iPhone Drops to 15% Market Share as Smartphone Market Goes Flat

[trifid]

I guess you missed my "I'm not saying the S7 does not have a better sensor" up above?

Since you didn't respond to my post about the highlights being crushed in the S7 coffee photo I assume looking at photos critically is not important to you.

You are boasting left and right how your photography credentials make you an expert, I don't think you care or respect what I have to say about it personally, even if you don't know me, why should I bother? I linked to reputable sources showing S7's low light performance as superior, The Verge, Arstechnica, Wallstreet Journal and you keep trying to come up with excuses.

Let me ask you something, after all of this, your personal opinion in overall low-light performance: is S7 or iPhone 6s superior in low-light?

 

[I7guy]

You are boasting left and right how your photography credentials make you an expert, I don't think you care or respect what I have to say about it personally, even if you don't know me, why should I bother? I linked to reputable sources showing S7's low light performance as superior, The Verge, Arstechnica, Wallstreet Journal and you keep trying to come up with excuses.

Let me ask you something, after all of this, your personal opinion in overall low-light performance: is S7 or iPhone 6s superior in low-light?

I look at photos the same way; maybe the s7 does have better low light, but crushed highlights and shifted white balance are two things the 6s has better under control, imo.

 

[citysnaps]

You are boasting left and right how your photography credentials make you an expert, I don't think you care or respect what I have to say about it personally, even if you don't know me, why should I bother? I linked to reputable sources showing S7's low light performance as superior, The Verge, Arstechnica, Wallstreet Journal and you keep trying to come up with excuses.

Let me ask you something, after all of this, your personal opinion in overall low-light performance: is S7 or iPhone 6s superior in low-light?

Got it. You're apparently not fussy about crushed highlights.

I'm hardly an expert, but I am passionate about my photography and photos. The S7 does appear to have better low-light capability. But that is hardly the end-all-be-all to what makes a good and balanced camera. They appear to get that low light capability at the expense of crushed highlights and color shift/inacuracy. To me that's critical, and usually more important to me when making photographs. I would much rather use that faster lens in the S7 to have not quite as good low light performance without the need to clip highlights as a consequence.

Low-light performance is a spec that's often touted the same way as CPU clock speed is as a form of bragging rights. It's just one metric and does not tell the whole story about a camera.

I have a small number of non-phone cameras with decent low light capability. There are models that have much better low light capability with super high ISO numbers. But that doesn't make them better cameras, because most of the time I'm not shooting in closets.

 

[admob71]

Got it. You're apparently not fussy about crushed highlights.

I'm hardly an expert, but I am passionate about my photography and photos. The S7 does appear to have better low-light capability. But that is hardly the end-all-be-all to what makes a good and balanced camera. They appear to get that low light capability at the expense of crushed highlights and color shift/inacuracy. To me that's critical, and usually more important to me when making photographs. I would much rather use that faster lens in the S7 to have not quite as good low light performance without the need to clip highlights as a consequence.

Low-light performance is a spec that's often touted the same way as CPU clock speed is as a form of bragging rights. It's just one metric and does not tell the whole story about a camera.

I have a small number of non-phone cameras with decent low light capability. There are models that have much better low light capability with super high ISO numbers. But that doesn't make them better cameras, because most of the time I'm not shooting in closets.

So what you are saying is that all the professional reviewers and camera experts that state the s7 is the best phone camera ever made are basically wrong. And your rationale behind this, it's not an iPhone so it can never be the best. Oh dear......

 

[trifid]

Got it. You're apparently not fussy about crushed highlights.

I'm hardly an expert, but I am passionate about my photography and photos. The S7 does appear to have better low-light capability. But that is hardly the end-all-be-all to what makes a good and balanced camera. They appear to get that low light capability at the expense of crushed highlights and color shift/inacuracy. To me that's critical, and usually more important to me when making photographs. I would much rather use that faster lens in the S7 to have not quite as good low light performance without the need to clip highlights as a consequence.

Low-light performance is a spec that's often touted the same way as CPU clock speed is as a form of bragging rights. It's just one metric and does not tell the whole story about a camera.

