Kuo: Reports of iPhone 8 Sales Woes 'Overdone' and 'Excessively Negative'

[brianvictor7]

Iphone 8, Underwhelming & Overpriced.
Like the NFL, the iPhone is out-pricing its base.

Why? The 8+ sells for only $40 more than the 32GB iPhone 5S I bought 4 years ago and used until last week ($70 more if you count AppleCare because of the price bump...someone will have to adjust for inflation for me). The iPhone 8 (and 8+) is only underwhelming if you compare it to the 7/7+, but really only a technophile with money to burn should feel the need to upgrade EVERY year.

 

[AppleFan360]

I’m enjoying the heck out my 8 while I wait for the X! Spoiling myself.

Me too! I plan to pre-order the iPhone X then sell off my iPhone 8+. Enjoying the heck out of this thing. Love the wireless charging!

 

[jlseattle]

I got the iPhone 8 and love it. I had budget for the x but don’t want to wait. I love everything about the 8. It’s a great device (haha was going to say phone but for me that’s about 5% of what I use it for).

 

[RickInHouston]

I love the song Spin, Spin Sugar by the Sneaker Pimps.

Anyone else?

 

[AppleFan360]

Damnit, you’re giving me ideas, I almost pulled the trigger on the 8+ even though I’ll be pre-ordering the X, now my wallet is feeling itchy!!!

Just do it. The 8+ is a great phone and will keep you satisfied until your iPhone X arrives.

 

[WatchFromAfar]

The average consumer doesn’t give a crap about bezels. This is just an obasession in the tech world because tech writers get easily bored and smartphones are a mature product now with not a lot of radical change.

I agree whole-heartedly with this but would go one step further. The average consumer doesn’t give a crap about upgrading. If their phone works they're fine. They may look at an iPhone 8 or X and make a mental note of it but until their phone gives up the ghost they're happy. Apple knows this, why do you think they introduced the upgrade program? To be nice to their customers?

 

[RagingBrosGaming]

Even single person I know bought an 8 Plus or an 8. We all have the same opinion when it comes to the X. No home button...then no purchase. I can’t buy something that has virtually the same specs just because it looks cool and because I need to look like a bada$$. I’m good with my 8 Plus.

 

[pcorrado]

No doubt the sales of 8/8+ are lower this year. You have to expect that a significant portion of the market (my guess is less than 50% cited) is waiting on the third model to launch.

But still, you can’t look at this launch in isolation of the x. It the overall launch (8&X) that will need to be looked at to determine whether this generation was a success.

You also can’t discount the effect that limiting models has had on the ability to produce these phones. Apple went from 12-14 models to only 6 for the 8/8+. That’s huge in terms of ensuring you can meet demand since consumers have less choices you can have better control over meeting demand for each model.

After thinking about since the keynote, app laying with the 8+, and walking around with a X case and near exact size cut out - I finally pulled the trigger on the 8+ on Monday (I determine the different in screen width and potentially battery was something I was not willing to live with) and the store was busy and they were moving iPhones. All plus models from what I could see and at least 30 folks at the time. My point is - yes lines are short and models are freely available but it may be ore than just a demand issue.

It’s also an “s” model year and last year there were crazy free phone and bogondeals that obligated folks to a full installement term. So - less people may be able to upgrade this even if they wanted to.

The final point to keep in mind is that there have always been conspiracies that Apple purposely withheld supply for hype. Maybe that’s at least partially true and this year they couldn’t afford to do it with the split launch. Who knows.

At this point, Apple has sold enough new iPhones to have a good idea as to how many they need to make. They should have no issues producing phones in the right quantity year after year without intentionally doing so or some serious manufacturing concerns.

 

[Lepton]

On some iPhone releases they allowed preorders, on others they did not. There were big lines on the no-preorder years, much smaller ones on preorder years. Duh! When preorder is available, people use it. If you travel and wait on line for a phone you still may not get one, but on preorder you will definitely get one - first day if fast and lucky, afterwards if not, but you will get a phone delivered to your door for sure, probably faster than your local store could restock.

