iPhone 8 flopping already...

[mctrials23]

Apple thought more people would buy the 5c. Lower that price analysts screamed. It backfired. People overwhelmingly bought the 5S. There's a lot on here that don't seem to understand Apple's market. They are, for the most part, high end. Whether they're getting the X because of looks, design, tech, or whatever. Apple dressed up the iphone 6 and calls it an iphone 8 but the market knows better.

No one really bought the 5C because it looked crap and wasn't that much cheaper than the 5S when you considered the difference in what you got. Add to that the fact that neither of them was uber expensive and its pretty easy to see why it flopped.

That's not to say there aren't those out there focused on price. That's who the 8 is for. You can mention OLED to these people and they just shrug at you. 4K? Pfft. A11 processor? who cares..just tell me the price? That's not to say that all who buy the 8 don't appreciate specs. Just as not all who buy the X will either and instead only care about how it looks.

So why isn't the 8 flying off the shelves like every single iPhone up until now? Pretty much everyone who owns an iPhone from the past 4 years knows that apple have released 2 iPhones. One that looks like top end android handsets with a small bezel and another that is like their current phone that probably works fine still.

I know I only care about specs and latest tech. I want the X because of its screen (primarily) and front camera tech. This stuff doesn't mean much to many I know. There's many talking about how ugly the notch is. Pfft..I couldn't care less about it. It's pricier, but the resale is up as well. It's a wash and immaterial to me. If you're living paycheck to paycheck, and are already struggling in debt, I can understand being priced out.

£1000 is a lot of money to all but the highest earners. The massive majority of apples customer base in not in that bracket. Apple will have assumed that most people will be going for the cheaper 8 and I think thats not wrong. The difference is that they have priced both handsets out of the reach of a lot of people. Unless you really love having the latest tech, all those iPhone 6S and 7 users won't be feeling the need to upgrade at these price points.

 

[MH01]

How do we know when we have no idea what supply is compared to previous years?

Though why is it, when supply pushes out to a few months, its a huge success? Given we never know what the supply is.

So this is the first time ever...... Apple has actually got their supply sorted? I doubt it...... more realistic is that people are holding out for the X .

 

[cardfan]

No one really bought the 5C because it looked crap and wasn't that much cheaper than the 5S when you considered the difference in what you got. Add to that the fact that neither of them was uber expensive and its pretty easy to see why it flopped.



So why isn't the 8 flying off the shelves like every single iPhone up until now? Pretty much everyone who owns an iPhone from the past 4 years knows that apple have released 2 iPhones. One that looks like top end android handsets with a small bezel and another that is like their current phone that probably works fine still.



£1000 is a lot of money to all but the highest earners. The massive majority of apples customer base in not in that bracket. Apple will have assumed that most people will be going for the cheaper 8 and I think thats not wrong. The difference is that they have priced both handsets out of the reach of a lot of people. Unless you really love having the latest tech, all those iPhone 6S and 7 users won't be feeling the need to upgrade at these price points.

Guess we'll have to disagree.

 

[MH01]

Priced higher than last year's flagship. How does that work?

you introduce a "pro" tier ....... They actually needed to keep a that price tier, so they could justify an even more expansive model.

Normally Apple would ditch the 8 and replace it with say the X, they decided to get greedy, creating an even more expansive tier. And if that means keeping the 6S, 7 and 8......same phone effectively, serves the purpose to sell a $1K + new phone

 

[solo118]

Though why is it, when supply pushes out to a few months, its a huge success? Given we never know what the supply is.

So this is the first time ever...... Apple has actually got their supply sorted? I doubt it...... more realistic is that people are holding out for the X .

Agree. I don't think anyone with a 7 really cares for the 8. Same looks, wireless charging, a couple of other bonuses. Not worth paying $700+. Those with a 6/6S may be going for the 8, but personally if there was no X I would feel no need to upgrade my 6S.

I think many of us are going to have a hard time pre-ordering an X next month....

 

[wborisenok]

Disappointment and backlash? From who? The X was pretty impressive. 4K apple tv was long coming. As was LTE watch. Last year was a yawn compared to this year. Hopefully there's many that feel as you do for no reason so the stock can fall a bit. I need to buy some more.

from WHO?! lol. have you not been paying mind to the forums for the past 3 days? I've never seen more people "opting out" of launch than this year. if that's the case, you should be good to go for more stock.