I have a small number of non-phone cameras with decent low light capability. There are models that have much better low light capability with super high ISO numbers. But that doesn't make them better cameras, because most of the time I'm not shooting in closets.

I don't agree about "crushed highlights", no review seems to agree with you either, there is no mention of any issues with exposure or highlights. You are entitled to your own opinion though.

The low-light performance in S7 is unquestionably superior, and it's not just a spec like the CPU, it has tangible noticeable effect in photos that people take, especially indoors which is a common setting. Most casual users would benefit immensely from this.

 

[tooltalk]

I don't think you're aware of how rich Apple actually is. Even IF Apple doesn't sell any iPhone from now on it will takes decades before Apple is flat broke and only when Apple doesn't sell any product from now on. And that's even an understatement.

There is no reason why Apple couldn't make another hit. I think the iPhone 8 would be interesting....
And doomed? Less profit still means profit.... ;-)

Motorola also had billions in cash when they got bought out by Google.

Sure, most companies are 1-hit or 2-hit wonders.. Some manage their fortune better than others.

 

[Eorlas]

Wonder if they're starting to think, you know, maybe our new iPhone this year needs to be a bit less... boring.

I agree. Every year at WWDC the first part of the keynote mentioned after the phone is unveiled is how much thinner it is. And I don't remember the name of the guy, but the person who does that segment of the keynote always says whatever is on the slide. Has no one thought to say "hey, could you tell them something they can't already read for themselves?"

But when we're starting off our keynote on a new device and the most important thing we have to say is about how much thinner it has become for a device that's already thinner than half of a wallet, I'm just like "is this what you consider groundbreaking?"

Android phones have had AMOLED screens, QHD res, and 2+ gb of RAM for a while, then we get 1080p screen 2 years ago and that was "monumental" for Apple products. I was more like "finally."

It's unfortunate that the iPhone was such a massive change to the cellular device industry and made smartphones insanely popular, but now the devices that essentially mimic iPhones are having the better features. Seriously, you pay around the same price for an iPhone as a galaxy s7 or edge, yet performance wise you have that gorgeous screen with great res and lots more RAM. Why are we letting Apple get away with that?

They make products we love and enjoy, they just slack more and more with it.

 

[T Coma]

It's $5,100. Gotta love the US education system.

"
coolfactor
macrumors 68020
Jul 29, 2002
Vancouver, BC CANADA"

Math and research skills. Gotta love both of 'em.

 

[eldo33]

51.2 millions phone in 3 months and still complaining? it's almost 10th years anniversary of iphone so they better come with something good. considering their goal was 10 millions a year (see iphone 1 keynote) at the start of smart phone, this is nothing.

when they sale less than 10M in a year, then u can complain. Smart phone has reach its max unless there is a drastic change to the consumer otherwise, everything is good as it gets.

 

[AliMacs]

You guys have no clue about the S7/Edge camera performance and functionality.

Here's a small list for ya:

* Pro mode enabling control of shutter, ISO, WB, exposure, custom settings profiles up to 3
* hyperlapse
* selective focusing
* virtual shot
* panoramas including motion
* video collage
* dual camera modes
* live broadcast
* rear-cam selfie modes
* beauty modes to enhance eyes, facial size, skin tones, (gimmicky but huge in Korea)

these are the list of things no iPhone on this planet has right out of the box.

You also have a front camera with QHD recording, UHD/4K rear video recording with OIS. You get full sensor PDAF that is faster than some DSLRs. You get wide angle front camera selfie mode. You get AF tracking options in video mode. You get auto shutter release by voice control. You get RAW file support. You get microSD expansion support. Full time HDR mode that's ultra fast. Camera startup and photo snapping is so fast you can't even compare that to any iPhone period. You also have burst mode that's even faster than the iPhone 6S/Plus models.

Overall the camera in low light is fantastic and it all comes down to how you want to control your own smartphone camera and there is NO IPHONE ON THIS PLANET that comes close to these options that are available on the S7/Edge phones.

The iPhone is great for one thing which is simple point and shoot that my mom and grandma can use easily. They don't know how to discern shutter speeds and WB values so to them they just click on the button and a picture is captured. They don't know if it's blurry or looks good in low light. This is why the iPhone is so popular because people who don't understand anything about photography loves it. It's so basic you don't get any options like that on any Samsung device.

