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

[maflynn]

What would be an exciting feature (that’s not a gimmick) that’s not in the 8?

I don't know, I'm not an engineer, in the past Apple would roll out some fantastic features out of left field. Now they seem content to copying Samsung and not doing much. The pace of change from the 6s->7->8 hasn't been much, imo and I think apple is getting lazy

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

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.

How about tanking stock prices on release day as a measure of demand? I think that says it all...

 

[PlainviewX]

With how limited the supply is rumored to be for the X, and the lack luster interest in the 8, earnings look like they be a major disappointment.

 

[Rogifan]

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...

That’s not a statement of fact. I could give you anecdotes of people I know still using an iPhone 6 no complaints. Of course if this planned obsolescence was really true people would start buying something else. Unless you’re arguing that Apple customers are stupid or part of some cult that will buy anything the company releases.

 

[TBR]

Well I'm really looking forward to my new iPhone 8+ hopefully arriving on Monday (I have a job I can't queue up at a store during the day), I ordered around lunchtime on release day so no launch day delivery for me

Coming from an iPhone 5s this is one hell of an upgrade!

 

[Rogifan]

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.

I thought the animated emoji only applied to the X?

 

[maflynn]

With how limited the supply is rumored to be for the X, and the lack luster interest in the 8, earnings look like they be a major disappointment.

Given all the negativity directed towards the MBP when they rolled out the update in 2016, I thought the same thing, but you know they sold a boatload of those babies.

I wouldn't be surprised that they still sell a gazillion phones, though the numbers may very well be lower then prior years for the reasons you stated.

 

[Fozziebear71]

I agree the overall design is a tad dated, it is now 10 generations old, and although it is a great brand, the iPhone sadly is not a Porsche... It is still with a bump in tech, still really the same 1st generation iPhone that made Apple...The same lack of some sort of user installed external storage, the lack of headphone jack, yes the camera may be better, but the lack of storage renders this somewhat confusing.

The colours are not exciting, the phone is just that, a phone, no new shiny apps, nothing to really excite the consumer..I am waiting to see the car crash that will happen sadly in Trumpland when the police use the X against a suspect...Then the lawsuits fly...

Apple has lost the art of innovation, this is simple technical updating and that is boring, most Apple products are basically rehash dog-pooh served as something nice, but basically turd!!

"Trumpland"?

"Still really the same 1st generation iPhone"

"Lack of external storage"?

"Lack of headphone jack"?

Where to even begin to respond.

 

[maflynn]

Nice, where did you get that? I may have steel that from you

 

[flat five]

You bought your 11 year old daughter a 7+ and now you're going to get her an 8 or an X?

hmm.. you're making some assumptions that simply aren't true.. but to answer your 'question' (that's basically been phrased as a statement) --> no.

She's 11. I'm fairly certain she could survive with a 7+ for the next 3-5 years.

hmm.. why is age an important factor here?

couldn't a 35 yr old survive with a 7+ for the next 3-5 years just the same?

are you going around this site offering up similar critique to anyone that's replacing a phone that's less than 3-5 yrs old?
if not, what are the determining factors which say it's justifiable for an adult to replace phones early while the same factors won't be applying to a child?

Better yet, why not pay her an allowance and have her save it up to purchase a new phone for herself. Then she will know if the animojis are worth paying $300 for.

And yes, I'm fully aware that I sound like a cranky old man telling people to stop spoiling their kids and teach them the value of a dollar. Get off my lawn.

nah.. you just sound like a typical internet goer that knows everything about everyone else and how they're living life wrong while you're doing it right.

 

[Johns12]

That’s not a statement of fact. I could give you anecdotes of people I know still using an iPhone 6 no complaints. Of course if this planned obsolescence was really true people would start buying something else. Unless you’re arguing that Apple customers are stupid or part of some cult that will buy anything the company releases.

My wife is using my old iPhone 6 with no problems. She likes my S7edge also.

 

[9081094]

With those prices in Australia? I don't think everybody is holding out to the iPhone X at all. There is so much higher end available for reasonable prices that you don't stand in line for something überpriced.

 

[Rogifan]

I don't know, I'm not an engineer, in the past Apple would roll out some fantastic features out of left field. Now they seem content to copying Samsung and not doing much. The pace of change from the 6s->7->8 hasn't been much, imo and I think apple is getting lazy

Ok this fascinates me because I never felt there was anything radical about the iPhone from year to year. You’d maybe have one big feature like retina screen, FaceTime, Siri, or Touch ID. And the rest would be faster processor, better camera and software improvements. I’m just imagining what people today would say about the 3G > 3GS. In my opinion the 7 > 8 is a bigger upgrade than the 3 > 3GS.

 

[decafjava]

Not reading the whole thread as I know how it will go...just want to say good lukc to them but I am happy with my 7 plus with 256 GB - looking forward to ios 11 and High Sierra for my iMac otherwise my hardware purchases will be put on hiatus for as long as my hardware holds out. I will still be spending money on Apple through apps, AM etc.

 

[BigHonkingDeal]

Should've just called it iPhone 7S.....

You can call it 7S

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

That’s not a statement of fact. I could give you anecdotes of people I know still using an iPhone 6 no complaints. Of course if this planned obsolescence was really true people would start buying something else. Unless you’re arguing that Apple customers are stupid or part of some cult that will buy anything the company releases.

It most definitely is fact. It may not be for those that don't really do much with their phone but text and email, but it is there. And, yes, many Apple customers will buy anything the company releases, just because it's Apple. That is fact too.

But you seem very defensive of Apple. Not sure why you brought "stupid" into it...and again referring to Apple people at cult members or iSheep. All I said was some people buy new phones because theirs has slowed down. You'll have to explain to me how that makes someone "stupid" because I can't figure it out.

 

[Karma*Police]

Seriously who wants an iPhone 8 though.

Enough to push most 8 model delivery dates deeper into October so there seems to be decent demand. 8 pluses seem to be available sooner which shows the X is cannibalizing those model sales a lot more.

These are just guesses, of course, since there’s no way to tell how much supply is affecting this, but it seems to make sense that the more price sensitive section of the market would stick with the 8 while more of the plus crowd are willing to wait for the X.

 

[brianvictor7]

He was being sarcastic

 

[Fozziebear71]

It's almost as if the Apple haters, that frequent Macrumors, think that if they post in the forums about how people won't buy the X iPhone, Apple doesn't innovate, no headphone jack, blah, blah, blah, that people won't buy the X.

The iPhone X will sell out practically before the website goes live and there will be people lining up at stores. Guaranteed.

 

[5105973]

I was quite excited by the iPhone X build up. Then "Facegate" happened - which instantly put me off. