Ming-Chi Kuo Says iPhone XR Demand Has Been Lower Than Expected, Slashes Shipment Estimates

[Baymowe335]

I use to be a real Apple fanboy, but the last Apple product that I bought was the Iphone 6. For me personally this is where Apple deviated away from the magic Apple was known for. After a year of having the Iphone 6, my phone would randomly shutdown or jump from 40% battery life to around 2% in a space of a few seconds. I searched the forums and found many other people had the same problem - but the thing is Apple ignored this issue at the time and there was no replacement programme during the first 2 years or so of the Iphone 6 prime days. Eventually I had to replace the phone and got a Samsung instead and I have been happy since. Since then Apple released a battery replacement programme way too late and was of no use to people who had to buy a new phone.

In the last few years, Apple have made a catalogue of baffling decisions that damages Apple's image of being a high quality premium brand, to name a few:

1) Cheap charger and base model only 64gb for an iphone costing over a grand.
2) Macbook keyboards need replacing constantly
3) overheating macbooks pros costing over 3 grand.
4) 20% Price bump across the board for all products with nothing extra.
5) Multiple product lines and awful naming - Iphone xs max comes to mind.
6) In some cases the previous generation of Iphones being superior to the more expensive current generation of Iphones (Iphone XR).

1) The provided charger works perfectly for daily overnight charging. Most people charge their phones at night.
2) Complete overstatement. Not even all MacBooks are impacted, let alone all of them needing to be replaced “constantly” as you said.
3) This issue was fixed with software a long time ago.
4) A12, FaceID, giving the best silicon and facial recognition on the market costs money. Among the best cameras, screens, and premium materials do too. The best software and security don’t come cheap. 216M people saw the value in 2018.
5) Naming? Who cares...subjective.
6) Again, your opinion and objectively not true in many cases. Cameras, silicon are objectively better.

Basically, you’re just complaining about price. Flagship Samsungs cost the same and if you want cheap, buy some Android junk.

My Samsung Note had the exact same battery problem and shut down repeatedly. There was no battery replacement program or support. You should have taken your phone in for support, because Apple would have taken care of it.

 

[smulji]

But it’s not any smartphone, it’s just the XS. The XS I feel immediate eye strain, I don’t get that with any other smartphone - other iPhones, other OLED phones, it’s just the XS.

No worries mate. I was just being sarcastic

 

[AustinIllini]

That clearly isn't true, but if it is your opinion, you should stick with it.

By that yardstick though, to pick an example, what does the Note 9 at $999 have over the note 8. And the note 8 has over the note 7. (ignoring the battery debacle?)

The Note 9's inflated price doesn't somehow justify the iPhone XS's inflated price.

Both companies' price gouging practices are awful.

 

[I7guy]

The Note 9's inflated price doesn't somehow justify the iPhone XS's inflated price.

Both companies' price gouging practices are awful.

The Xs price is the same the X and we know how that sold. I got it that in your opinion, the Xs is overpriced. But the price is the price. If it's a flop due to the price, apple will have to make a correction.

 

[Gilligan's last elephant]

1) The provided charger works perfectly for daily overnight charging. Most people charge their phones at night.

Why not just provide a fast charger as standard as Android phone makers do?
[doublepost=1544995250][/doublepost]

Basically, you’re just complaining about price. Flagship Samsungs cost the same and if you want cheap, buy some Android junk.

Flagship Samsung phones certainly do not cost the same in the UK and EU.

A $999 Apple phone costs £999 in UK.
Certainly not true with Samsung who apply correct exchange rates. And who pays list price for a Samsung phone anyway?

 

[iQuit]

I hope Apple becomes strictly a software company.

 

[AustinIllini]

I hope Apple becomes strictly a software company.

They literally have no reason to do that. Their hardware and OS are the best parts of their products. Their applications are all second rate at best. Their services are arguably worse.

 

[Gilligan's last elephant]

They literally have no reason to do that. Their hardware and OS are the best parts of their products. Their applications are all second rate at best. Their services are arguably worse.

OS is software

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

The Xs price is the same the X and we know how that sold. I got it that in your opinion, the Xs is overpriced. But the price is the price. If it's a flop due to the price, apple will have to make a correction.

The X was a global success for Apple in that they claim it was the best sold iPhone overall for 12 months. However in some of Apples markets it was a flop compared to the other models they offer and I think this is why we have such a mixed opinion on this. It’s wasn’t obviously popular like we saw with the iPhone 6 for instance. Everybody and their dog had one and it was very difficult to mix in a public space without seeing one. The X was a rarity in many places and is not as universally loved.

I’d say it’s the first iPhone I know of where the reaction was mixed, even among tech fans and not everybody had the lust to own it. Yeah it sold well for Apple and was the most popular for them out of 8 iPhones on sale, but these days they sell so many variants that best selling is much more watered down than it used to be.

 

[Seanthesheep]

1) The provided charger works perfectly for daily overnight charging. Most people charge their phones at night.
2) Complete overstatement. Not even all MacBooks are impacted, let alone all of them needing to be replaced “constantly” as you said.
3) This issue was fixed with software a long time ago.
4) A12, FaceID, giving the best silicon and facial recognition on the market costs money. Among the best cameras, screens, and premium materials do too. The best software and security don’t come cheap. 216M people saw the value in 2018.
5) Naming? Who cares...subjective.
6) Again, your opinion and objectively not true in many cases. Cameras, silicon are objectively better.

Basically, you’re just complaining about price. Flagship Samsungs cost the same and if you want cheap, buy some Android junk.

My Samsung Note had the exact same battery problem and shut down repeatedly. There was no battery replacement program or support. You should have taken your phone in for support, because Apple would have taken care of it.

I’m not really surprised that someone with a signature of “keep it up Tim” is not going to support any Apple critical feedback I have. I wouldn’t say I’m complaining about the price as you have suggested, given that I was a student back when I signed up to these forums in 2011 and happily paid the Apple premium price tag in my student days, compared to now when I’m in a well paid job and can more than afford the Apple price tag.

 

[AustinIllini]

OS is software

The Apple apps and services are so bad, the fact that they are forced as your defaults ruin iOS.

Apple just isn't a very good software company. Even MacOS and iOS are bogged down by a bunch of poor functioning Apple apps. I like my MBP, but I realize the Hardware/Software integration makes it great and that can't be achieved without the hardware.

 

[I7guy]

The Apple apps and services are so bad, the fact that they are forced as your defaults ruin iOS.

Apple just isn't a very good software company. Even MacOS and iOS are bogged down by a bunch of poor functioning Apple apps. I like my MBP, but I realize the Hardware/Software integration makes it great and that can't be achieved without the hardware.

I like the apps and services on my iPhone. But ymmv.

 

[AustinIllini]

I like the apps and services on my iPhone. But ymmv.

Services like Siri? Email? Trash. Apple squandered a lead. They have an OS platform which is great because it is designed to work with specific, limited pieces of hardware. They have a messaging background people are afraid to leave. You settle for apps and services on iPhone. Most devices allow you to choose a better equivalent for all of them.

Apple would be a fairly below average software company if iOS and MacOS were software packages and Apple's subpar suite of products were their focus.

Look at Apple. They are a hardware company

 

[0388631]

It's almost as if people unglued their heads from their bums and realized that not just Apple, but all major phonemakers are charging out the wazoo for phones that aren't all that better than the model from the year prior.

 

[Phone Junky]

I’m not really surprised that someone with a signature of “keep it up Tim” is not going to support any Apple critical feedback I have. I wouldn’t say I’m complaining about the price as you have suggested, given that I was a student back when I signed up to these forums in 2011 and happily paid the Apple premium price tag in my student days, compared to now when I’m in a well paid job and can more than afford the Apple price tag.

When you're looking at things from the perspective of the consumer, and the person you're referring to is an admitted stockholder that touts ASPs, service growth, revenue numbers, eps, it's obvious that you're not going to see eye to eye.

You want a great product at a great price. He loves Apple for how much money they're going to make him.

As long as the stock keeps going up, Apple can do no wrong.

Funny how the number of iPhones sold was a talking point in keynotes in the past when they could brag about huge increases. But now that they aren't increasing every year, "we're not going to talk about that".

 

[I7guy]

Services like Siri? Email? Trash. Apple squandered a lead. They have an OS platform which is great because it is designed to work with specific, limited pieces of hardware. They have a messaging background people are afraid to leave. You settle for apps and services on iPhone. Most devices allow you to choose a better equivalent for all of them.

Apple would be a fairly below average software company if iOS and MacOS were software packages and Apple's subpar suite of products were their focus.

Look at Apple. They are a hardware company

Siri works fine for my needs. I don’t use apple email. What I settled for works perfectly for my requirements.

If not it would be android and google.
[doublepost=1544999338][/doublepost]

When you're looking at things from the perspective of the consumer, and the person you're referring to is an admitted stockholder that touts ASPs, service growth, revenue numbers, eps, it's obvious that you're not going to see eye to eye.

You want a great product at a great price. He loves Apple for how much money they're going to make him.

As long as the stock keeps going up, Apple can do no wrong.

Funny how the number of iPhones sold was a talking point in keynotes in the past when they could brag about huge increases. But now that they aren't increasing every year, "we're not going to talk about that".

With hundreds of millions of customers no one persons opinion is more valid than anothers.

 

[x-evil-x]

Until the feds legalize amd decriminize marijuana all us in the legal business in legal states have to use cash. We can't just drop money in the bank.
C.R.E.A.M
Cash Rules Everything Around Me
Wu-tang Clan. Ahaha

Pay with bitcoin

 

[Gilligan's last elephant]

Who cares what Mixpanel says? Apple told us the Xr was the most popular iPhone in the lineup and they can’t lie...the end.

.