 

[belvdr]

compound that with the fact that apple is selling the iPhone 7 for significantly less then the 8. If people decide to pass on the X, then they're looking at the 8 and I think some folks are moving on to the 7 instead given the price.

Bingo! If my 6s fails for whatever reason, I'll be looking at another 6s or 7, based solely on price, as the feature set for my use is identical across all the models.

 

[pcorrado]

I'm not.

I actually think there are a lot of people waiting for the x who have no idea what it really is, what it’s cost truly is and that it will not be the same experience as the Plus. For many users it may be the phone they are waiting for but for many - it may be a bit of a downgrade.

 

[aevan]

The iPhone hype is over. Steve Jobs's magic is gone. Sad times.

iPhones are better than ever, they are selling better than ever, they are hyped, leaked and talked about more than ever and Steve Jobs gets mentioned far too often.

 

[pcorrado]

No doubt the sales of 8/8+ are lower this year. You have to expect that a significant portion of the market (my guess is less than 50% cited) is waiting on the third model to launch.

But still, you can’t look at this launch in isolation of the x. It the overall launch (8&X) that will need to be looked at to determine whether this generation was a success.

You also can’t discount the effect that limiting models has had on the ability to produce these phones. Apple went from 12-14 models to only 6 for the 8/8+. That’s huge in terms of ensuring you can meet demand since consumers have less choices you can have better control over meeting demand for each model.

After thinking about since the keynote, app laying with the 8+, and walking around with a X case and near exact size cut out - I finally pulled the trigger on the 8+ on Monday (I determine the different in screen width and potentially battery was something I was not willing to live with) and the store was busy and they were moving iPhones. All plus models from what I could see and at least 30 folks at the time. My point is - yes lines are short and models are freely available but it may be ore than just a demand issue.

It’s also an “s” model year and last year there were crazy free phone and bogondeals that obligated folks to a full installement term. So - less people may be able to upgrade this even if they wanted to.

The final point to keep in mind is that there have always been conspiracies that Apple purposely withheld supply for hype. Maybe that’s at least partially true and this year they couldn’t afford to do it with the split launch. Who knows.

At this point, Apple has sold enough new iPhones to have a good idea as to how many they need to make. They should have no issues producing phones in the right quantity year after year without intentionally doing so or some serious manufacturing concerns.

I also wanted to mention that while at the Apple store on Monday I heard at least 5 people come in and ask to see/purchase the X (always pronounced as the letter and not the number). People do not know what is going on this launch cycle.

 

[Adelphos33]

Ultimately this is a transition year for Apple as the company is moving towards a "multi flagship" model with several older models still available. People are now one, two and maybe three year upgrade cycles. iPhone 7 was a big cycle for many, induced by deals. X will be great, but won't really be in healthy supply until next year.

 

[_Refurbished_]

People with the 6S and 7 were on the fence suspecting the 8 is just a rehash of the same thing then YouTube community confirmed they were right.

Same performance

Same camera with same slow autofocus, shaky OIS/EIS, overly yellow skin tone, over-saturated sky, mediocre low light, mono sound, etc.

I stopped watching during the first video when the guy didn’t even know what phones he was comparing.

 

[mmm1345]

Sadly I'll probably buy the X because I just can't help it. When I do purchase something, I always buy the best version otherwise I always end up regretting my decision and start thinking "I wish i just paid the extra $200 to get the 'best' version.."

 

[LordQ]

The iPhone 8 joins the 5C as the iPhones that shouldn't have been.

 

[Phil in ocala]

Don't you say.

_____________________________________________________
WALL STREET has hated apple and their "experts" trashed Apple last week about issues on the new phones so the stock dropped like a rock....they still think its a "windows world"....is Windows phone still sold and why did these same "experts" not declare the end of Microsoft when their phone failed??????????????????????????????

 

[Pilgrim1099]

Damnit, you’re giving me ideas, I almost pulled the trigger on the 8+ even though I’ll be pre-ordering the X, now my wallet is feeling itchy!!!

You must be feeling so smart blowing off $1,000 plus apple tax, applecare, and such. . . just for Face ID. Good luck paying it off within 24 months with your carrier plan.

