Other The way forward for better iPhone sales

[boltjames]

And what if the vast majority of those getting the X weren't "luxury buyers"?

By definition they have to be.

I mean, who doesn’t think the iPhone X is too expensive? Wasn’t that the number one complaint? Endless threads and whining? Or are we going down the road of “anyone can afford one” again?

If everyone can pick one narrative and stop bouncing between the two when it suits them it would make things a lot easier to debate.

 

[C DM]

By definition they have to be.

I mean, who doesn’t think the iPhone X is too expensive? Wasn’t that the number one complaint? Endless threads and whining? Or are we going down the road of “anyone can afford one” again?

If everyone can pick one narrative and stop bouncing between the two when it suits them it would make things a lot easier to debate.

The definition of luxury is essentially just something that is overpriced (or even simply costs a lot)? That's really not how it works. It's not how those who are well off, let alone those who are truly wealthy, view it.

 

[boltjames]

The definition of luxury is essentially just something that is overpriced (or even simply costs a lot)? That's really not how it works. It's not how those who are well off, let alone those who are truly wealthy, view it.

1.54 Billion smartphones were sold in 2018. 50 Million of them were iPhone X's. That's 3.2% of smartphone buyers last year, a tiny fraction of the business.

In a world where Android phones are free and entry-level iPhone's are $99, a $1200 iPhone X is most certainly a luxury, a high-end feature-laden product for those inclined to spend big money for the very best. Apple makes the most expensive notebooks, the most expensive smartwatches, the most expensive media streamers, and the most expensive monitors. It makes perfect sense for them to make the most expensive smartphone as well. It's in their DNA. It's who Apple is.

 

[44267547]

The way forward is to lower the prices and stop selling old tech (phones, computers, etc) at today's prices.

Lower prices I agree with. However, What exactly is your definition of ‘Old tech’ when Apple introduced Face ID, the TrueDepth Camera, Ect. Are those two examples I mentioned ‘Old tech’?

 

[mackinmike]

Lower prices I agree with. However, What exactly is your definition of ‘Old tech’ when Apple introduced Face ID, the TrueDepth Camera, Ect. Are those two examples I mentioned ‘Old tech’?

I was referring to other Apple products like the Macpro. OLD tech but at today's prices. Also the Macbook Air from 2017. It was basically a 2015 spec'd computer. As for iPhones, the iPhone 5c was basically an iPhone 5 from the previous year. iPhone XR.... a lame LCD 720p display in 2018? Smh. Finally, not related to this but important to mention, the dishonest repair bills from the Genius bar where simple fixes was quoted to be in the thousands. So tired from their bss

 

[purged]

Price isn't an issue.

 

[C DM]

1.54 Billion smartphones were sold in 2018. 50 Million of them were iPhone X's. That's 3.2% of smartphone buyers last year, a tiny fraction of the business.

In a world where Android phones are free and entry-level iPhone's are $99, a $1200 iPhone X is most certainly a luxury, a high-end feature-laden product for those inclined to spend big money for the very best. Apple makes the most expensive notebooks, the most expensive smartwatches, the most expensive media streamers, and the most expensive monitors. It makes perfect sense for them to make the most expensive smartphone as well. It's in their DNA. It's who Apple is.

Seems like another attempt at a definition of luxury which isn't what would typically be used by those who are well off, let alone actually wealthy. So far with each attempt things seem to reinforce the opposite.

 

[trims]

Lower prices I agree with. However, What exactly is your definition of ‘Old tech’ when Apple introduced Face ID, the TrueDepth Camera, Ect. Are those two examples I mentioned ‘Old tech’?

Forum members appear oblivious to the advances made by Huawei, Samsung etc. They have FaceID and indeed fingerprint sensors in screen. They have multiple focal length cameras, and sophisticated image processing. They have two day battery life.

They're also 1/2 the price of a loaded iPhone X.

iPhones are simply over-priced for what they are. End of.

 

[C DM]

Forum members appear oblivious to the advances made by Huawei, Samsung etc. They have FaceID and indeed fingerprint sensors in screen. They have multiple focal length cameras, and sophisticated image processing. They have two day battery life.

They're also 1/2 the price of a loaded iPhone X.

iPhones are simply over-priced for what they are. End of.

There's the ecosystem to consider as well.

And how does other phones having various technologies mean that iPhones are "old tech"?

 

[trims]

There's the ecosystem to consider as well.

And how does other phones having various technologies mean that iPhones are "old tech"?

The iPhones don't hold the advantage they once had. Indeed many Android phones have key advantages these days. My kids have migrated, and several friends have recently moved over too. Price definitely a driver. The ecosystem (my kids all have Macs) not an issue at all.

 

[pika2000]

1) New "killer app" features that are not on old phones - we haven't really seen a big increase in iPhone functionality in a few years. Apple Pay was really the last one. Faster, bigger, better cameras, and FaceID are'nt new use cases; paying with my phone is, using my phone to request taxis is (though this came from an App oviously). Come up with a new use case for iPhones that is compelling enough to make more people upgrade.

2) New iPhone SE model - could be the same body as the iPhone 8, or the iPhone SE. Innovate in the smaller size.

3) Simplify the model lineup. Due to the increase in number of models, the average customer is confused about iPhone purchases and often feels they get ripped off by the expensive model or got pushed the worse model. Have a variety of price points, fine, but make sure that all buyers are happy with the value proposition of their phones.

1. Apple was banking on AR, but the app developers don’t seem to be taking it in storm. With Apple just entering the dual SIM game, I’m hoping for dual VoLTE and/or dual apps functions (ie. Dual WhatsApp capability).

2. The SE was a great phone, but I don’t see Apple going back to it. Despite few people wanting the smaller size, the actual market speaks differently.

3. Somewhat agree on this. We are definitely in transition period to the new notch design + FaceID. Hopefully this year we will see a simplification with the iPhone 7 being dropped. Personally hoping for an XR “lite” for even a cheaper XR to completely replace the iPhone 8 this year, thus completing the transition to FaceID.
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Forum members appear oblivious to the advances made by Huawei, Samsung etc. They have FaceID and indeed fingerprint sensors in screen. They have multiple focal length cameras, and sophisticated image processing. They have two day battery life.

They're also 1/2 the price of a loaded iPhone X.

iPhones are simply over-priced for what they are. End of.

You talk about iPhones being overpriced yet you speak positive about Samsung? LOL. In Android world, Samsung is the worst value and most overpriced phone ever, even more expensive than iPhones considering even their flagships only get 3 years of software support at best.

 

[trims]

Easy to buy a new unlocked Samsung Galaxy S9 for £600 or less in the UK. Their mid-range A7/8 phones are less than £300. Apple doesn't get close.

Huawei and the like now producing iPhone X beaters for half the price.

The market is changing but Apple isn't.

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The iPhones don't hold the advantage they once had. Indeed many Android phones have key advantages these days. My kids have migrated, and several friends have recently moved over too. Price definitely a driver. The ecosystem (my kids all have Macs) not an issue at all.

Here's a review of some of the current top-of-the-range rivals. There are plenty of much cheaper yet still useable phones out there too: https://www.theguardian.com/technol...e-slump-the-rivals-taking-a-bite-out-of-apple

 

[pika2000]

How much is your Samsung S9? Pocofone F1 has the same SD845 for $300. The Galaxy A series are even worse value. If you still think Samsung to be a good value, you’re just as deluded as the extreme Apple fanboys.

 

[trims]

How much is your Samsung S9? Pocofone F1 has the same SD845 for $300. The Galaxy A series are even worse value. If you still think Samsung to be a good value, you’re just as deluded as the extreme Apple fanboys.

Not advocating Samsung. Just pointing out that there is a competitive smartphone market out there at the moment and Apple is at the wrong end of it. Which is why their sales are heading down.

 

[pika2000]

Not advocating Samsung. Just pointing out that there is a competitive smartphone market out there at the moment and Apple is at the wrong end of it. Which is why their sales are heading down.

Err, yes you are by claiming Samsung to be somewhat a better value. The mid range Galaxy A series are one of the worst value of phones even by Android fans.
Samsung runs Android, the same OS run by Xiaomi, etc. Dollar for dollar, Samsung is just extremely overpriced.

Stating Apple to be at the wrong end of the smartphone market is like saying BMW to be at the wrong end of the market in cars.

 

[I7guy]

Not advocating Samsung. Just pointing out that there is a competitive smartphone market out there at the moment and Apple is at the wrong end of it. Which is why their sales are heading down.

According to Tim Cook, China was a part of the revised downward guidance. Apple will never compete in the low to mid android market they will never get those sales, and those phones (huawei etc) are popular in China.

 

[trims]

Err, yes you are by claiming Samsung to be somewhat a better value. The mid range Galaxy A series are one of the worst value of phones even by Android fans.
Samsung runs Android, the same OS run by Xiaomi, etc. Dollar for dollar, Samsung is just extremely overpriced.

Stating Apple to be at the wrong end of the smartphone market is like saying BMW to be at the wrong end of the market in cars.

OK, choose Xiaomi then, or Hauwei - which my friend just chose because he wanted a decent camera phone. Apple iPhones are just too expensive to compete at the moment. Do you get it?
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According to Tim Cook, China was a part of the revised downward guidance. Apple will never compete in the low to mid android market they will never get those sales, and those phones (huawei etc) are popular in China.

