Strong iPhone 14 Pro Sales Could See Apple Hold 60% Market Share for High-End Smartphones

[citysnaps]

Yet Apple has adopted USB-C on its notebooks and iPad lineup for sometimes and other manufacturers have done so on a phone for even longer.

Of course. People attach disk drives and external displays to notebooks and most recently, iPads. Data rates are important. Speaking only for myself, I have no need to attach a drive or external display to my phone.

I suspect Apple will be forced by European regulators to move to USB-C on iPhones. And we'll see connector failures as a result with people who charge their phones often.

No worries, though - simply purchase an AppleCare+ contract along with your iPhone and you'll be good. A win for people insisting on USB C. And a very nice win for Apple .

 

[I7guy]

Apple certainly drip dropped features over the past few revs. There is no reason why Always on Display, 120 Hz, 48 Mega Pixel camera couldn't have been part of iPhone 12.

We can only guess as to why Apple did not include it on any iphone prior to the iphone 14. Certainly we can conjecture it was holding back on features, or they wanted to implement it in a specific way that would pave the way future enhancements etc.

They just know they have a loyal based thats partly stuck in the ecosystem, so they can do that.

So you're of the opinion Apple can screw its' customers who will keep returning to buy Apple products. That's what the above, imo, boils down to.

My strategy of just holding out with my iPhone X is working well, because when I upgrade to the iPhone 15 Pro Max next year I will have saved nearly 6,000 dollars.

And others will have access to new features that they can use, that you may not find attractive to you. It all depends on your definition of price and value, form and function, pros and cons.

 

[DailySlow]

Honestly, apart from the camera, those features don't sound like "must have" features that makes one rush out immediately to upgrade. I am beginning to suspect that iPhone upgrade cycles are increasingly being driven by ease of access to financing options and trade-in offers. It would explain why Apple is being more aggressive in these areas. They sound boring to Macrumours users, but remain crucial in getting more phones into the hands of users while allowing Apple to still maintain their margins.

This is a departure from back when upgrading was viewed largely as a function of feature sets (ie: existing iPhone users upgrading when a new device has features that appeal to them). And I think that moving forward, reviews of how each new generation of iPhones has only iterative / marginal improvements over the previous generation grows increasingly irrelevant, because that's not what drive device upgrades anymore.

In this context, the recent news of iPhone 14s being more readily repairable makes sense. It's also a reminder of why iPhone sales alone don't paint an accurate picture of how well the Apple ecosystem is doing, because it doesn't capture the sales of 2nd hand (and maybe even third hand) iPhones. It also throws the conspiracy theories of forced obsolescence out of the window, especially when you consider that iPhones easily get 5-6 years of software support.

Moving forward, the iPhone install base will only continue to grow, and the ecosystem ever more sticky, and so to what this means for Android, well, that will be fun to watch.

Yes, trade-in, I overlooked that

 

[svish]

iPhones do sell very well.

 

[DailySlow]

Of course. People attach disk drives and external displays to notebooks and most recently, iPads. Data rates are important. Speaking only for myself, I have no need to attach a drive or external display to my phone.

I suspect Apple will be forced by European regulators to move to USB-C on iPhones. And we'll see connector failures as a result with people who charge their phones often.

No worries, though - simply purchase an AppleCare+ contract along with your iPhone and you'll be good. A win for people insisting on USB C. And a very nice win for Apple .

I went in on a mini 6 and can run a hub with ethernet, direct HDMI connection. SD/MicroSD slots, 2 USB 3 type A, - can run a USB 3 mouse, a USB 3 CD/DVD drive and it's sweet when needed - also a btooth keyboard and a pencil
Files is not where it needs to be at all though and I expect iPadOS 16 next month will be a game changer for that - and at some point iPhones will have almost identical capabilities, wether they are really appropriate or not.

 

[parasight]

Say again?

Does this chart factor in sales tax, though? US prices usually exclude it on the label because the rate depends on the state you live in. In Europe we show the final price. So the difference is probably much smaller than this chart would suggest.

 

[Chidoro]

So you prefer USB 2 speed to transfer those ProRaw images; got it your time is worthless 👏🏽 👏🏽 👏🏽

I prefer to not have to purchase new cords for my in laws.
And for someone that pisses away as much time on this message board, it seems as if your time is just a touch more worthless ✌️

 

[DailySlow]

Curious if the iPhone 15 has lightening connector and iPhone 15 Pro has USB-C, which would you pick?

USB C totally and iPad Mini 6 is my transition era kit : )

 

[jib2]

Not in the UK and Europe they won't. Not at the prices we have to pay for them.
And please Americans don't feed me bullcrap about Europe's hyperinflation. When the pound and Euro were super strong against the dollar Apple still just swapped the currency sign and creamed in the difference. It's 100% pure greed.

