Smartphone Sales Are Falling Worldwide, But Apple Keeps Growing

[Und Eser]

From a regulatory standpoint maybe. Apples popularity is its biggest Achilles heel. But from people buying their products and services. No.

What, you believe what the markets tell you about the state of the global economy? So that isn’t just another sales platform like everything else after all?

Reality: “hold my beer…”

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.

Nonsense. Not on Apple’s pricing structure they don’t. SoC convenience and how much does memory cost over against what Apple charge again? iPad and Mac not as bad as phones and watches…yet… but Mac could go a lot further with upgradable RAM and removable battery, (maybe even complete SoC swap).

Less landfill is good. Who knew?

Absolutely. If apple products no longer fit your value and price intersection, find products that do.

Nah, I’ll keep buying what I want and saying what I want about it.

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

Computes well does that. /s

 

[eltoslightfoot]

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.

Exactly why I have started to segment my tech purchases. High end gaming laptop? Got that bad boy last summer before prices doubled. iPhone Plus crapped out on me? Looked at what I did on my phone and realized I could just get a 17e. $599 and done. Same with iPad Pro 12.9". Had to replace? Just went with an Air 13" that I got off Ebay.

And finally my Macbook Air, went with a 16/512 M4--used.

Apple is the least of my problems. That gaming laptop I got refurbed for $1600. Now it's over $4000! Refurbished!

 

[turbineseaplane]

That gaming laptop I got refurbed for $1600. Now it's over $4000! Refurbished!

As one might hear around my parts ... "that dog won't hunt".

 

[eltoslightfoot]

As one might hear around my parts ... "that dog won't hunt".

Right? We really have been spoiled on this front. I looked at what I spent on a Packard Bell in the '95 timeframe (I remember playing Ultima Online on it) in college, and it was well over $3K.

Prices were flat for decades. But that also meant it was easy to upgrade a little earlier. Not anymore.

 

[I7guy]

What, you believe what the markets tell you about the state of the global economy? So that isn’t just another sales platform like everything else after all?

Reality: “hold my beer…”

What I believe is apples sales numbers.

Reality: “keep my beer”

Nonsense. Not on Apple’s pricing structure they don’t. SoC convenience and how much does memory cost over against what Apple charge again?

Absolutely irrelevant as to the manufacturing cost. People buy mass produced consumer discretionary products on value. If a product is “overpriced” or “cheap” consumers may shy away from them.

iPad and Mac not as bad as phones and watches…yet… but Mac could go a lot further with upgradable RAM and removable battery, (maybe even complete SoC swap)

iPhones will easily last 5 years +. I can kind of agree on Mac although there are tradeoffs.

Less landfill is good. Who knew?

Responsible use of the environment is good all around. Recycling and such helps.

Nah, I’ll keep buying what I want and saying what I want about it.

As will I and all other MR posters. It makes no sense to me though to heavily criticize a product and company and still buy their products.

Computes well does that. /s

😉

 

[Und Eser]

What I believe is apples sales numbers.

Reality: “keep my beer”

I believe in prognostics. Today’s sales figures are yesterday, not tomorrow.

Reality: “that urine sample looks a lot like beer”

Absolutely irrelevant as to the manufacturing cost. People buy mass produced consumer discretionary products on value. If a product is “overpriced” or “cheap” consumers may shy away from them.

Price being irrelevant to manufacturing cost is where profit comes from, the sustainability of which is in this case dependent on how long people can afford to keep buying into hype.

As for value, it and price got divorced long ago… and guess which one got the house.

iPhones will easily last 5 years +. I can kind of agree on Mac although there are tradeoffs.

They can but that doesn’t really fit well with Apples new model every year growth reliance.

Responsible use of the environment is good all around. Recycling and such helps.

Environment is doing considerably less well than Apple sales, it would seem. But hey, they stopped doing leather so all good..

As will I and all other MR posters.

Obviously.

It makes no sense to me though to heavily criticize a product and company and still buy their products.

Not keeping outlook in reality is what makes no sense. Like not knowing the difference between best and least worst, for example.

 

[I7guy]

I believe in prognostics. Today’s sales figures are yesterday, not tomorrow.

