Plenty of areas for massive improvement on the smartphone, particularly with regards to photography and video capture.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
KGI: Apple to Launch 6.5-Inch 'iPhone X Plus' and Lower-Priced 6.1-Inch Full-Screen LCD Model Next Year
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Plenty of areas for massive improvement on the smartphone, particularly with regards to photography and video capture.
those are not groundbreaking improvements, people are not suddenly going to line up because
the iphone has better camera and can shoot better video. the reason why the iphone x has been such a
hit is because of the edge to edge oled screen, a new form factor from the other iphones. tim cook has
been milking the iphone since he took over in 2011, and it seems he may be milking the last few drops. he has played his last two cards, which are are bigger phone(with the iphone 6 plus) and edge to edge display(with the iphone x). unless there are going to be more innovative changes to the iphone, such as a bendable/foldable one, the iphone will be like the ipad, sales will start to drop year after year, since people will be holding on to their iphones longer because there
are no new compelling, radical changes to the iphones.
the ability to take better pictures and shoot better video will not cut it. the regular consumers are not going to shell
out money for another new phone just because it has better camera and video.
Disagree. Phone sales are propped up by plans. When you buy an iPad, you have to plop down a wad of cash. When you buy a new phone, it’s only “X dollars per month”.
Also... milking it? What changed in the first four years that makes the next six milking it?
you are right about how financing helps with iphone sell such as paying only "x dollars per month."
this is the exact reason why the iphone x is selling well despite its $1,000 price tag. but the iphone x is a
completely redesigned phone, unlike any other iphone in history, for the 10th year anniversary, apple pull out all
the stops, such as oled and edge to edge display. these are the compelling features that got people to line up for the iphone x when it was released. if there are no compelling, innovative changes, people are not going to buy even if
they don't have the pay up front the full amount and can pay for it monthly.
what i mean by milking it, is that the smartphone market has reach maturity and not many more innovative changes
that will excite and wow people.
I don’t think I’d call that milking it. They’re still improving it in rather decent ways. And I don’t think we’re going to see the iPhone sales plummet. They will likely continue to be around 50m on average per quarter or more for the foreseeable future.
You don't understand just how powerful computational photography can be. Portrait mode is not even scratching the surface. If they go all-in down this route, the developments will definitely be upgrade worthy.
No. Instead of glass, LCD can be manufactured with a plastic top and back for flexible displays.
[doublepost=1510681792][/doublepost]
If you look past the echo chamber of SE owners, there aren't many who are willing to spend $1,000 on an updated SE.
Personal anecdotes are fun, but the data shows adoption rate of SE is lower than iPhone 5s. Imagine if iPhone 6s had fewer users than iPhone 6. That's what happened with iPhone SE. The SE served as a vehicle to encourage price-sensitive consumers to upgrade from older, smaller phones. That same momentum doesn't exist in 2017/2018. The shift is towards larger devices, from 4.x" to 5.x" to 6.x".
Not only are larger devices gaining momentum, they are a source of higher margins for Apple.
Why would the newer SE have more market share than the 5s, when the 5s has been out for years longer and was the flagship of its time?
I agree that the smartphone has reached maturity.. No more real room to grow innovatively short of the bending gimmick.
But I don’t agree that people buy new every year only because of new stuff.
“I” but new every year, despite repeated form, for faster. All new iPhones have halved again as much up to doubled and a half the speed of its predecessor. That’s tangible stuff. And I know I’m not alone in that assessment..
But I don’t agree that people buy new every year only because of new stuff.
“I” but new every year, despite repeated form, for faster. All new iPhones have halved again as much up to doubled and a half the speed of its predecessor. That’s tangible stuff. And I know I’m not alone in that assessment..
There’s a 6.5” ipad mini?iPad Mini-sized phone?I guess if it's what people want...I think the size of the iPhone X is just about perfect. It's much better than the 8/7 Plus, in my opinion.
The chart is mislabeled. The chart actually shows the installed base, the percentage of each of those models currently in use, compared to all iphones in use. So of the approximately 800 million iphones currently in use, there are about 40 million SEs in use, and about 50 million 5S still in use. (Many 5S’s that were sold are no longer in use.)
Market share refers to units sold over some time period. So for example, market share for iPhones for the current quarter Q1F2018 might be something like (numbers made up):
50% iPhone X
15% iPhone 8
20% iPhone 8 Plus
3% iPhone 7 Plus
3% iPhone 7
3% iPhone 6S Plus
3% iPhone 6S
3% iPhone SE
meaning half of all iPhones sold during the quarter were the X, 85% were models X/8/8 Plus combined, and only 15% of iphones sold in the quarter were models older than a year (SE/6S/7). Like I said, made up numbers, just an example.
Last edited:
Why does the iPhone 7 have more market share, when the 6s has been out for years longer?
Answer: Consumers upgrade to newer, more desirable phones. Old phones break.
The fact that SE has a smaller user base compared to 5s tells you consumers aren't attracted to the 4" form factor.
I won't say the smartphone is mature, but I do feel that much of the low hanging fruit has been plucked. You won't be able to get away with mere spec bumps, such as higher resolution displays or more ram because they won't really result in any noticeable benefit to the user experience.