You're ignoring the fact that UK and EU prices include VAT. US prices do not. Sales tax is up to individual states and varies and is not part of the Apple price.

 

[compwiz1202]

He’s not criticizing everyone else ,merely apple .
Hes saying they can sit on their laurels and provide little improvements for a very high price ,and keep the base storage and stuff super low .

But the bottom line is, it's the consumers enabling it. Don't buy and they have to react by lowering price, etc... Don't complain while clicking Submit Order

 

[DeepIn2U]

Happy problem, I guess. People don’t want the cheaper iPhones and are all flocking to the more expensive models.

Personally agreed. Only 1x made the mistake to get a cheap iPhone ... the 5C and during the checking phase when purchasing in-person via grey market meetup via Kijiji.Super happy it failed to connect to Eaton Center food court WiFi when that classic upside down Android robot showed up.

Told that kid 'tell your GF to stop getting you to sell her crap -or- stop trying to sell phony iPhone clones someone crazy enough may hunt you down if they found out you scammed them'

Since then never a budget iphone.

Just upgraded to the 14 Pro!

 

[joshdammit]

€1,339 for a 128 GB iPhone 14 Pro. Safe to say they’ll be few and far between where I live. Back in the real world I’m unsure who will be buying these things. Because Apple has gotten so greedy I kind of hope iPhone sales crash and burn. I also wouldn’t believe any sales predictions at this point. Makes me wonder who is behind Digitimes, tbh. Any analysts worth their salt wouldn’t be trying to predict sales this early, IMO. Wonder what their game is. The non-Pro iPhone 14 is €1,029 and the 13 mini remains the same €829 price for a second year running. All of these phones carry high-end prices.

Somebody’s bitter.

 

[Vazor]

It’s not Apples fault Europe has hyperinflation. The price hasn’t increased at all in the US and all the countries that are based on this glorious god gifted currency.

Enjoy your strong currency - it won’t last long😂

 

[Abazigal]

MR members are voicing and posting their ideas and frustrations, it’s how companies listen and make changes to critical thinkers experiences. Ah “brick-in-the-wall” mindset, because you know companies have telepathy even though monitoring your internet traffic comes close it’s not quite the same. 😝

My general observation of the majority of comments in this forum is that too many people strive to be contrarian and end up being wrong as a result. They don't bother to learn about Apple or spend more than 2 seconds thinking about why Apple does the things they do before throwing comments around, and I just feel that this sort of behaviour shouldn't be rewarded.

I would rather strive to be right. If it means I end up being a contrarian, then so be it. But more often than not, I find myself agreeing with what Apple does because a lot of what they do does make sense when viewed through the proper lens.

My advice - being wrong just to be contrarian is unwise. All the more when talking about Apple.

 

[Abazigal]

My strategy of just holding out with my iPhone X is working well, because when I upgrade to the iPhone 15 Pro Max next year I will have saved nearly 6,000 dollars.

How's your battery holding out? I held on to my 8+ for 4 years before upgrading to the 13 pro max last year and the biggest immediate improvement that stood out to me was the significantly better battery life (I typically end days at 70% when I previously had to charge at least once in the middle of the day). I also didn't mind being "stuck" with Touch ID during the pandemic (with mask wearing and all). Camera improvement was pretty noticeable, everything was a little faster, MagSafe is cool, just personally, I still prefer the 8+ form factor overall. Just feels more "right" in the hand, especially without a case.

 

[Mr. Dee]

How's your battery holding out? I held on to my 8+ for 4 years before upgrading to the 13 pro max last year and the biggest immediate improvement that stood out to me was the significantly better battery life (I typically end days at 70% when I previously had to charge at least once in the middle of the day). I also didn't mind being "stuck" with Touch ID during the pandemic (with mask wearing and all). Camera improvement was pretty noticeable, everything was a little faster, MagSafe is cool, just personally, I still prefer the 8+ form factor overall. Just feels more "right" in the hand, especially without a case.

Battery is at 84% and at 5:17 PM, 59% for remaining battery. Everyday, I normally average around 20% every evening at 5 PM if I use my phone a lot throughout the day. I am constantly in Outlook, MS Teams, Safari. But mix use with my desktop PC at work, it can last from 7 am to 10:30 PM each night.

 

[Abazigal]

Battery is at 84% and at 5:17 PM, 59% for remaining battery. Everyday, I normally average around 20% every evening at 5 PM if I use my phone a lot throughout the day. I am constantly in Outlook, MS Teams, Safari. But mix use with my desktop PC at work, it can last from 7 am to 10:30 PM each night.

That’s pretty impressive for a 5 year old battery. I think I lose that much battery just walking to work in the morning while streaming music and browsing the news.

 

[Mr. Dee]

That’s pretty impressive for a 5 year old battery. I think I lose that much battery just walking to work in the morning while streaming music and browsing the news.

