That and carriers in the US intentionally jerking their customers chains by forcing people out of old contracts (like mine with AT&T that promised me my rate would drop this spring... in writing [dearly wish I'd taken a screenshot]... and it has instead gone up by 20% and continued to inexplicably rise while the agents continue to promise it's just an error that will be corrected). I expect to keep my 15 Pro Max for five or six years (I hope—even if I have to replace the battery) rather than Apple's preferred 2ish.
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Smartphone Sales Are Falling Worldwide, But Apple Keeps Growing
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JGIGS
macrumors 68000
It depends where you live. That isn't the case in all countries. In Canada you can pay for the phone over that time with a carrier but they often require you to take on a more expensive plan and don't actually subsidize the phone. Just let you pay for it over monthly installments. The increase in having to pay for a more expensive plan usually negates the benefit of paying for it over 24 months.
Not sure if this has changed, I will look into it more when I plan on upgrading, which isn't likely for another year or two.
k1121j
macrumors 68020
Or my favorite the use of the word “Unlimited” but still limited plans
I hope Starlink provides some much needed competition.
EightyEight
macrumors member
Yes, but the person I had directed by comment to is in the U.S. according to their profile. I checked that before I replied.
Good for Apple. Apple has an excellent lineup with the 17 series, especially the base 17 and the upcoming foldable could also boost sales.
uczcret
macrumors 6502
Wait, is there a digit missing there or did you actually upgrade from the OG iPhone to the iPhone 14?
The article is about other countries.
It would be foolish to assume that carrier pricing and plans operate the same way there that they do in the US...
I think the more interesting statement is the "even as all three markets contracted".
Why was that? I think the reason is clear (but falls into the category of things you're not allowed to say in polite company)...
slippery-pete
macrumors 68030
I might be in the minority, but I have no problem with Apple Maps.
"I did a yearly upgrade from iPhone 1 to 14" means they upgraded every year since their first iPhone which happened to be the OG iPhone.
So OG → 3G → 3GS → 4 → 4S → etc.
uczcret
macrumors 6502
Long day at work! Thanks for clarifying, I actually thought they held on to the OG iPhone for 15 years. 🤦♂️
It wasn't "foolish." My comment was specifically directed at someone who is in the U.S. according to their profile. I even checked that before I replied.
TruthAboveAllElse
macrumors 6502a
dampfnudel
macrumors 603
Homme
macrumors 65816
Yeah I get how you feel. It declines the more and more the wow factor is gone less and less ( for me I feel that the wow factor declined when the 7 series came out and above, the XR/XS ones added even more to the decline especially the XS because it is a boring iPhone) but the 14 lineup as well especially adds to the decline since they are the last to have lightning and 500 cycle counts but the 15 Pro is the last iPhone which was worth the upgrade from an older iPhone
Anyway the 17 series is by far the best series Apple has had since the 13/SE3, the 12 and even the 11 since the non pro 11 was more better than the XS lineup as well as the 6S/SE1 lineup doing much better back then.
It’s a blessing for Apple especially thanks to them maturing the E lineup last year that the 17e has make up more sales for them than they can realize.
Tsepz
macrumors 603
This is very true. It’s all about making the board happy because they kept asking about Apple’s AI strategy.
I feel similarly about foldables, as much as I love the engineering aspect of them, the usability is still questionable for many, will be interesting to see how the foldable iPhone does, because so far it seems the market still overwhelmingly prefers big slabs.
We have heard it all, “can’t innovate so Apple is doomed”, “Tim cooked, so Apple is doomed”… but the hint was here:
If the EU labeled it as monopoly with a 30% market share, with that angle it will be upgraded to a super duper monopoly and super duper gatekeeper with accompanying upgraded fines, forget worldwide revenue fines, it will be galactic wide fines.
Then Tim Sweeney and friends will take yet another swing at the neck. Now Apple is TRULY doomed.
Populus
macrumors 604
I also suspect the smartphone market has matured enough and the technology has peaked. What we may be seeing with the growth of Apple is probably due, mostly, to Android users switching to iPhone. And maybe some users with old iPhones…
But honestly, if I were a smartphone manufacturer I would be prepared for a decline in sales. Today’s smartphones are capable enough of what the average user needs, and with inflation and prices rising faster than salaries, I’m quite sure more and more people are going to stick with their fully functional iPhone 12, 13, 14, 15…
But honestly, if I were a smartphone manufacturer I would be prepared for a decline in sales. Today’s smartphones are capable enough of what the average user needs, and with inflation and prices rising faster than salaries, I’m quite sure more and more people are going to stick with their fully functional iPhone 12, 13, 14, 15…
eltoslightfoot
macrumors 68040
Just wait. I am on the beta for the upcoming iOS and iPadOS. Siri and Apple Intelligence are linked. You can disable them both or enable them both, but no more just disabling Apple Intelligence. Hopefully we don’t get the same sort of pathetic mess that other AI implementations have.
No. The EU DMA actually labeled Apple as a "gatekeeper" (not a monopoly) specifically with iOS, iPadOS, App Store and Safari. They used various quantitative thresholds (revenue, user base, etc.) to identify companies that have enough scale, durable influence, etc. to be labeled as gatekeepers.
Und Eser
macrumors regular
Harder times are coming, not going….
I for one am jealous of those - be they Apple employees, shareholders or plain old fanboy sycophants - with the ability to celebrate exponential price increases for incremental upgrades, on top of shorter product lifespans due to earlier discontinuation of firmware support.
Truth be told though, I should probably question my own subscription to the Apple ecosystem before criticising those who so clearly revel in its success at our expense.
I for one am jealous of those - be they Apple employees, shareholders or plain old fanboy sycophants - with the ability to celebrate exponential price increases for incremental upgrades, on top of shorter product lifespans due to earlier discontinuation of firmware support.
Truth be told though, I should probably question my own subscription to the Apple ecosystem before criticising those who so clearly revel in its success at our expense.
I7guy
macrumors Westmere
From a regulatory standpoint maybe. Apples popularity is its biggest Achilles heel. But from people buying their products and services. No.
Hyperbole. Every manufacturer of mass produced products that are consumer discretionary have incremental upgrades. For Apple, the iPhone, iPad and Mac have a good lifespan for both hardware and software.
Absolutely. If apple products no longer fit your value and price intersection, find products that do.
But sure my dream company, overcharges for products, skimps on the functionality, reduces the lifespan and support of products I like and wants my like minded people to support this kind of behavior. /s
turbineseaplane
macrumors Penryn
Reading the latest re: upcoming Fold
It's going to "top $2,000" (not sure if that means starting there or with upgrades will get above that?) and all other models getting price hikes.
Ooof.
No matter how cool it or other new models might be, the prices are going to slow things down a fair bit I think, even if folks are Klarna-ing them.
It's going to "top $2,000" (not sure if that means starting there or with upgrades will get above that?) and all other models getting price hikes.
Ooof.
No matter how cool it or other new models might be, the prices are going to slow things down a fair bit I think, even if folks are Klarna-ing them.