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Not switching. Am I not allowed to criticize Apple?
Of course you’re allowed to criticize, all customers do. But you said Apple is ripping you off. That by definition means they’re offering a very bad deal, so then why accept that deal?

If you continue to purchase it then your actions say it’s at worst a fair deal and not a rip off, contradictory to your words. And what your actions say completely trumps what your words say.
 
Android on a Google Pixel is a good experience. I highly endorse it. They are taking steps to make it more secure, and there is a trickle of more robust apps being deployed because of this.

-1000% interest in trying or using Harmony OS though.

Apple fan since (I don’t wanna declare my age ;) ) , but a long time. If there wasn’t competition, would Apple bother getting any better?
I would love to see more competition to both iOS and Android, but manufacturers seem to be incapable of competing with Apple in that regard.
 
To be honest it feels sad. Back in the days unboxing was a part of the whole experience: you got charger, cable and headphones. And now basically all you get is a phone. High time to sell them without boxes at all, wrapped in some paper. After all, it is not a coffee company, they should rethink their packaging strategy. And even coffee companies think how to box their stuff better so that consumer will definitely grab their brand over another
If you want a real boxing experience...sadly, you have to buy a chinese phone these days. Huawei still delivers a solid presentation and they even include headphones, stickers, charging cable, and even a CASE. What's your excuse, Apple?
 
120hz is common on flagship Android phones and is starting to work down to lower models as well. Samsung’s A series still uses a lot of LCD screens for instance and only their upper tier use 120hz. The A06 (a 2025 phone) has an LCD with only 90hz.

I am highly active on the Alternatives to iOS devices forum, and don’t consider myself an Apple Zelot. I like Apple, but use other ecosystems Equally.

Cheers
Thanks for explaining and nice to notice you’ve a broader interest. I’m disappointed by Apple’s offerings the last couple of years. There isn’t much excitement going on. While I’ve heavily invested in Apple related stuff I find it hard to escape from their ecosystem.

Cheers 😊
 
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Thanks for explaining and nice to notice you’ve a broader interest. I’m disappointed by Apple’s offerings the last couple of years. There isn’t much excitement going on. While I’ve heavily invested in Apple related stuff I find it hard to escape from their ecosystem.

Cheers 😊
I am curious. What "excitement" are you looking for/expecting?
 
It’s pointless comparing specifications when the other phones don’t run the right OS.

The operating system is the single most important specification people look for when shopping for a phone. Just about everything else is secondary.

Exactly. You choose an OS, apps and an ecosystem. Then you get some hardware to run it on. For me, I very much like using a Mac (especially over Windows). It's a personal preference thing. And so I very much like how the iPhone is similar and highly tied to the Mac. In many ways my phone is my mac when I'm on the go. Other brands will have some cool features, but unless they can do magic it's not worth giving up what I like about the software. If Apple were to fall WAY behind I might reconsider the whole ecosystem but that's lot of effort for minor gains.
 
I am curious. What "excitement" are you looking for/expecting?
I’m looking for newer technology to be integrated in new Apple hardware.

Like for example an OLED touchscreen on a MacBook. Merge iPadOS and macOS. Make it able to detach your screen from your MacBook/pro like others are doing. Now we’ve a crippled iPadOS and less capable macOS.

Give the iPhones 120hz screens from top till bottom. It’s common use in the Android world already.

Give the whole range of hardware more bang for the buck. I know it will eat into profits but they’ll likely sell more of them instead of the decrease in sales they’re in now.

Make the Mac, iPad, iPhone more compelling. And another form factor would help too.

Same model year after year after year is getting tiring. There are enough good examples from the competition they could copy.
 
Exactly. You choose an OS, apps and an ecosystem. Then you get some hardware to run it on. For me, I very much like using a Mac (especially over Windows). It's a personal preference thing. And so I very much like how the iPhone is similar and highly tied to the Mac. In many ways my phone is my mac when I'm on the go. Other brands will have some cool features, but unless they can do magic it's not worth giving up what I like about the software. If Apple were to fall WAY behind I might reconsider the whole ecosystem but that's lot of effort for minor gains.
There isn’t much difference in iOS or Android these days. Most things added to iOS 18 has already been in Android for years. Also look and feel doesn’t differ that much. So what’s setting them apart is offerings in hardware and price.
 
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I’m looking for newer technology to be integrated in new Apple hardware.

Like for example an OLED touchscreen on a MacBook. Merge iPadOS and macOS. Make it able to detach your screen from your MacBook/pro like others are doing. Now we’ve a crippled iPadOS and less capable macOS.

Give the iPhones 120hz screens from top till bottom. It’s common use in the Android world already.

Give the whole range of hardware more bang for the buck. I know it will eat into profits but they’ll likely sell more of them instead of the decrease in sales they’re in now.

Make the Mac, iPad, iPhone more compelling. And another form factor would help too.

Same model year after year after year is getting tiring. There are enough good examples from the competition they could copy.
Upping those specifications won't make people buy more iPhones. Everyone who wants (and can afford) an iPhone already has an iPhone. Very very few people would be leaving the Android ecosystem to buy an iPhone simply because all available models had 120hz screens. It's the OS and ecosystem that people are buying, not the hardware.
 
There isn’t much difference in iOS or Android these days. Most things added to iOS 18 has already been in Android for years. Also look and feel doesn’t differ that much. So what’s setting them apart is offerings in hardware and price.
yeah, I suspect if you're not a Mac user then the brand and software makes a bit less difference.
 
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There isn’t much difference in iOS or Android these days. Most things added to iOS 18 has already been in Android for years. Also look and feel doesn’t differ that much. So what’s setting them apart is offerings in hardware and price.
And the company behind the OS and ecosystem (and their respective philiosphies on privacy, security, integration, etc).
 