I suspect it’s my routine. iOS has likely figured out my charging pattern over the years to keep the battery efficient. But I noticed after a few days of travel overseas using various charging solutions: plane, airports this likely affected the battery health. It was previously at 86%. By fall 2023 it will definitely be time to upgrade.

 

[Konrad]

The initial enthusiasm is always, for known reasons, strongest in the US. Blindly lining up for a novelty, now stripped off of a sim tray. That idea would slice the sales in Europe and other more “mobile” markets by such numbers people would forget what an iPhone is in the first place. The US 14 is a brick, but then again most Americans will be content with the purple haze as they never travel for the most part, and the newest gadget will be cool as they stroll around the local mall. It’s a dud.

As comparing acquisition cost goes, most Americans don’t understand how the VAT works for example in Europe, how you can in fact skip it or write it off your books. Thus, it’s not exactly that straight forward to compare the effective prices. In turn, US has that nasty and annoying habit of posting prices without the sales tax, unless of course you go to say…Oregon.

In summary, it will be a hit in gullible, nowhere to go for the long weekend US, but in Europe the 14 is a joke.

On the sideline, its interesting to ask oneself why ONLY (emphasis on ”only) the US got the “exclusive” sim less version?

 

[Hurda]

Does this chart factor in sales tax, though?

No, unfortunately, which makes that graphic fairly useless.

 

[Abazigal]

On the sideline, its interesting to ask oneself why ONLY (emphasis on ”only) the US got the “exclusive” sim less version?

Step by step.

Use their largest market to push other countries into supporting e-sim, then eventually drop physical sim support for those countries eventually once e-sims are more commonplace.

If it’s one thing that Apple is good at, they know how to wait.

 

[hans1972]

Not in the UK and Europe they won't. Not at the prices we have to pay for them.
And please Americans don't feed me bullcrap about Europe's hyperinflation. When the pound and Euro were super strong against the dollar Apple still just swapped the currency sign and creamed in the difference. It's 100% pure greed.

You get pretty close to Apple prices by using the following formula:

Foreign price = US price * currency rate * VAT rate + import taxes (if any) + other taxes (if any)

This will probably get you within 90% of the price. The rest is often hedging against currency fluctuation and higher cost of doing business compared to the US.

Estimated price in Germany = $999 * 1.03 * 1.19 ≈ 1224 €
Real price = 1299 €

It's only a difference of 6.1% if we remove country specific taxes.

The USD/EUR rate has increased almost 14% in the last 6 months. It's not unlikely the euro will weaken 6% more during the next year.

 

[Hurda]

If it’s one thing that Apple is good at, they know how to wait.

What's the situation with China not allowing any e-SIMs exceept for Hong Kong and Macao?

 

[Konrad]

Step by step.

Use their largest market to push other countries into supporting e-sim, then eventually drop physical sim support for those countries eventually once e-sims are more commonplace.

If it’s one thing that Apple is good at, they know how to wait.

Except, in this case, a vast number of “other countries” wont give a FF for a long time to come. I suspect it is about something else. US-based gouging telecoms and the gullible US customer base.

 

[Sf844]

Not in the UK and Europe they won't. Not at the prices we have to pay for them.
And please Americans don't feed me bullcrap about Europe's hyperinflation. When the pound and Euro were super strong against the dollar Apple still just swapped the currency sign and creamed in the difference. It's 100% pure greed.

Yet you fail to understand it is not as simple as one currency being higher or lower but the grand sum of the markets.

Let me provide a simple example, there are more people in the US willing to purchase an iPhone with or without carrier subsidies, people’s attitude and mindset of iPhone in the US say compared to EU or UK. Some people in those markets may not mind paying higher for an iPhone but many don’t and see an iPhone as a phone. The mindset of the market in UK and EU and many other places is “value for money”. The next is what can an iPhone do that another device such as an Android phone not do. If it is the same or similar and one costs 1K while the other half if not free the “value for money” will sway to the half if not free as it’s functionality is perceived as same or similar.

Don’t get me wrong I am not dismissing your observations, I am adding a different perspective. There is a reason why in India many just go for an affordable if not free Android device and why having an iPhone means you can afford something better (perception) meaning you are successful.

Human Mindset:
iPhone = Successful
Android = Plebs

Regardless if it is true or not even if your Android device cost more than an iPhone, no one gets excited from receiving an Android phone because it’s given away for free in many markets unlike an iPhone (exceptions in certain markets).

Lol

Europe is not India

People in Europe buy expensive phones, only they’re Samsung and others because their market strategy is better suited for that market (specs, offers, ecosystem, network effect)

In many developed countries Samsung Galaxy is the default phone line, not the iPhone, much to an American’s surprise. Nobody knows what iMessage is for, nor has any use for Apple Music.