 

[kilcher]

I think there are a few contributing factors beyond "it's a flop." Regardless of the name, the 8 is basically a 7s so demand is likely less than it would have been for an all new phone. Also, since they've been making largely the same phone for 4 years now, they've probably avoided the production issues they would had with an all new phone and have stockpiled quite a few in advance.

 

[magpie maniac]

I don't agree with your second point. It's internals are the same as the X. Coming from a 6, it's a 3 generation step up in processor (with benchmarks that rival the Macbook Pro, if I'm not mistaken), much better camera (especially for the Plus), and either twice or three times the RAM depending on if you're talking about the regular or Plus respectively.

+1

Many in this forum are people who upgrade their phones almost every cycle. It's a status symbol. Others of us skip releases because—you know—IT'S JUST A PHONE. I'm coming from a 6 Plus to an 8 Plus. That's two models (6S Plus and 7 Plus) that I skipped. This is a significant upgrade for me.

But all is not lost. I asked my two teenagers if they wanted new phones this cycle. (They each have a 6.) They both said, "Why would we get new phones? These work."

 

[Strelok]

So when my iPhone 8 Plus arrives it will flop around like a fish? Nice!

 

[TechnicallyTee]

+1

Many in this forum are people who upgrade their phones almost every cycle. It's a status symbol. Others of us skip releases because—you know—IT'S JUST A PHONE. I'm coming from a 6 Plus to an 8 Plus. That's two models (6S Plus and 7 Plus) that I skipped. This is a significant upgrade for me.

But all is not lost. I asked my two teenagers if they wanted new phones this cycle. (They each have a 6.) They both said, "Why would we get new phones? These work."

Has nothing to do with a status symbol at all lol. I have been swapping and getting multiple new phones every year, its just the thrill of getting the latest when it comes to technology. Sadly some folk do think the iPhone is a status symbol.

 

[cardfan]

from WHO?! lol. have you not been paying mind to the forums for the past 3 days? I've never seen more people "opting out" of launch than this year. if that's the case, you should be good to go for more stock.

Doesn't mean anything. Most are unwashed and groupthinkers just babbling along.

 

[onepoint]

+1

Many in this forum are people who upgrade their phones almost every cycle. It's a status symbol. Others of us skip releases because—you know—IT'S JUST A PHONE. I'm coming from a 6 Plus to an 8 Plus. That's two models (6S Plus and 7 Plus) that I skipped. This is a significant upgrade for me.

But all is not lost. I asked my two teenagers if they wanted new phones this cycle. (They each have a 6.) They both said, "Why would we get new phones? These work."

 

[pat500000]

People really need to get some perspective. Preorders began less than 5 hours ago, at a time when practically no one is awake, and people are now waking up to find that it's already impossible to get a launch day delivery, and this is with people knowing that a more premium phone is just 6 weeks away.

We also have no idea what the supply was like. It's ridiculous and irrational to think that any conclusions can be drawn right now. People are just letting their preconceptions and personal opinions influence their interpretation.

Or maybe they knew the preorder was about to begin but decided to sleep theough it?

 

[magpie maniac]

I know. Haha! My kids are 16 and 13. I raised them right. Of course, I ordered a 8 Plus for myself this morning.

 

[mctrials23]

I think there are a few contributing factors beyond "it's a flop." Regardless of the name, the 8 is basically a 7s so demand is likely less than it would have been for an all new phone. Also, since they've been making largely the same phone for 4 years now, they've probably avoided the production issues they would had with an all new phone and have stockpiled quite a few in advance.

What was the issue last year with the 7 then? Same design as the 2 previous years.

 

[fathergll]

Well it's 6:55 EST here and I can preorder an iPhone 8 plus, unlocked for delivery in a week or just over a week depending on color and capacity. That tells me everyone is going for the iPhone X in about a month.

Given the circumstances I think Apple did the best they could. At the end of the day Apple was faced a major issue starting at the beginning of this year that they would not be able to meet iPhone X demands. There were reports many months ago. So Apple's play is to reuse an old design that has been in place since 2014 to help evaluate the potential nightmare issue of trying to get the iPhone X out in time. Make no mistake the iPhone 8 did it's job in that it took away some potential iPhone X buyers and it gave Apple another 6 weeks of production for the X.

Bottom line is Apple needs to figure out how to make their own OLED displays.

 

[Rogifan]

Though why is it, when supply pushes out to a few months, its a huge success? Given we never know what the supply is.

So this is the first time ever...... Apple has actually got their supply sorted? I doubt it...... more realistic is that people are holding out for the X .

Honestly I think the smartphone is so mature now you’re not going to have big launch weekends and pre-orders anymore. And plus as you suggest a lot of people are probably holding out for the X. It’s possible that the 8 will never be a huge seller as people who are price sensitive opt for a 6s or 7 and those who aren’t go for the X.
[doublepost=1505485440][/doublepost]

Given the circumstances I think Apple did the best they could. At the end of the day Apple was faced a major issue starting at the beginning of this year that they would not be able to meet iPhone X demands. There were reports many months ago. So Apple's play is to reuse an old design that has been in place since 2014 to help evaluate the potential nightmare issue of trying to get the iPhone X out in time. Make no mistake the iPhone 8 did it's job in that it took away some potential iPhone X buyers and it gave Apple another 6 weeks of production for the X.

Bottom line is Apple needs to figure out how to make their own OLED displays.

The iPhone 8 design hasn’t been in place since 2014. In what bizarro world are glass and aluminum the same thing?

 

[pat500000]

Though why is it, when supply pushes out to a few months, its a huge success? Given we never know what the supply is.

So this is the first time ever...... Apple has actually got their supply sorted? I doubt it...... more realistic is that people are holding out for the X .

Or not getting either at all.

 

[fathergll]

The iPhone 8 design hasn’t been in place since 2014. In what bizarro world are glass and aluminum the same thing?

It's using the same base design since 2014. Yes Apple has been modifying it year after year but it's not like the iPhone 8 is a completely new design like the iPhone 4 or iPhone 5 or iPhone 6.

 

[Cyberguycpt]

Given the circumstances I think Apple did the best they could. At the end of the day Apple was faced a major issue starting at the beginning of this year that they would not be able to meet iPhone X demands. There were reports many months ago. So Apple's play is to reuse an old design that has been in place since 2014 to help evaluate the potential nightmare issue of trying to get the iPhone X out in time. Make no mistake the iPhone 8 did it's job in that it took away some potential iPhone X buyers and it gave Apple another 6 weeks of production for the X.

Bottom line is Apple needs to figure out how to make their own OLED displays.

It probably won't do as a great a job on T-Mobile with jump on demand. A few people in that thread are already saying they bought this phone and will jump to the X next month lol.

 

[Rogifan]

What was the issue last year with the 7 then? Same design as the 2 previous years.

The basic form factor of the smartphone is baked. What can you really change besides getting rid of bezels (which is what Apple did with the X) or introducing gimmicks like curved edges? What can Samsung do to make the Galaxy S9 look different than the S8?

 

[nburwell]

I buy in store after look at them in person - the 8!

This is the approach I'm taking. I'll wait a week or two after 9/22 and go to my local Apple Store to see what the space gray model looks like in person. I'll make a decision from there.

 

[MH01]

Honestly I think the smartphone is so mature now you’re not going to have big launch weekends and pre-orders anymore. And plus as you suggest a lot of people are probably holding out for the X. It’s possible that the 8 will never be a huge seller as people who are price sensitive opt for a 6s or 7 and those who aren’t go for the X.
[doublepost=1505485440][/doublepost]
The iPhone 8 design hasn’t been in place since 2014. In what bizarro world are glass and aluminum the same thing?

I suspect the X will follow the pattern of every iPhone launch, delays leading into next year.

Had the X not existed, people would have still Bought the 7S (8) and it would have sold out asap, the mentality with people these days is to have the newest.

 

[Rogifan]

It's using the same base design since 2014. Yes Apple has been modifying it year after year but it's not like the iPhone 8 is a completely new design like the iPhone 4 or iPhone 5 or iPhone 6.

There were lots of posts here calling the 5 a stretched 4S. The 6 was a new design mostly because of the larger screen. How else do you change the design other than removing bezels or introducing gimmicks like curved screens. I suppose Apple could have gone back to squared off edges but then people would have said it looks just like a 4 or 5. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[Harthag]

I have a 7 and pre-ordered the 8 at 2 AM. I don't consider it a waste of money, I will sell my 7 for a few hundred at least. I want all the LTE bands I can get to avoid congestion, and the 8 supports Verizon band 66. And wireless charging is actually really useful for me. The iPhone 7 was still available to deliver on launch day well into the morning of pre-orders last year too. The 8 will be very popular out in the real world of non-enthusiasts.