Apple has been doomed since 2011. I believe Apple can make it into the future. Outliving you and me.

Reality: “that urine sample looks a lot like beer”

Keep it. I’ll be back for it eventually.

Price being irrelevant to manufacturing cost is where profit comes from, the sustainability of which is in this case dependent on how long people can afford to keep buying into hype.

People don’t care about profit. They care about value and price. People have been buying into the hype for 50 years. When do you believe they will stop.”?

As for value, it and price got divorced long ago… and guess which one got the house.

That house cost $5T. The house the Apple built.

They can but that doesn’t really fit well with Apples new model every year growth reliance.

I keep wondering when record breaking quarters are going to be a thing of the past.

Environment is doing considerably less well than Apple sales, it would seem. But hey, they stopped doing leather so all good..

Don’t blame Apple on this. I give Apple props for their environmental leanings.

Obviously.

Seems obvious at times.

Not keeping outlook in reality is what makes no sense. Like not knowing the difference between best and least worst, for example.

I’ve read comments about people believing that customers buy Apple because they are the best of the worst. I think some may be out of touch with reality.

 

[Und Eser]

Apple has been doomed since 2011. I believe Apple can make it into the future. Outliving you and me.

Some beliefs are more in line with reality than others. I give this one 2/10.

Keep it. I’ll be back for it eventually.

Don’t bother. It’ll find you.

People don’t care about profit. They care about value and price. People have been buying into the hype for 50 years. When do you believe they will stop.”?

People care about what they know and can afford, all of which are as changeable as their priorities. I think they’ll stop when they realise what unsustainability really means. You?

That house cost $5T. The house the Apple built.

$5t buys a lot of cards.

I keep wondering when record breaking quarters are going to be a thing of the past.

That’s the thing about bubbles, they never burst while they’re shrinking.

Don’t blame Apple on this. I give Apple props for their environmental leanings.

Props for propaganda. Band name alert!

Seems obvious at times.

Oblivious others.

I’ve read comments about people believing that customers buy Apple because they are the best of the worst. I think some may be out of touch with reality.

I think those more committed to preferential bias than probability are definitely out of touch with reality.

 

[I7guy]

Some beliefs are more in line with reality than others. I give this one 2/10.

Sure. Nobody knows what could happen in the future. Since we’re hypothecating, one possibility is that Apple becomes popular it unfortunately becomes a monopoly. That’s about as reasonable as 2/10.

Don’t bother. It’ll find you.

Really a trolling thing to say.

People care about what they know and can afford, all of which are as changeable as their priorities. I think they’ll stop when they realise what unsustainability really means. You?

Straw man argument.

$5t buys a lot of cards.

And that’s okay. Win-win. Win for Apple and win for customers and win for consumers.

That’s the thing about bubbles, they never burst while they’re shrinking.

Apple has been doomed since 2011. You’re not the first to say it and be wrong.

Props for propaganda. Band name alert!

Oblivious others.

I think those more committed to preferential bias than probability are definitely out of touch with reality.

Lots of cognitive dissonance in these forums. The sniping is ridiculous. You’re welcome to your opinion. Especially as the forum headliner says otherwise.

 

[Und Eser]

Sure. Nobody knows what could happen in the future. Since we’re hypothecating, one possibility is that Apple becomes popular it unfortunately becomes a monopoly. That’s about as reasonable as 2/10.

Really a trolling thing to say.

Straw man argument.

And that’s okay. Win-win. Win for Apple and win for customers and win for consumers.

Apple has been doomed since 2011. You’re not the first to say it and be wrong.

Lots of cognitive dissonance in these forums. The sniping is ridiculous. You’re welcome to your opinion. Especially as the forum headliner says otherwise.

Lots of reductive accusation to go with the cognitive dissonance too.

Have a pleasant evening.

 

[Ledsteplin]

I think with less and less carrier subsidies, we may see people go to a once-in-four-years replacement cycle, unless the new model has significant changes. That's why I'm waiting for the rumored "all glass" 2027 iPhone despite the fact I got an iPhone 16 Plus back in 2024.

Users would definitely have to put in a new battery. Mine barely lasted 3 years.