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iOS Drops to Lowest Share of China Smartphone Market in Nearly Three Years
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I'm not surprised at all. You can get for 50% of an iPhone one of the best Androids there and we know here just some brands, but there are so many crazy brands (also some from telcom's) we never heard about and all of them work well for the ppl. So why to buy an iPhone? In asian countries just ppl who wants to show off buy iPhones and 90-95% are super fine with Android. They use is just for calls, WeChat, Weibo and so on. If they want to buy an iPhone, they need to work for months or sell a kidney and iOS is limited in some areas (file management, customizing etc.)
Many of us have been saying for years - Apple needs to make a <$200 device for the emerging markets. Something ala 5C - plastic shell, tech long paid for from an R&D standpoint, but supported by at least 3 years of iOS updates - something that gets people in the market and allows those with the least amount of $ to participate in the Apple ecosystem.
No, they wouldn't make anywhere near the margin on these devices that they do elsewhere, but they get something that they're missing out on. Call it momentum. Call it global intelligence. There's a value in having a platform that is well adopted across every demographic around the world. Certainly for the app developers, but also for the kids writing their first apps and develop something amazing....and become the next big thing.
The per unit revenue would be minimal, but they wouldn't be able to make them fast enough. And, no, as long as it had the prior rev of processor, camera, etc, it wouldn't scavenge SE sales.
Edit: Oh, and regarding the comments on the iPhone upgrade program - that will definitely boost sales in areas of affluent people (hurry TFU and bring it to Canada already!), but not in areas where that monthly fee is still way too far out of their budget.
No, they wouldn't make anywhere near the margin on these devices that they do elsewhere, but they get something that they're missing out on. Call it momentum. Call it global intelligence. There's a value in having a platform that is well adopted across every demographic around the world. Certainly for the app developers, but also for the kids writing their first apps and develop something amazing....and become the next big thing.
The per unit revenue would be minimal, but they wouldn't be able to make them fast enough. And, no, as long as it had the prior rev of processor, camera, etc, it wouldn't scavenge SE sales.
Edit: Oh, and regarding the comments on the iPhone upgrade program - that will definitely boost sales in areas of affluent people (hurry TFU and bring it to Canada already!), but not in areas where that monthly fee is still way too far out of their budget.
Apple's current idea of doing that, is to try to get places like India to allow them to sell refurbished iPhones there.
Well, they need a home for devices coming back from the iPhone upgrade program - you can only use so much for warranty replacements. I wonder if the price point will be low enough...
Edit...still, I think the numbers would actually exceed what they're currently selling (there won't be sufficient supply). I think the opportunity is much larger than the refurbs they could supply it with.
Hm. I'm not in China, I could buy an iPhone, I have the money for it - and I still prefer Android devices. Maybe I'm the odd exception to your theory.
You really believe that Apple sells in the UK because some designer most buyers have never heard of, much less care about, is British? OK.
Apple doesn't give the Mac Mini any real love any more. Apart from the iPod Shuffle, there isn't much in Apple's range that can be filed under budget. Not even watchstraps. Even in developing markets, Apple is targeting the well heeled. The only market share it seems to be interested in is high end and expensive. Associating Apple with anything deemed affordable only weakens its aspirational cachet.
Isn't that just so noble of Tim Cool (Cook) "We're not just someone who's here to access the market," and that the company intends to bolster its presence in the country through providing jobs and improving people's standard of living."
His excuse for a diminishing market share has such lovely Public Relations spin.
His excuse for a diminishing market share has such lovely Public Relations spin.
I think its because unlike the USA, most people buy phones outright in Europe and the full retail MSRP of a new iPhone is staggering. Also Apple services are pretty much trash outside US where a Google reigns supreme
Yep, I thought through the idea of using an iPad in college after my '06 MacBook died, but I realized it's totally not worth it. Just use a laptop; nothing wrong with that. And Apple should sell laptops with tablet capabilities, if that matters to pros (not sure if it does). I don't see the point of the tablet form factor for professional work.
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I move around within the States. I know it's not good in Mexico, but I think you're overestimating how well-connected the U.S. is. My internet connection, whether it's cable-based or cellular (which comes at a high cost), is pretty horrible or nonexistent in some places. But I don't see what that has to do with the file system. There's nothing to manage. I've got a camera roll, iTunes music (local not cloud), and maybe a few documents; not sure what else there would be. It's mostly fine the way it's managed automatically.
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I really don't think consumers in GB are buying iPhones based on Jony Ive's place of origin.
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Don't know where you get your information but in the US subsidies are virtually gone, phones are bought outright.
ATT does have a bogo on the S8 though.
Nonsense. Carriers and customers simply switched to using 24 month installment plans. e.g.
If Americans actually had to pay full price upfront, then Apple's US marketshare would drop to around 15% just like in the rest of the world where that happens. That's why analysts were dissing Apple stock back when subsidies were being dropped.
Plus nowadays in such a situation it gets even worse for high-priced phones such as Apple sells, once people realize what a nice phone they can get for much less money.
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Still not a subsidy, it's now called a loan and it's not the same thing. And loans apply to android devices also.
In addition, Samsung is in the same high priced boat as Apple, unless you take the bogo at ATT for the S8.
I could be wrong but I don't think Apple has the same cult-following in the east that it does in the west. In the english speaking world it seems like the default choice but when you have so many great domestic products at half the price it was always going to be an uphill battle.
And depending on how you count it, Samsungs can end up being more expensive than iPhones. If you factor in how many years the device will get software updates, the iPhone ends up being rather cheap in the long run. Still both iPhone and Samsung prices are getting harder and harder to swallow due to competitors pushing out amazing phones with a smaller price tag. For example I'm typing this on a OnePlus 3T.Still not a subsidy, it's now called a loan and it's not the same thing. And loans apply to android devices also.
In addition, Samsung is in the same high priced boat as Apple, unless you take the bogo at ATT for the S8.
Yes but Porsche and Ferrari have brought out new and different models to increase their market share.
At one point Porsche just sold the 911 and now they have around 6 different cars spanning a whole range of prices.
Apple just have 2 phones, forget the 6 and SE I am talking about latest spec not last years models.
Profit is fine but if your units sold and market share is going down you are in trouble.
Apple cannot keep increasing the price to counter the lower unit sale to keep the profit margin.
At some point another manufacturer is going to come along and take Apples customers.
People are also going to get bored with th iPhone and want something different.
There is nothing special about the iPhone anymore, other phones are built with the same materials.
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Can't compare Porsche and Apple. Porsche doesn't release the same car with a new color year after year. I agree. iPhones are nothing unique nowadays. They are beginning to rip off the competition
That's all history. No relevant Android manufacturer copies Apple nowadays. They are one step ahead.
Bixby. Nuff said and is wishful thinking they are one step ahead.
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Android is less than unique as competition is selling phones for 50% of the price and 90% of the features, while trying to come up to the same level as iOS.
And how is that copying Apple in any way? Google Assistant, Cortana? They simply developed another voice assistant app. And its not copying Apple because the assistant doesnt even support English and most people who get the S8 are going to make Google Assistant as the default which makes sense as its better. Bixby is another lame attempt by Samsung to try and defeat Google on its own platform and is destined to fail. The Dex on the other hand was true innovation
They are. Almost each and every hardware feature on the iPhone 8 can be found on the S8 and if Samsung can get its yields back on track and are able to integrate the FP sensor into the display(which was their real intention with the S8 but ran short of time) with the Note 8 , Apple would lose that unique feature as well.
Those "50% phones" have more features than the iPhone. Wireless charging, OLED displays, ability to set default apps and custom file formats, quick charge etc
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So who are they copying, someone copied someone else. And since SIRI came out on the 4s 5 years ago, 5 years later Samsung is copying apple. Dex is a copy of what had simply came out at least 10+ years or so, by other vendors doing exactly the same thing. Not innovative at all.
So then wifi, cellular, camera, speakers, graphics processors must be copying as well. Except S8 still doesn't have 3dt as samsung hasn't figured out how to copy it. As well as Samsung copying the FP feature.
So other than the wifi, cellular, and standard qualcomm chipsets, well no, they don't including 3dt, custom design socs, dual cameras, haptic feedback, 5 years of support.
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And thats going to miserably fail. No one in their right mind would buy a refurbished iPhone when you got a spanking new One Plus 3T to do the trick. From what I gather, its a refurbished iPhone 6 they are going to sell. A refurbished phone from 2014. Apple has no shame selling these old devices and trying to make a quick buck. At least sell the 6S.I am sure the market is going to teach them a lesson like in China as Android has an almost monopoly in India based on Kantar.