Android phones, including Huawei, are picking up plenty of sales here in the UK my friend!

 

[I7guy]

OK, choose Xiaomi then, or Hauwei - which my friend just chose because he wanted a decent camera phone. Apple iPhones are just too expensive to compete at the moment. Do you get it?
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Android phones, including Huawei, are picking up plenty of sales here in the UK my friend!

Huawei is picking up virtually no sales in the US. However Apple doesn’t care its expensive, it completes in the higher end premium market and with $84B in (projected) revenues they didn’t do as well as they thought but not a bad quarter either.

 

[trims]

Huawei is picking up virtually no sales in the US. However Apple doesn’t care its expensive, it completes in the higher end premium market and with $84B in (projected) revenues they didn’t do as well as they thought but not a bad quarter either.

OK, fair comment. Let's see how their strategy plays out then.

The thread asks about the way forward for better iPhone sales. I'm simply suggesting Apple might wish to reconsider their pricing strategy . . .
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To be fair the screen on the Xr is better than the screen on a £50 android phone but for its price point and for 2018 it’s not good enough. People give it a pass and start comparing it to mid range android phones because it’s not a flagship iPhone but the reality is that it’s as expensive as an S9 or the pixel 3. Both phones have much better screens.

Quote from another (current) thread. Same theme. It's all about Value For Money.

 

[I7guy]

OK, fair comment. Let's see how their strategy plays out then.

The thread asks about the way forward for better iPhone sales. I'm simply suggesting Apple might wish to reconsider their pricing strategy . . .

Why does apple need better iPhone sales? Other than more revenue what will it accomplish? Is $84B not enough?

Quote from another (current) thread. Same theme. It's all about Value For Money.

Isn’t value for the money subjective?

 

[44267547]

Forum members appear oblivious to the advances made by Huawei.

Maybe others don’t care about the hardware advances as much as they do familiarity? Have you considered that? Regardless, as another member indicated to you, it’s not really about the hardware as much as it is the software. iOS has a very strong foothold because of its simplicity, security and overall ecosystem for many. Those are three ingredients other members/consumers aren’t oblivious too.

Huawei may have some adequate hardware advancements, but do they really compete with Apple on the sector when the consumer is choosing android versus iOS? Two different things.

 

[Q-Dog]

By definition they have to be.

I mean, who doesn’t think the iPhone X is too expensive? Wasn’t that the number one complaint? Endless threads and whining? Or are we going down the road of “anyone can afford one” again?

If everyone can pick one narrative and stop bouncing between the two when it suits them it would make things a lot easier to debate.

Me, me me! I have never thought the X was too expensive. Too big, no headphone jack, no home button, are some of my complaints, but I never thought it was too expensive ... it's just not what I want in a phone. I am much more interested in small and unobtrusive, not bigger, bigger, bigger.

 

[Shanghaichica]

It’s not too expensive because I bought the X and now the max. Do I like the pricing? No it’s more than what we’ve come to expect from previous years but I still payed it. Will I upgrade this year? It depends on if I think the new features are worth it.

 

[balaplus]

https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/6/18168793/samsungs-75-inch-microled-4k-tv-pitcure-quality-ces-2019

MicroLED is the kind of innovation that Apple should have come up with - Would have been a storming entry into TV segment and more than replaced iphone revenues in time.
Complacency! Complacency!!

 

[Shanghaichica]

Maybe others don’t care about the hardware advances as much as they do familiarity? Have you considered that? Regardless, as another member indicated to you, it’s not really about the hardware as much as it is the software. iOS has a very strong foothold because of its simplicity, security and overall ecosystem for many. Those are three ingredients other members/consumers aren’t oblivious too.

I do like some features on the huwawei phones and on Samsung phones. However even on a phone basis it’s about the whole package not just a few exciting features. Then there is the lack of a comparable ecosystem and guaranteed software support.
This is why I continue to buy iPhones.

I trust Samsung as I’ve owned their phones
in the past. I know they are reliable and they will get two years of updates. However I don’t trust huwawei at all and that’s nothing to do with privacy issues. I wouldn’t spend £800/£900 on a huwawei flagship as I’ve no confidence in the device holding up or huwawei judt deciding not to bother updating it. If I could find a use for two phones then I could easily have a Samsung phone as a secondary phone but I’m not willing to take a risk on a huwawei phone.
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https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/6/18168793/samsungs-75-inch-microled-4k-tv-pitcure-quality-ces-2019

MicroLED is the kind of innovation that Apple should have come up with - Would have been a storming entry into TV segment and more than replaced iphone revenues in time.
Complacency! Complacency!!

They aren’t in a position to come up with major innovations in screen technology as they don’t manufacture their own screens like Samsung and LG.