That's a very naive take. While this might be correct for a very short time period after the release of new models, it won't hold for long. People might be surprised to learn that Apple fans are already stretching too far with their purchases: Goldman’s loss rate on credit card loans is the worst among big U.S. card issuers and “well above subprime lenders” at 2.93%, according to a Sept. 6 note from JPMorgan. For those who don't know - it's about the Apple credit card holders.Happy problem, I guess. People don’t want the cheaper iPhones and are all flocking to the more expensive models.
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Strong iPhone 14 Pro Sales Could See Apple Hold 60% Market Share for High-End Smartphones
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Wait
Can’t you finance-shop your way into being wealthy?
What?
That’s the whole ethos. Buy expensive products and you’ll be rich, ain’t it?
Only those who have apple credit card, which I don’t. I charge my iPhones for points and then pay in full.
But consumerism is alive and well and apple is going to have impressive revenues, imo, on the backs of people who charge their iPhones.
If you are wealthy you can finance shop your way into all sorts of freebies.
Not all iPhone buyers have/use Apple card but all Apple card holders have an iPhone. So, bad rating of Apple card holders clearly reflects the financial state of iPhone owners.
Yes, a percentage. However, still, reflects on the state of some iPhone owners along with others that buy goods in credit. Apple still will make out though. Everybody has to be responsible for themselves.
However kudos to Goldman who tried to be inclusive instead of redlining customers.
A lot of tubers are doing this.
You’ll notice many have been enamoured by Samsungs latest foldables which makes me think “how much did Samsung pay them”?
Mr Mobile and Marques I expect that from as they’ve always preferred android phones.
Seems like a Goldman problem not an Apple end consumer or Apple issue.
Most likely this will allow Apple to look for other partners possibly or an adjustment rod rates which will be unfortunate. Still those consumers will be affected be negatively falling credit ratings.
well, I say it again............ prices In japan Don't lie. We are paying the most money. you want proof? I paid 176,000 yen for my pro max 14 256 GB. Before people post 2 words and a photo maybe take people who live in higher prices area word for it. Why would we about this? I wish we be paying less.Say again?
an iPhone 14 pro max 256 is 1600 € in europe, 222k yen
Op quoted tried to make a tenuous line criticizing apple based on actions of their customers, when in fact consumers are making their own financial decisions. Goldman also didn’t red line(or red lined less), which is to pick and choose which customers based on fico were eligible for Apple Card.
I believe MrMobile is genuine in liking his galaxy fold 4. There's nothing wrong with this, but it's important to recognise that the fold is still a very niche market overall.
I also feel it's less of YouTubers being paid off by Samsung, and more that the smartphone market is becoming very mature (and stagnant / boring), smartphone reviews all seem the same, and the fold represents something different and unique that may still be able to draw in the views. Liking the iPhone is seen as too boring and mainstream.
Mainly because Apple still doesn't have an equivalent offering, and it's easy to play up the "At least Samsung is willing to take risks" card (which nobody dares to rebut) even though this line of reasoning has never made sense to me. You can acknowledge a company's willingness to do something different, while still criticising its numerous flaws and while still believing that said endeavour is ultimately doomed to fail.
In a way, this reminds me of the "smart speaker mirage" back in 2016-2017, where the tech press was talking up amazon echoes with near breathless enthusiasm and positivity, as though they represented some new paradigm in computing. As it turned out, people were buying them mainly because they were basically cheap (speakers), most turned out to not really Alexa for much than music playback or setting timers (effectively nullifying whatever technical advantage they may have had over Siri), and they simply have not displaced the use of smartphones or wearables. At the end of the day, it was just Amazon dumping cheap bluetooth speakers onto the market at a loss.
That's really all there is to it, IMO. Apple is at the top of their game, and has never be stronger, and a large part of this comes down to their discipline in saying a firm "NO" to product categories that simply don't make sense from both a design and strategic perspective.
You look at how many products Google has cancelled. You look at Amazon's erroneous bet on smart speakers. You look at Microsoft's lack of traction with the consumer market. You look like how Samsung is seemingly rudderless from a product vision perspective (aimlessly launching new products and features for no apparent reason than to claim they are first). You look at how Facebook is in trouble over Tik-Tok and ATT. You look at the current issues plaguing once-tech-darlings like Spotify, Netflix, Peloton and Fitbit.