Argue all you want but the iPhone is tailored for people who just want to capture a picture regardless of how good the lighting is and I can respect that but for people who want more the iPhone has so little value vs any Samsung S7/Edge devices.

 

[AppleScruff1]

This hysterical overreaction to Apple failing to beat a previous YoY blockbuster quarter of growth is insane.

Apple is fine:

- They still make the very best products in every category they have entered.
- They still have same obsessive attention to detail that we all love.
- Nobody does more product innovation than Apple.
- Nobody cares more about design and usability than Apple.
- They still have the best customer care in the industry.
- They still make all the profit.

People need to calm down.

As for the demands for Apple to make a bigger commitment to the Mac, I'm sorry but that is a dying business. Yesterday's numbers show the Mac is now in decline like rest of the PC industry. Apple will continue selling Macs, but they are not going to waste a large number of precious resources on a business that has no longterm future.

Hi Tim! How have you been? The pressure must be unbearable.

 

[uid15]

Apple's got its pricing all wrong. I would have entered the Apple ecosystem ten years earlier than I did. I simply couldn't afford to buy an Apple product earlier. Apple's retail prices are terribly overpriced, and in contrast, Apple's offshore workforce are terribly underpaid. How about some middle ground, Apple? Price lower and go for volume. Do we need to get to Huawei market share level before price changes are made?

No new iPhone in 4 inch at 6/6s launch - mistake.
Retail pricing too high - mistake.

Selling a precision product too low in price creates an image of a product not being made properly and/or being up to the job.

---> To the thread ---> : Stop parroting this "Apple is doomed" FUD like a bunch of mindless lemmings - you're reading what you hear on news sites, and passing it on without any questioning or critical thought, and guess what - JOURNALISM IS FUELLED BY SENSATIONALISM. you may like to edit your comments to say "At the moment, one could perceive these trends as indicative that Apple is on the decline in success" - that would sound slightly less idiotic.

 

[notjustjay]

I would settle for Apple allowing you to export from the iPhone TO and SD card to offload media in the field, especially 4K video and 12mp photos that will take a lot of time to transfer to iCloud, even if it were available.

Absolutely don't disagree with you but you can always just use the USB (Lightning) port to take photos and videos off the phone.

 

[Mac 128]

Absolutely don't disagree with you but you can always just use the USB (Lightning) port to take photos and videos off the phone.

How? AFAIK, iOS only imports photos, it doesn't provide a method to export photos via Lightning/USB adapter ... not to a flash drive or SD Card at any rate.

 

[wozmatic]

2 words: Too Expensive

maybe drop the price and I'll upgrade.

$769.00 CAD for an iPhone 6?!?!!! and that's just a 6 with only 16GB..

The 6S is $899.99 for 16GB (which is hardly any space, 16GB is a slap in the face)

64GB is $1029.00 Like dude... that's the price of a laptop

NEVER GONNA BUY THAT

No wonder Apple's sales are slumping, stop gauging your customers, they're leaving you

 

[69650]

Never heard of Oppo and Vivo. They sound like the missing Marx Brothers.
[doublepost=1461806737][/doublepost]

Apple is doomed not because the smartphone market goes flat, but because Apple made;

- 16GB base model in 2016.... Customers want 32GB base model.
- Thinner, thinner, thinner, thinner.... Customers want thicker and bigger battery.
- Bigger screen phone is better phone ?... (iPhone 6S plus > iPhone 6S). Since Samsung S7 has bigger screen than iPhone 6S, then does it mean S7 is better phone than iPhone 6S?
- Too many models... Welcome back to 1996.

Apple will be doomed more if iPhone 7 doesn't have;

- 32GB base model.
- Thicker than iPhone 6S.
- Bigger battery than iPhone 6S.
- iPhone 7 plus should be the same price with iPhone 7. (i.e., iPhone7+ 32GB model for $649).
- Better camera than other competitors'.

