Demand for Smartphones is Slowing, Says Apple Supplier TSMC

[turbineseaplane]

I hope they work on making the Watch even more standalone.

Other than not having a camera, I could see that possibly taking the place of my SE1 at some point....if it were allowed to have a full fledged cell plan/calling of its own and truly be a standalone phone, etc

They are close, but it needs a bit more work to be a full time solo device in this way.

 

[JMStearnsX2]

I would have bought a new one years ago if they weren't all so large
Mini series isn't quite "mini" enough for me.

(SE1 user)

Everyone makes basically the same thing - same shape - same sizes -- not nearly enough interesting differentiation in this product category.

I've considered buy a 2nd hand 1st get SE because I miss the size. Not sure that it would be much of a downgrade for me from my XS. I only use it for calls, music and messages, I usually end the day with 75% battery remaining...

 

[turbineseaplane]

I've considered buy a 2nd hand 1st get SE because I miss the size. Not sure that it would be much of a downgrade for me from my XS. I only use it for calls, music and messages, I usually end the day with 75% battery remaining...

The hardest part on that is finding a great condition one that isn't being repackaged and sold as "new"
Watch out for that on eBay -- happened to me on two different units.

Things weren't quite right -- got to opening them and there were non OEM replacement parts (like screen)

Best bet is a longtime owner who kept it in a case/great shape -- putting in a new battery is trivial.

I wish Apple would just internally spec bump the same SE1 phone.
Plenty of us would buy it

 

[Zdigital2015]

Modern smartphones are so fast most people are happy to keep them for 3-4 years.

I’m heading into year 4 with my iPhone XR. It does seem as though iOS 15.4 has slowed down Safari for me, but I do have about 50 tabs open. Before that with 15.3.1, I was closer to 75-80 before I took a hit. Also having ghost windows for recently closed sites showing up when I tap the + to add a “tab”.

I am very interest in the iPhone 14 Pro for my wife who takes wonderful photos with her XR. 48MP and 3 lenses would be a better fit her more than me. I’m think a 14 6.1” would do nicely. I think I might want to move up one tier in storage to 256GB, but I’m also wondering if money is better spent on a SE3 and an iPad mini 6 instead. Trying to consciously use my iPhone less for stuff that is better accomplished packing a tablet, even a small one.

 

[abhibeckert]

Modern smartphones are so fast most people are happy to keep them for 3-4 years.

It's not just that - in recent years Apple has started making design changes specifically to ensure phones last longer without needing to be repaired. Part of their environmental commitment is to ensure phones last longer - if not with the original owner than sell or trade in the device so someone else can use it.

 

[abhibeckert]

I've considered buy a 2nd hand 1st get SE because I miss the size. Not sure that it would be much of a downgrade for me from my XS. I only use it for calls, music and messages, I usually end the day with 75% battery remaining...

I bought one recently. The 1st gen SE as a phone isn't a downgrade, in fact I love the light weight. The smaller size is a wash - pros and cons. Performance is perfectly good, and battery life is also great (not sure if it has the original battery). Unfortunately the camera is terrible, really the only thing that stops me from replacing my main phone with my 1st gen SE.

 

[Fomalhaut]

Good, maybe the rising prices will end this madness where everybody upgrades their phones every year for absolutely no reason.

We've really reached an absurd point in our society where people feel it's a special year if they opt NOT to upgrade to the latest new iPhone for once.

Of course every first world country citizen needs a new phone every year, because why not. What could possibly be wrong with this mentality.

Well, I don't think anyone is forcing people to upgrade, are they? While I agree that almost no-one *needs* to upgrade their phone every year, clearly a lot of people *want to*....so why shouldn't they if they want to spend the money?

You make it sound like they are obliged to upgrade by an unbearable peer pressure to conform. Maybe there is some truth in that, like teenagers who "rate themselves" by ownership of the latest fashion?

I also see some posts that equate yearly product updates with a necessity for yearly upgrades. These are not related - unless you have some kind compulsive disorder that requires you to own the latest gadget. Most other people will welcome the annual improvements so that by the time they do upgrade after a few years, the new device will be significantly better than the old one.

I'm still using my 2017 iPhone 8, and it's going strong, although I am just starting to feel that it's "slowing down" due to the demands of iOS updates and increasing demands of mobile apps. It will probably last another couple of years I reckon, and then be relegated to "back-up phone" status for a few years more. It should last 8-10 years, maybe requiring a new battery soon.

 

[Kylo83]

Maybe start making iPhones exciting again, they don’t improve much

 

[GMShadow]

I bought one recently. The 1st gen SE as a phone isn't a downgrade, in fact I love the light weight. The smaller size is a wash - pros and cons. Performance is perfectly good, and battery life is also great (not sure if it has the original battery). Unfortunately the camera is terrible, really the only thing that stops me from replacing my main phone with my 1st gen SE.

iOS really isn't ideal on a 4" screen anymore, however. It works, but you can tell that they operate from a baseline of 4.7" when considering UI layouts.

The annoyances remain mostly minor since I don't use my iPod touch as more than a music/video player, but if I had to use it all the time I think I'd go nuts.

 

[Realityck]

Maybe start making iPhones exciting again, they don’t improve much

Unless they break this industry impasse by finally bridging iPadOS tablets to be phones? Wouldn't a iPad Mini with 120 Hz ProMotion that can make cellular phone calls sound nice? Of course then that will be just another product that people hold onto for years.

 

[brofkand]

Well it’s Apples own fault for making the phones last longer and keep receiving iOS updates. Shame on you Apple!

that is one reason why iPhone resale value remains robust even in the face of near constant carrier subsidies and promotions. I can’t remember the last time I paid full price for an iPhone.

 

[4jasontv]

Two words: lightning port.

 

[Zdigital2015]

I’m not sure the new SE was aimed at people that had the 2020 SE. Probably aimed at those with iPhone 7, 8, and god forbid those with a 6S.

My father-in-law is 81 and has my old gold 6s Plus. It does everything he needs it to do. God forbid I have to update the thing though because I cannot give him a Face ID phone at this point. He has had a hard enough time grasping the smartphone concept and using Touch ID. I need an SE 3 Plus, because his eyes are going and the SE 3 screen is too small for him. There are plenty of people who will end up with an SE 3 this year and next once they need to move on. An SE plus would make it easier for me, but I don’t see it happening.

 

[ghanwani]

Meanwhile...

Not smart but clever? The return of 'dumbphones'

Why sales of very basic mobile phones, without apps and internet connection, are increasing.

ca.news.yahoo.com

"And while sales figures are hard to come by, one report said that global purchases of dumbphones were due to hit one billion units last year, up from 400 million in 2019. This compares to worldwide sales of 1.4 billion smart phones last year, following a 12.5% decline in 2020."

 

[Deasnutz]

That will happen when devices are expensive as f***.

 

[Tagbert]

Maybe start making iPhones exciting again, they don’t improve much

What would make a new phone exciting to you?
It’s hard to see what changes could be made.

 

[Nermal]

I’m not sure the new SE was aimed at people that had the 2020 SE. Probably aimed at those with iPhone 7, 8, and god forbid those with a 6S.

Yep, I upgraded from an 8, which I'd had for 4.5 years. The battery life wasn't what it used to be, one of the volume buttons didn't work too well, and more importantly I kept running out of space (64 GB; have gone to 128 now). The actual performance of the 8 was still fine for what I did though.

As for the design, I don't really care what my tools look like so long as they get the job done.

 

[4jasontv]

What would make a new phone exciting to you?
It’s hard to see what changes could be made.

USB c.

 

[Tagbert]

that is one reason why iPhone resale value remains robust even in the face of near constant carrier subsidies and promotions. I can’t remember the last time I paid full price for an iPhone.

You mean, last time you paid full price in one lump sum. You most likely pay for it over the course of the contract through higher monthly rates.

 

[subjonas]

Only reason to upgrade these days is for camera improvements, and new batteries/less thermally damaged components.

Batteries aren’t a good reason to upgrade imo when they’re replaced with new for $70 or less. And I haven’t heard of thermally damaged components in phones. Is that a thing?

 

[FNH15]

Modern smartphones are so fast most people are happy to keep them for 3-4 years.

Exactly. I’m only just now considering upgrading from my XS - bought it soon after launch in 2018. Just barely starting to show signs of slowing down. My grandfather is still using his fully-supported 6S Plus.

Conversely, using an original iPhone or even the 3G circa 2011 was absolutely painful. We’ve come a long way indeed...

 

[JPack]

5G brought a lot of the demand. It's natural to see slowdown.

China now has 85% 5G penetration. North America and Western Europe is somewhere around 75%.

Global 5G Smartphone Sales Penetration Overtakes 4G - EE Times Asia

Sales penetration of 5G-capable smartphones reached 51% globally in January 2022, surpassing the penetration of 4G smartphones for the first time.

www.eetasia.com

 

[forrie]

I think many of us are just tech-tired, too. Buying expensive mobile devices for every iteration, every year, with all the publicity and fanfare... it's getting old, and I can certainly relate. In the case of Apple, I would much rather see their iterations be far more significant, innovative. Perhaps they will take a hint. Perhaps not.

 

[Kierkegaarden]

Apple is only one of many of their customers. And if they’re not able to keep up with demand in the first place, this probably is more positive than negative. Plus, the report indicates that is based on China, not the world.

 

[Fomalhaut]

Well, I don't think anyone is forcing people to upgrade, are they? While I agree that almost no-one *needs* to upgrade their phone every year, clearly a lot of people *want to*....so why shouldn't they if they want to spend the money?

You make it sound like they are obliged to upgrade by an unbearable peer pressure to conform. Maybe there is some truth in that, like teenagers who "rate themselves" by ownership of the latest fashion?

I also see some posts that equate yearly product updates with a necessity for yearly upgrades. These are not related - unless you have some kind compulsive disorder that requires you to own the latest gadget. Most other people will welcome the annual improvements so that by the time they do upgrade after a few years, the new device will be significantly better than the old one.

I'm still using my 2017 iPhone 8, and it's going strong, although I am just starting to feel that it's "slowing down" due to the demands of iOS updates and increasing demands of mobile apps. It will probably last another couple of years I reckon, and then be relegated to "back-up phone" status for a few years more. It should last 8-10 years, maybe requiring a new battery soon.

Not sure what part of this @decypher44 disagreed with...but each to their own!