iPhone Sales Predicted to 'Remain Feeble' Until Early Next Year

[WordMasterRice]

These prognosticators are ridiculous. First of all, even if iPhone sales don't see YoY gains, the sales numbers will still be HUGE, so it's all relative. And as Apple always points out, the only thing that really should matter is that they are making, not losing, money. The iPhone, albeit a big portion of their sales and profit, is but a piece of the puzzle.

I think that is why Apple is focusing on further building out the eco-system that keeps consumers engaged, whether they're buying a new iPhone every year or not. iPhones, iPads, rMBP's, rMB's, iMacs ATV and AW are all things that at some point you don't need to get new every year (given their high quality and useful life is more than 1 year). And with Apple Music creating yet another income stream and one I'm subscribed to, Apple is getting more money out of me [than they previously did], regardless of whether I'm buying a new iPhone each year.

You apparently don't really know much about what you are talking about. Having huge sales numbers are great for customers to jerk over but it doesn't really benefit investors at all. Apple pays pathetic dividends so most of the value comes from growth, not profit. Huge numbers that are the same as last year nets you no return on your investment. Plus stock investment is based on predicted future value, not a score card for what you have done in the past.

Apple does like to point out that making money is better, but they never actually give that money back to the owners so it's mostly lip service.

 

[Smith288]

Apple will eventually need to let go of the year to year design consistency and start adding in innovation to the hardware and software. Start expanding its capabilities that's been capable since jailbreaks were done all the way back in 2008.

Eventually, though, some of that innovation boom just levels out. But that's why apple was apple. They were able to innovate and provide something we didn't know we wanted. That seems to have gone with Jobs.

 

[12vElectronics]

You apparently don't really know much about what you are talking about. Having huge sales numbers are great for customers to jerk over but it doesn't really benefit investors at all. Apple pays pathetic dividends so most of the value comes from growth, not profit. Huge numbers that are the same as last year nets you no return on your investment. Plus stock investment is based on predicted future value, not a score card for what you have done in the past.

Apple does like to point out that making money is better, but they never actually give that money back to the owners so it's mostly lip service.

Yeah but no company can continue to boom and grow the way Apple did..

 

[Glideslope]

Does seem odd and with the sales disappointment of the 6s, you'd think this wouldn't be the year to go for a 6ss...but we'll see.

SS? With the continued slimming of devices how would they ever get a 396 in there?
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Dropping sales, plus a saturated market should be an incentive for Apple to be pushing out innovative phones, rather than different colours, and the usual "thinner, faster, slimmer" line.

You need to look closer. Hardware is no longer Job #1. Apple is rapidly moving toward a Services Based Co. Yes, it's sad. Yes, it sucks. Apple is now firmly a "follower" regarding Smart Phones.

 

[dampfnudel]

I'm starting to think that when the iPhone 7 is released the Mac Rumors Buyer's Guide entry will be updated to 'Don't Buy'.

I don't think MR wants to make Apple angry by doing that, but I can see MR using the caution warning sooner than usual, like right after Christmas or if MR is bold, a few weeks before.
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SS? With the continued slimming of devices how would they ever get a 396 in there?
[doublepost=1465833461][/doublepost]

You need to look closer. Hardware is no longer Job #1. Apple is rapidly moving toward a Services Based Co. Yes, it's sad. Yes, it sucks. Apple is now firmly a "follower" regarding Smart Phones.

Apple sees services as the key to future survival as the smartphone market has matured and Android phones dominate with Apple's "better" ecosystem losing influence over a large number of users, seen by some as being stale and losing momentum.

 

[blairh]

I am one of many who will hold onto my iPhone 6 Plus until the redesign comes in 2017.

 

[Benjamin Frost]

Dropping sales, plus a saturated market should be an incentive for Apple to be pushing out innovative phones, rather than different colours, and the usual "thinner, faster, slimmer" line.

You're right, and that's what Steve Jobs would have done, but Tim Cook is trying his best to be different to Jobs, which means doing as little as possible for as much profit as possible.

 

[I7guy]

You're right, and that's what Steve Jobs would have done, but Tim Cook is trying his best to be different to Jobs, which means doing as little as possible for as much profit as possible.

SJ is dead, unless he reached across the ether how could you know what he would have done?