I think Apple have got their sizes wrong. I would go with:
4" ultra slim, light and portable model
5" standard model suitable for most people
6" pro model suitable for people who want a PDA rather than a mobile
All with an edge to edge glass screen, virtual home button, no protruding camera and a completely new range of colours.

 

[Flight Plan]

I don't know if anybody has mentioned this, but I am holding off on upgrading to any new iPhone because Siri is so useless. It's all Siri's fault right now. Until she starts doing a better job, this may be my last iPhone. Right now, I use the Google app on my iPhone 6+ for anything important and I've even stopped giving Siri "flirst shot" at any problem.

So right now, I'm pretty much waiting for a good and secure fingerprint solution and a secure Android alternative to Applepay.

 

[trifid]

I don't know if anybody has mentioned this, but I am holding off on upgrading to any new iPhone because Siri is so useless. It's all Siri's fault right now. Until she starts doing a better job, this may be my last iPhone. Right now, I use the Google app on my iPhone 6+ for anything important and I've even stopped giving Siri "flirst shot" at any problem.

So right now, I'm pretty much waiting for a good and secure fingerprint solution and a secure Android alternative to Applepay.

Agreed, Siri is a complete joke compared to Google Now.

 

[DevNull0]

So right now, I'm pretty much waiting for a good and secure fingerprint solution and a secure Android alternative to Applepay.

I don't use and am not interested in a phone payment system, but from what I hear, Android Pay is already better than Applepay.

 

[Phoenixx]

I don't think you're aware of how rich Apple actually is. Even IF Apple doesn't sell any iPhone from now on it will takes decades before Apple is flat broke and only when Apple doesn't sell any product from now on. And that's even an understatement.

Don't forget that Enron was "rich" too, and we all know how that ended. At the moment, the behaviour of Apple is in direct contradiction to their stated economic status. Something isn't right here.

 

[notjustjay]

How? AFAIK, iOS only imports photos, it doesn't provide a method to export photos via Lightning/USB adapter ... not to a flash drive or SD Card at any rate.

Not to a flash drive, no. But I routinely plug my iPhone into my MacBook Pro and fire up the Image Capture app, where I can choose to import (and then delete, if I want) whatever photos or videos I want.

 

[maxsix]

Apple's iPhones are expensive, true, but iPhone's also comes together with iOS and that's also worth something, especially when you, like me, work within an Apple ecosystem.
I stick to Apple as long iPhones delivers, and so far I haven't any issues.

This example you've given is no longer exclusive to Apple. My iPhone 6S Plus delivers the experience you've outlined above.

The problem Apple has is that concurrently I also use a Nexus 6P that delivers... along with Google Play Store... An even Faster, Better, Smoother, experience than iPhone does.

That's the reality. The immense progress Android and the handset makers have made is nothing short of remarkable. Google has done such a great job that I have designated my Nexus 6P as my primary smartphone of choice.

 

[LovingTeddy]

Selling a precision product too low in price creates an image of a product not being made properly and/or being up to the job.

I guess 399 iPhone SE "creates image of a product not being made properly and/or being up to the job."

Certainly $499 Nexus 6P does not "create image of a product not being made properly and/or being up to the job". Nexus 6P is a beautiful phone and certainly being up to the job.

It is not selling precision product too low in price creates an image of product not being made properly and/or being up to the job. It is your perception.

I don't know what Apple think when they charge 579 for SE in Canada. I know well it is exchange rate suck, but 579 is too much for Canadian to eat. 64GB iPhone SE will run you 800 dollar after tax. With price like this, no wonder iPhone's sale is declining. While competitors products are quickly catching up in terms of specification, design, quality but also significantly cheaper. Apple need rethink its pricing scheme now.

 

[Hieveryone]

Everyone has an opinion but the problem here is pricing.

 

[Sedulous]

Hard to compete on price (not that there is any excuse for the pathetic storage options/price points... 16GB on device is a joke and only 5GB iCloud shared across all your devices?!?) when competitors do not spend anything on R&D. Still, nothing is as seamless as the Apple ecosystem and many are willing to pay that premium. Please Apple, listen to customers. Tighten up model lines, specs on memory and battery life... no need to make iPhone or computers thinner.