Turnout for iPhone 8 Launch in Australia 'Bleak' as Customers Hold Out for Upcoming iPhone X

[Nahaz]

iOS 11 is like iOS 10 on cocaine: whatever switch you flip it literally never goes to sleep

Also the Operating of the OS is getting fragmented across devices.

iPad - Sweep up from quick bar to access multi windows
iPhone 7 - Press Home button twice
iPhone X - Sweep up from bottom and pause in middle of screen

As for notification screen, again you sweep from different locations

 

[OllyW]

What's impacting the sales imo, is that apple is still selling the iPhone 7 and if you don't care about the wireless charging, then it may make sense to save money and buy that.

The 7 isn't available on the iPhone Upgrade Programme though.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

Yeah. Another new iPhone. Having had an iPhone(usually the latest/greatest) for the last 10 years, my enthusiasm over the devices has ebbed away. I see no compelling reasons to replace my 6S.

 

[maflynn]

The 7 isn't available on the iPhone Upgrade Programme though.

No, but I'm not in the upgrade program, but you can still buy it unlocked from Apple.
The base iPhone 7 is $550.
The base iPhone 8 is $700.

Granted Apple is selling both in memory configurations that are not the same, 32gb vs 64GB and 128GB vs. 256GB. I think they did that on purpose to keep them from being compared.

 

[forcenine]

Nobody lines up anymore. They preorder online. Lines were small last year too and the 7 and 7 Plus destroyed records.

That said, I can get an 8 arrive next Friday so probably a mix of easier production than the X and people waiting for the X. But it doesn’t mean the 8 is a failure by any means. Classic click bait. Do they have online preorder numbers?

 

[Jmausmuc]

I’m not so sure how significant this is. The people that actually line up at the store are usually enthusiasts that will most likely wait for the X this year.

The average customer that is due for a new device will probably order theirs online.

On the other hand: my mom ordered an 8 as an upgrade to her 6 and just sent me a picture of the box she just received. She ordered it three days ago and received it right on launch day so supply constraints don’t really seem to be much of an issue this time around.

What is concerning to me: I’m considering buying the X (would never get the “8”) but it’s not because I’m amazed by it (like I was wegen I got the iPhone 1, 3G, 4, 5, 6) but rather because I just do t like android very much and need a new phone.

 

[maflynn]

Nobody lines up anymore. They preorder online. Lines were small last year too and the 7 and 7 Plus destroyed records.

I think you'll see lines for the X.

 

[Rogifan]

I hope this is clear to apple they need to innovate on overall design.

Consumers don't want an iPhone 6ss

Really? So that’s why Apple sells 40-50M iPhones in a quarter. Try harder.

 

[haruhiko]

I just looked up historical launch prices. 10 years ago in 2007, the original iPhone cost $499. So it has doubled in price in 10 years. Has the innovation doubled? Definitely not. Has my disposable income doubled? Nope. And does Apple seriously expect us to believe that 64GB of storage in 2017 costs them more than 4GB did in 2007? Again, I doubt it.

$499 + a 2 year contract and sim lock.

 

[Rogifan]

I like how they assume people are holding out for the iPhone X rather than people are holding off on upgrading. The iPhone 8 is not that significant of an upgrade from the 7 and the price for the X starts at a ridiculous $1,579 AUD.

The 8 is not a significant upgrade from the 7? Based on what criteria?

 

[Dremmel]

The turnout around the World appears to be bleak. That is a fact. Saying that that is because everyone is waiting for the X is pure speculation. FaceID and the edge to notch screen will put some people off. Maybe they are all waiting for the iPhone XI

 

[imanidiot]

CNET | iPhone X: Forget the experts, here’s what real people think

I'm with them. It's a phone. Unless there is something wrong with the one you have, who cares? Well, yeah, tech heads, who really need to get lives.

 

[norbinhouston]

lol, I didn't know Apple haters came on this site.

Hey haters, no need to post, we all know the bullet points from your Apple Haters Manual, since that's all you post. lol. Try innovating with some new put downs of Apple.

 

[Rogifan]

Why would anybody wait in line when you can order online and have it delivered to your house on launch day? In addition to that, those on the upgrade program can return their phones with the pre-paid shipping that is provided by Apple. Absolutely no reason to sit in line.

Exactly. This is click-bait D&G because the media (and rumor sites) know anti-Apple articles drive traffic.
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So.....

• iPhone 8 is a flop
• iPhone X will be made at a rate of 300,000 a month https://www.macrumors.com/2017/09/11/kgi-gold-iphone-x-possibly-delayed/

Baring in mind Apple relies on iPhone to generate most of its profits, I'd be slightly worried right now if I held AAPL stock.

iPhone 8 is a flop based because there weren’t long lines outside an Apple store in Australia? Good god get a grip people.

 

[Hater]

TBH I'm more excited for the rumours of a new SE in the iPod 6th gen case.

lol, I didn't know Apple haters came on this site.

Hey haters, no need to post, we all know the bullet points from your Apple Haters Manual, since that's all you post. lol. Try innovating with some new put downs of Apple.

 

[recoil80]

I think you'll see lines for the X.

Yeah I think so.

I didn't go to an AS today but I'm reading some local blogs and in my country no Apple store had long queues outside like in the past, maybe 10 people or less.
8+ is available on the online store, shipping on Monday while 8 ships in a week, but you can still find it via carriers or the equivalent of BestBuy we have here.

 

[Stella]

I wanted to buy a new iPhone this year but instead will wait 12 months.

The iPhone 8 is lacklustre and the iPhone X - far too expensive for just a smartphone. Wait 12 months and X features should be rolled into the ‘regular’ iPhone.

 

[Rogifan]

Agree. I’ve never seen such hostility from a group of iPhone users to another. Judging people on which iPhone others are getting, wow. I guess these are the types that see the X as a status symbol.

No what’s stupid is thinking 10 years after a product launch there should still be long lines outside the store when a new model comes out. Especially when it’s so easy to order online and have it delivered right to your door. And these same people mocking the lack of lines would be the first to refer to Apple as a cult and Apple customers as iSheep.

 

[HoosBruce]

Idk why you’d even line up when you can order from home and have it delivered to you. Convenience is a hell of a drug

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

Really? So that’s why Apple sells 40-50M iPhones in a quarter. Try harder.

Apple sells that many phone in part because of the built-in obsolescence of the phone and/or iOS. After a couple of generations, just like a Windows PC, the thing becomes laggy and slow. If it didn't, would people still buy a new phone?

"Try harder"? I hope that is directed at Apple...

 

[Rogifan]

Talking of Plan B, I think the awful notch was Plan B. If they could have figured out any way to have that phone without it, they would have done, I am sure. I don't buy for one second that it is an intentional design statement. Give it a couple of years, and watch all the whooping at an Apple event when they display a proper full screen version sans notch.

It’s not but since it has to exist right now marketing decided to embrace it rather than trying to hide it. Though I still think in a .1 update they’ll tweak how the software works in landscape mode.

 

[Ries]

The 8 is not a significant upgrade from the 7? Based on what criteria?

On the "it is basicly the same as last year, except for wireless charging, animated poop emojis, selfies and faster on an already plenty fast phone" criteria.

 

[Rogifan]

When have most people buying iPhones cared about specs? How about never.
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Is anyone surprised?

Nobody wants to buy an iPhone 8 when there is a better phone like the iPhone X. Plus at this point, especially next to the X, the iPhone 8 design looks so old and stale. If you can afford to drop £700-950 then what's another £200-£300? Might as well wait for the better phone.

No doubt Apple will try spin this as "We never expected this kind of demand! Our customers LOVE it!" and it just gives them even more reason to keep charging stupid amounts of money for a phone. £1,000 is ridiculous imo. I wanted to come back to iPhone but looks like I won't be coming back for a long time yet...if ever.

Using lines at stores as a measure of demand reminds me of when Wall Street and financial reporters used AT&T and Verizon earnings calls to judge how many iPhone sales Apple was going to report. The metric might have meant something a few years ago but means nothing now. iPhone has been around 10 years. It’s ridiculous to think after 10 years people should still be lining up outside stores every time a new model is released.

 

[Fozziebear71]

Hahaaaa, they look embarrassed to be there. Lol. And what happens when the lines for the X are also bleak? You're only assuming everyone is waiting for the X.

You're joking right?

 

[Rogifan]

Not surprised by the "bleak" turnout. Mostly because of the X, but also partly due to the less then exciting features in the 8. Why pay more for basically the same iPhone 7. The only big feature is wireless charging, and that seems kind of sad to me. I mean its a feature that's been standard in other phones for many years but its now the one major feature of the iPhone 8.

I will say the 8 look gorgeous with the glass back, but thanks to apple's wacky idea of keeping a camera bump, I'd say a case is needed, thus covering up the glass.

What would be an exciting feature (that’s not a gimmick) that’s not in the 8? Seems this year the only exciting thing about smartphones is the loss of bezels. If the Galaxy S8 still had a front facing finger print sensor and larger top/bottom bezels what would be exciting about it?