has to go to if they want storage.

Actually I can't be bothered to list the other issues. That is quite literally how little I care for Apple these days.

I have been thinking of switching for a couple of years now and I think this may be the year I do it.

 

[trifid]

I hope iPhone 7 comes with 16gb again, just to see sales dip to record lows, and Apple getting what they deserve for their arrogance/greed.

 

[H2SO4]

Wrong. This is bad advice and here is why: If you paid outright for the phone as suggested, the carrier service price would not have decreased. In fact paying for the phone outright would cost you more in the long run since the phone was not "subsidized". While I agree that the cost of the phone is built into service pricing, the business model is built around the rule of the majority of persons opting for a "subsidized" phone. The outliers who would have decided to pay outright for a phone are just a bonus to the carrier.

No. Fail. At least that’s how it was in the UK.

Since the days of the iPhone4 I’ve calculated the cost of buying outright + the cost of SIM only and up until very recently it’s always been cheaper to part with the lump sum. That difference is very much smaller now but it is still there.

 

[zzLZHzz]

I love the iphone, but if apple wants to be the best and sell phones at a higher price point then the competition they need to make it worth the purchase.

With the removal of the headphone jack and a slight re design it will not help matters either.

The New iphone needs to have a better oled display, better battery life, better anodizing with darker space gray and a more appealing silver etc., better size options 32,64,128gb, stronger glass, and waterproofing, lastly a smaller bezel with the same size display.

They also need to take the SE, 6s, 6S+ and make them all 7's with 4", 4.7" 5.5" displays. They will have some differences like battery life probably, but they need to all have the same specs and features.

Now the new phones wouldn't need this all in the next upgrade, but they would need to implement most of this over the next couple years.

Then you take software and we have a whole new ballgame. This needs a big update in ios10 with new features like seen in other articles on macrumors. While improving reliability and software related issues.

even if they take the SE, 6s, 6S+ and make them all 7's with 4", 4.7" 5.5" displays, the pricing will be in such a way that make it seem more worthwhile to get the most expensive model because the margin is much higher there.

 

[MuppetGate]

Apple is suffering from its arrogance and greed. They have become slow and confused. More nimble companies are going to eat their lunch.

And for those of you "too invested" to move on from Apple, try again. I used to think I was trapped too; it's not as hard as you imagine.

But that's kind of the problem. You didn't move on. You stayed because you're desperate to convince others to join you, most likely because you need others to join you to prove to yourself you made the right call.

 

[Dave245]

No. Fail. At least that’s how it was in the UK.

Since the days of the iPhone4 I’ve calculated the cost of buying outright + the cost of SIM only and up until very recently it’s always been cheaper to part with the lump sum. That difference is very much smaller now but it is still there.

This is true, I'm also in the UK and always buy my iPhone's outright, it costs a lot more to have the latest iPhone on contract, when the iPhone 6s came out I went into a 3 store and their contracts for the 6s Plus were around £48 a month that is a lot of money over a 24 month period. So this year when the iPhone 7 comes out I will buy direct from Apple online it works out a lot cheaper to do so (gif gaff have a sim only that starts at £5 a month)

 

[JayMBP]

I think it doesn't matter whether the analyst was right or not. The problem is that Apple is having difficulty bringing something onto the market that would wow us.

It used to be that for every WWDC or Apple press conference, it was like a kid seeing trucks shipping a new kind of candy onto the market. It was exciting and fun. Now, every Apple event is like "that's all? meh..."

And it's not something that runs on iPhone only, it's on every product line Apple currently has. rMBP went pretty much unchanged except minor internal upgrades since 2012. iPad is pretty much the same after iPad Air. We now have the iPad Pro, but it's really just incremental upgrades rather than anything interesting in user experience.

Apple needs to get its mojo back, which is high-level integration on user-experience+hardware+software. Apple needs to stop counting every cents and dimes and offer the best experience out there.

Having your flagship phone/tablet with 16/32GB of storage and minimum amount of ram is not the way to provide the best experience as well as the best hardware offering.

Having your flagship computers (retina MBP, iMac, MB, Mini) with bare minimum (4GB ram? 5400RPM HDD? really?) is not acceptable.

Under Jobs' guidance, Apple was willing to take risks (of having less sale) while offering the best-in-class experience. iPhone4 did it with retina display. MBA did it with SSDs. They were all costly components at the time. But users were able to feel the difference and Apple had that image of being "the best". That image is now fast-fading. If Apple doesn't take notice, they would simply become that another company.

 

[MuppetGate]

OLED, waterproof, usb-c, better camera, way better battery life, fast charge, wireless charging.

All of those things could be easily added but Apple is cheap. Shame

Never seen the point of wireless charging. It's not actually wireless because there's still a cable attached to the large mat/disc/custom made table you need to put your device on. And this mat/disc/custom made table is a lot bigger than the tiny plug on the end of a regular charging table. Then there's the amount of energy these wireless charging devices waste…

USB-C? Not sure we're going to see a USB-C plug on anything smaller than a laptop. Apple seems to expanding their use of lightning on smaller devices.

Waterproof? Again, I'm not sure that anything over heavy rain protection is really needed. I suspect that Apple has done some research and discovered that its customers (its real customers – not people who live on forums) don't make calls while submerged under water and don't use their phones while they're on the toilet (though it sounds like a lot of people round here do).

Camera? Well, who doesn't want a better camera?

 

[Santabean2000]

But that's kind of the problem. You didn't move on. You stayed because you're desperate to convince others to join you, most likely because you need others to join you to prove to yourself you made the right call.

Ummm, except I am transitioning out. Not sure why you think I didn't move on; hanging out on these boards is something that I'm doing less and less of these days too.

Ah, the outrage of the spec whore.

Spec whore? Asking for more than 16GB of storage and 1GB of RAM is all about usability - nothing like spec for spec sake. iPhone is an expensive flagship... The 6s and SE now (finally) have 2GB RAM and guess what, it does make a difference!!

 

[ThatGuyInLa]

I could see Jobs walking in to the room as the first iPhone 6 was presented. He carries with him a bucket of water. Takes the phone drops it in the bucket. The phone shorts out.

"Don't call me in to this room again unless I can receive a call on that phone."

Miss you Steve.

 

[AdonisSMU]

I'm not shocked. Apple iPhone has been stale for awhile now. It's not the prettiest phone and it doesn't have the best camera or the best display anymore and Android is "good enough" for most people's uses. There is really no reason to prefer an iPhone to any other phone for most people. Apple is trickling in features rather than trying to really go for it and win everyone over. If you give your self a big lead you don't have a build a new iPhone every year.

People are acting like this is unexpected. It's not unexpected. Had this guy said the opposite everyone would've been claiming it was gospel.

 

[CharlieY]

Sad as it might be, no company stays at the top forever. This is just a sign where things are slowly shifting towards a new industry leader. Remember Sony back in the day? Same case here where they got complacent.

 

[coolaaron88]

Wonder if the change is subsidized iPhone pricing with att had a hand in it? I'm grandfathered in to unlimited data and the only way to upgrade now is to buy at full price or switch to the NEXT plan (and lose unlimited data)

Doing the NEXT plan has no effect on your grandfathered plan. Dont know why people keep saying that.

Source: I work as a retail sales consultant for AT&T