All these companies were expected to put Apple in its place once upon a time. Instead, all we have seen are fails, flops and disappointments. All while Apple continues to update their products annually like clockwork.
People can either choose to recognise it for what it is (like me), or insist on being contrarian by pointing to the numerous other things that Apple isn't doing in the hopes that at least one of them gains traction just so they can come back some time in the future and go "Aha, I told you Apple was wrong!"
I won't be holding my breath.
Apple should probably get used to being its own toughest competitor.
Prices for 256GB iPhone 14 Pro Max:
Germany (before VAT/fees) = €1,321 or approximately $1,280 USD
Japan (before consumption tax) = ¥163,455 or approximately $1,140 USD
United States (before sales tax) = $1,199 USD
Each of these prices are pretty similar in USD.
You stated in a previous post that people in Japan are "paying the most money." How can you make that claim if you don't compare to other prices and currencies?
It looks to me like the price (at least before VAT or consumption tax or sales tax) of a 256GB iPhone 14 Pro Max is actually lower in Japan than it is in the U.S. or Germany.
How can I claim? How can you debate ? Come to japan Buy as many tax-free High-end expensive items as and get exchange rates for items as MANY to do and Payless.....Looking at it from gain from advantage and not for us that pay more because of the monies view. Japanese buyers are paying more. There is no longer value for Japanese buyers only overseas buyers trying to buy cheaply as possible. Apple warned prices in Japan would increase a lot of months ago. They were right!
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The pre-tax price of a 256GB iPhone 14 Pro Max in the U.S. is around ¥172,700 which is higher than the pre-tax price of ¥163,455 in Japan.
The pre-tax price of a 256GB iPhone 14 Pro Max in Germany is around ¥183,800 which is higher than the pre-tax price of ¥163,455 in Japan.
The pre-tax price of a 128GB iPhone 14 Pro Max in England is around ¥170,100 which is higher than the pre-tax price of ¥163,455 in Japan.
In just these three examples, the price is Japan is actually lower. It is simply not true that people in Japan are "paying the most money" as you previously stated.
I understand that prices increased in Japan but they are still fairly in line with (even lower than as shown above) prices in other countries.
taxes are not reason. It's the base price of items, you can't get around the overall cost of the apple items. They were increased as promised by apple japan buyers. depending on the device for $600.00 or more. the domestic currency is the issue here not the hypothetical cost of other countries' currencies. I am an apple stockholder. hence investing in the company I own shares. I can care less about prices. since it benefits me in the long run.
Apple and Apple shareholders aren't really benefiting here. It's actually more the opposite. The main reason prices are higher in various countries outside the U.S. is not because Apple is raising them for more profit, it's because of currency fluctuations. These higher prices may very well result in weaker sales and lower profits for Apple.
The reality is that prices in most countries are roughly the same (in USD). Same countries (like Japan) have even lower prices than those in the U.S. The issue is the currency exchange rates.
Bro I couldn’t have said this any better! On god this is essentially exactly true!
Even the HomePod OG is still getting updates, I love that about.
I never made any such claim that Europe is India, what I can say from my interaction with many Brits and Europeans is that they see an iPhone as overpriced hardware compared to an Android foe which most receive free from their carriers. Given the choice they would select an iPhone any day, some just group an iPhone similar to an AndroidOS phone where it’s disposed off within a couple years as it gets slow, does not get any updates unless one is fortunate and the experience is just subpar. Unless you speak with those who still hang on to the notion of wanting to customise everything most people just take what their carrier provides for free. If this was not the case the outcome would be interesting.
Due to this issue and WhatsApp running on both platforms free, most default to that compared to iMessage which has a hardware cost associated with it.
So when the majority wanted an AppStore and Apple said no, web apps instead and then finally caved would you still be siding with Apple initially. You may agree or not but Apple is not always right it is a company and it is seeking to make a profit for itself and its shareholders first. Had the AppStore never been introduced Apple would not be the trillion dollar valued company it is today.
Android phones have been using USB-C for a number of years including in China and it’s been on many Mac laptops and even iPad’s, I even have many USB-C devices for many years and charge them frequently and guess what; no problems. Anyone can mishandle any connector type and make ridiculous claims such as one being better compared to another.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.
3D Touch sure but even Apple had it implemented at a minimum for many years only to replace it with the TapticEngine. Even developers could not be bothered.