If Apple said the Xr was the "most popular", what does that actually mean? If they meant best selling, why not just say that? Without a qualification, "most popular" could mean several things. Which is probably why they said that.

 

[Baymowe335]

Services like Siri? Email? Trash. Apple squandered a lead. They have an OS platform which is great because it is designed to work with specific, limited pieces of hardware. They have a messaging background people are afraid to leave. You settle for apps and services on iPhone. Most devices allow you to choose a better equivalent for all of them.

Apple would be a fairly below average software company if iOS and MacOS were software packages and Apple's subpar suite of products were their focus.

Look at Apple. They are a hardware company

Yet the main reasons Apple lead in premium smartphones are software, services, security and support. And the whole ecosystem. Not just a hardware company.

They also have the best mobile silicon, but software and user experience drive people to stay.

 

[Burger Thing]

I use to be a real Apple fanboy, but the last Apple product that I bought was the Iphone 6. For me personally this is where Apple deviated away from the magic Apple was known for. After a year of having the Iphone 6, my phone would randomly shutdown or jump from 40% battery life to around 2% in a space of a few seconds. I searched the forums and found many other people had the same problem - but the thing is Apple ignored this issue at the time and there was no replacement programme during the first 2 years or so of the Iphone 6 prime days. Eventually I had to replace the phone and got a Samsung instead and I have been happy since. Since then Apple released a battery replacement programme way too late and was of no use to people who had to buy a new phone.

In the last few years, Apple have made a catalogue of baffling decisions that damages Apple's image of being a high quality premium brand, to name a few:

1) Cheap charger and base model only 64gb for an iphone costing over a grand.
2) Macbook keyboards need replacing constantly
3) overheating macbooks pros costing over 3 grand.
4) 20% Price bump across the board for all products with nothing extra.
5) Multiple product lines and awful naming - Iphone xs max comes to mind.
6) In some cases the previous generation of Iphones being superior to the more expensive current generation of Iphones (Iphone XR).

Bravo. Your list is spot on. I know many of the old time Apple fans feel the same. Just anecdotal, but I had revcently a discussion with a colleague about our latest MacBook Pros. 3 colleagues of mine had to sent the damn thing in for a keyboard replacement. The overheating and throttling is another issue. Of course, you will be shot down by the usual muppets here in MR by stating this, but I am reasonable confident, that the same muppets are not using said products for anything more demanding that defending Tim Cook’s Vision of Apple here in this forum.

Price bump. Yes, in our biggest newspaper here in my hometown there was a recent article about how Apple is ripping off its loyal customers. The price for the new phones are absolutely ridiculous. And while our forum muppets also like to highlight that Samsung’s offering are not exactly cheap either, they like to omit that a Note XX will usually experience a price drop in the market a few weeks after release.

One just have to look at he recent profit reports by Apple. iPhone sales remain more or less flat but the profits are going up. Now why is that so? Because one big part of the revenue are the profit margins of phones are becoming bigger and bigger. I don’t find anything cheerful about those numbers and certainly don’t see a need to brag about them, too. If anything, I think people are just paying too much for a stupid phone.

 

[The Game 161]

The Apple apps and services are so bad, the fact that they are forced as your defaults ruin iOS.

Apple just isn't a very good software company. Even MacOS and iOS are bogged down by a bunch of poor functioning Apple apps. I like my MBP, but I realize the Hardware/Software integration makes it great and that can't be achieved without the hardware.

Huh? Apps are a big plus point towards going with apple. A large amount of Apps on android i found to be not at the same level personally.

 

[AustinIllini]

Huh? Apps are a big plus point towards going with apple. A large amount of Apps on android i found to be not at the same level personally.

Apps in their ecosystem, not Apps they develop themselves.

 

[erniefairchild1]

In what world is a used iPhone 7 worth $300? They aren't even going for that much on the direct-to-consumer market like eBay or Swappa. They are inflating the value of the trade-in to above market value to subsidize the new phone. A subsidy is also known as a discount.

You’re probably gonna say you didn’t say “Plus” but I just sold my iPhone 7 Plus for $450 on eBay. Apple would only have given me $300. So...

 

[Act3]

If Apple said the Xr was the "most popular", what does that actually mean? If they meant best selling, why not just say that? Without a qualification, "most popular" could mean several things. Which is probably why they said that.

https://www.macrumors.com/2018/11/28/iphone-xr-best-selling-iphone/

Best selling it is, and most popular.

 

[GuruZac]

You also lose the telephoto lens. That's a deal breaker at this point.

Telephoto lens is restricted to great lighting. Otherwise, quality is bad. That was always my complaint with my 7 Plus. An f2.4 with 1.22u pixel lens is far less flexible than an f1.8 1.4u pixel lens, so the loss of the zoom hasn’t been an issue. What I wish Apple would do is add Haptic Touch to all native Apple apps, and allow Portrait Mode to work on all subjects, although I’ve downloaded Halide camera app as a work around and it does a decent job. Here’s a shot using the Halide camera app portrait mode of a Christmas decoration at one of my jobs.