Android on a Google Pixel is a good experience. I highly endorse it. They are taking steps to make it more secure, and there is a trickle of more robust apps being deployed because of this.

-1000% interest in trying or using Harmony OS though.

Apple fan since (I don’t wanna declare my age ;) ) , but a long time. If there wasn’t competition, would Apple bother getting any better?
Apple is in need to feel more pressure. If you’re a longtime Apple user like me, you know what I mean.

I’ve seen lots of examples of Harmony OS. They really copied the look and feel of MacOS and at the same time took it a step further. I think Huawei will make Apple exit China in about three years.
 
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Apple is in need to feel more pressure. If you’re a longtime Apple user like me, you know what I mean.

I’ve seen lots of examples of Harmony OS. They really copied the look and feel of MacOS and at the same time took it a step further. I think Huawei will make Apple exit China in about three years.
Yeah it would be great if there were more operating systems to compete with iOS. Sadly Google has engaged in anti-competitive business practices for many years to prevent that from happening.
 
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And the company behind the OS and ecosystem (and their respective philiosphies on privacy, security, integration, etc).
Those differences were 10 years ago. Everybody is copying everybody. The only difference is that Apple’s ecosystem won’t work with anything else than Apple. Today that’s a handicap.
 
Yeah it would be great if there were more operating systems to compete with iOS. Sadly Google has engaged in anti-competitive business practices for many years to prevent that from happening.
Apple is also engaged in anti-competitive business in Europe and the USA soon too.

We as customers will benefit.
 
Apple is in need to feel more pressure. If you’re a longtime Apple user like me, you know what I mean.

I’ve seen lots of examples of Harmony OS. They really copied the look and feel of MacOS and at the same time took it a step further. I think Huawei will make Apple exit China in about three years.
I had a Huawei Mate 9 when they were on sale natively in the US for a short time period (I even bought a Matebook Pro X when they were sold in the US, as well) and it's still one of the best phones I've ever had to this day. Leica camera, big bright screen, etc and I'd absolutely buy another Huawei phone if it was available in the States. I'm with you that at this point, Huawei is going to squeeze Apple out of China before long. Makes me wonder if that's part of the reason Huawei products were banned out of the US...not because of spying this, or spying that...but because people would catch on that Huawei was a serious competitor and even better than Apple in many ways. As for laptops, the Matebook X pro was an AMAZING laptop (touch screen, 16gb ram, 1tb SSD HD, etc for $1300!) but it's major flaw was that it ran hot as hell. Even with basic tasks, you couldn't have it on your lap or you'd feel the burn for sure. I still have it and pull it out from time to time. The looks on peoples face when they ask me what Apple laptop it is...then realize it's a Huawei LOL.
 
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I would love to see more competition to both iOS and Android, but manufacturers seem to be incapable of competing with Apple in that regard.
HarmonyOS will! It has copied the best of Apple and will probably spread like oil on water in the Asia pacific region.
 
Those differences were 10 years ago. Everybody is copying everybody. The only difference is that Apple’s ecosystem won’t work with anything else than Apple. Today that’s a handicap.
I'm yet to see the evidence. Google's business model is still to sell advertising. They'd need to give that up before I'd consider buying or using any of their products.
 
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I had a Huawei Mate 9 when they were on sale natively in the US for a short time period (I even bought a Matebook Pro X when they were sold in the US, as well) and it's still one of the best phones I've ever had to this day. Leica camera, big bright screen, etc and I'd absolutely buy another Huawei phone if it was available in the States. I'm with you that at this point, Huawei is going to squeeze Apple out of China before long. Makes me wonder if that's part of the reason Huawei products were banned out of the US...not because of spying this, or spying that...but because people would catch on that Huawei was a serious competitor and even better than Apple in many ways. As for laptops, the Matebook X pro was an AMAZING laptop (touch screen, 16gb ram, 1tb SSD HD, etc for $1300!) but it's major flaw was that it ran hot as hell. Even with basic tasks, you couldn't have it on your lap or you'd feel the burn for sure. I still have it and pull it out from time to time. The looks on peoples face when they ask me what Apple laptop it is...then realize it's a Huawei LOL.
Huawei is a copycat. But a smart one. And they surely push Apple out of China. Their New harmonyOS looks like MacOS, iOS. They have made big strides in a very short time and spend far more on R&D than Apple does. They also managed to develop an electric vehicle which is in high demand and got good reviews from respected car reviewers world wide.

Huawei mimics Apple in every way but give their products way better specifications while lower in price.

Apple needs to sacrifice big profits to compete with them.
 
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Of course you’re allowed to criticize, all customers do. But you said Apple is ripping you off. That by definition means they’re offering a very bad deal, so then why accept that deal?

If you continue to purchase it then your actions say it’s at worst a fair deal and not a rip off, contradictory to your words. And what your actions say completely trumps what your words say.
Okay, thats a fair point. Thanks for the constructive criticism. I guess rip-off was a poor choice of words on my part.

I don’t see Apple products as a rip off. I just don’t like that they removed necessary accessories like the charger, and replacing leather with the horrible FineWoven. All while charging the same or increasing the price. I think that it sucks that they’re taking away stuff, but maybe calling it a rip off is excessive.
 
Huawei is a copycat. But a smart one. And they surely push Apple out of China. Their New harmonyOS looks like MacOS, iOS. They have made big strides in a very short time and spend far more on R&D than Apple does. They also managed to develop an electric vehicle which is in high demand and got good reviews from respected car reviewers world wide.

Huawei mimics Apple in every way but give their products way better specifications while lower in price.

Apple needs to sacrifice big profits to compete with them.
I doubt Apple are interested in the sort of customer that Huawei are targetting.
 
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