Instead, I believe that more so than ever, smartphone advancements are likely going to come in the form of costly, and even more incremental improvements. Force Touch is one such example, and it requires that the hardware play well with software and that developers support their apps for it. I am sure that Apple spent no small sum developing this feature. These are all factors that few other companies can hope to match, because they will lack the R&D budget, or control over the OS, or their market share is too small to attract developer support, or some other problem which Apple won't face.
Does anyone feel the iPhone X 2018 pricing point will drop? Perhaps it can take over the iPhone 8+ pricing point as the smaller OLED model? Notice how KGI didn't predict price points for the possible X successor and new X+? Do you think the $999 price point compensated for the NAND memory shortage?
I really hope to see the LCD model include 4gb RAM, FaceID 2nd gen, and the A12 processor. But I am also hoping Apple ditches LCD entirely and makes 3 OLED offerings: 4.7", 5.8", and 6.5".
If these three models are accurately predicted, that means the 4.7" crowd will either stick with what they have, get used to a newer ergonomic form factor and screen size, or take their business elsewhere if they want a newer phone.
I really hope to see the LCD model include 4gb RAM, FaceID 2nd gen, and the A12 processor. But I am also hoping Apple ditches LCD entirely and makes 3 OLED offerings: 4.7", 5.8", and 6.5".
If these three models are accurately predicted, that means the 4.7" crowd will either stick with what they have, get used to a newer ergonomic form factor and screen size, or take their business elsewhere if they want a newer phone.
I don't think the pricing will drop. With the 6.1" model, Apple is nudging everyone to the $749 price point. The iPhone 8 currently starts at $699 so this will raise ASP. To preserve OLED for $999 and up, I would not be surprised if Apple discontinued the iPhone X (2017) instead of lowering the price.
The 4.7" crowd will likely have to suck it up and pay $999 or settle for a larger 6.1" form factor.
- <$749 | 4.7" to 5.5" LCD
- $749 | 6.1" LCD
- $999 | 5.8" OLED (2018 model)
- $1,149 | 6.5" OLED
I think they will still sell the iPhone and SE for those that want a smaller form factor. Personally I think they will drop the price a bit, but your pricing looks more realistic.
I agree. I suspect SE will will change to 4.7" this year. The 4" form factor looks increasingly out of place with this year's product stack. But it will be the 5.8" and larger models that feature the newest processor and technologies.
Considering how more aggressive 8/8+ deals are, I hope those deals continue. If I can snag a FaceID, 4gb RAM, A12 processor, Band 71 LTE LCD device w/ a trade in of the 8+ and get it free via bill credits over two years? Definitely a good idea for me.
I hope they don't discontinue the X 2017. If they can keep it and I see prices drop to like $500-$600 on sites, like Swappa, I could sell the 8+ and go to that for a bit out of pocket.
My ideal iPhone 2018 would be a 5.8" screen OLED device, 4gb RAM, A12 processor, no notch (instead they make it a bezel strip), 18.5:9 aspect ratio, improved flush dual cameras, and a beefier battery.
I think iOS 12 really determines if I want to stick with Apple long-term. I am ready for them to bring the iPad's split-screen multitasking features in iOS 12. If they do not overhaul the notification system and UI, then I think I might have to take a shot on the Pixel 3. I expect the Pixel 3 to be like the Pixel XL 2 in a smaller form factor and better specs. Hell, maybe HTC or LG can come up with 3D facial recognition to offer both FP and Facial recognition into one device.
My ideal Pixel 3 would be a minimal bezel 5.5-5.8" screen device with a QHD OLED screen, dual stereo speakers, dual rear camera module, 4-6gb RAM, latest Snapdragon processor, 18:9 aspect ratio, faster quick charging, wireless charging, water resistance. I can get a Pixel 3 by trading in the 8+ for like $400-$450 (going off the 7+ current value right now, no guarantees) and pay like $200-$300 out of pocket? Done deal for me if Apple isn't up to snuff.
Almost seems like I read Kuo’s mind on the EOL of iPhone X.
https://www.macrumors.com/2018/01/19/kgi-larger-iphones-to-offset-weak-iphone-demand/
He doesn’t provide a reason but I think it’s clear Apple wants to preserve what it sees as ultra premium features for $999 and up.
Respect for using the SJ quote.. but I think we're going to be waiting a while til the notch disappears (if even this decade).
I mean.. how would you have a 'no bezel' design and keep the front facing camera and speaker without a cut out of some kind?
Recently I was watching an HDR dynamic light range video that was not a proper 16:9 ratio and so it filled the corners of my screen. And that's when I decided that I don't like the rounded corners. But 99% of the time, the corners don't bother me.
So to answer your question, they could do something interesting with bezel design that the "forehead" has an interesting look that could blend into the top of the display without it being the main display. On another note, it seems that Samsung is going to have a notch in one of their future phones too, because Apple is doing it. I hope the backlash encourages a new design for an "edge to edge" display.
Well that's a no-brainer.. No way to eliminate the notch. Too much happening up there to eliminate it. Android phones have to contend with same thing.. They just add a uniform bezel to the top of the screen to put camera stuff.. Not true 'edge to edge' there either.. There are always trade offs.