By the way, I wouldn't be surprised if carriers start seeing this pattern from buyers like you going from 8 to X in short time. They'll start cracking down on it and make people buy the 8 and stick with it, if the X supply shortage becomes prolonged.

[doublepost=1506517663][/doublepost]

iPhones are better than ever, they are selling better than ever, they are hyped, leaked and talked about more than ever and Steve Jobs gets mentioned far too often.

I don't think you're seeing the big picture. Steve Jobs said in his biography that Cook is not a 'products guy'. He's right.

Now I want you to picture, in your head, Jeff Williams as CEO when Cook goes out the window.

Not frightened? You should be. The Apple 'magic' already died when Cook dropped the ball 5 years ago.

iPhones are not necessarily better than ever. Word is going around that the back glass of the iPhone 8 shatters and cracks easily. How's that better if they claimed it's the strongest glass they ever put in? I'm sure they did the same to the iPhone X. And people can't use wireless charging now because the Apple charging pod is not even out yet. It's slower than the rivals seen here:

https://www.computerworld.com/artic...takes-the-slow-road-to-wireless-charging.html

So chances are great people will have to buy a 3rd party charging pad for iPhone 8 or X (if they're able to get one due to supply shortages).

 

[I7guy]

People with the 6S and 7 were on the fence suspecting the 8 is just a rehash of the same thing then YouTube community confirmed they were right.

Same performance

Same camera with same slow autofocus, shaky OIS/EIS, overly yellow skin tone, over-saturated sky, mediocre low light, mono sound, etc

Doesn’t seem like the iPhone 8 buyers take any stock in these YouTube videos which are just clickbait. Additionally you’ve just described how the galaxy line of camera capture images by image shifting, blowing out highlights, inaccurate color capture etc. it’s all right there in the video you posted where in many scenes the iPhone 8 looks more natural.

 

[Syk]

Me too! I plan to pre-order the iPhone X then sell off my iPhone 8+. Enjoying the heck out of this thing. Love the wireless charging!

How big of a hit are you willing to take to try and sell off the 8+?
When you look at the price of a 7+ and vs buying an 8+ from a store. I'd say the used market this early isn't going to yield good results

 

[AppleFan360]

How big of a hit are you willing to take to try and sell off the 8+?
When you look at the price of a 7+ and vs buying an 8+ from a store. I'd say the used market this early isn't going to yield good results

That's always a concern but not worried about it. The hit I take will basically be a "rental fee" for the 8+. I don't plan on making money.

 

[Amazing Iceman]

I tried to order an 8 Plus for a client yesterday, and there are none available for pickup. Apple Online Store has it with a 2-week delivery.
T-Mobile Stores are out, only offering them for delivery.

I was thinking Apple was going to pull an "Osborne Effect" by launching the iPhone 8 and at the same time announcing the iPhone X. Unless Apple gets stuck with excessive iPhone 8 stock, there's nothing to worry about. Still iPhones are selling, and that's what should really matter to investors. Anything else is just hype or fear.

 

[aevan]

iPhones are not necessarily better than ever. Word is going around that the back glass of the iPhone 8 shatters and cracks easily.

Word is that iPhone 4 antenna doesn't work when you hold it wrong. Also, back glasse shatters and cracks easily.

Every new Apple product there are people who claim that Apple is doomed. They claimed the same thing when Steve was alive, they claim the same thing now. In 10 years, iPhone XVIII S Plus will be awesome. Word will be going around that the holographic screen doesn't work well in rain. Some people will say Android already did the whole holo-screen thing, even though no one used it, because it was crap and din't work half the time. People will claim that it's going down hill since Steve.

Same old story.

 

[Syk]

Sadly I'll probably buy the X because I just can't help it. When I do purchase something, I always buy the best version otherwise I always end up regretting my decision and start thinking "I wish i just paid the extra $200 to get the 'best' version.."

I think a lot of people are going to be that way who are iPhone users especially here in the states when you can pay for it on your bill interest free and trade in next year to the newer model. It's no longer a $1000 phone but a $20 more a month phone.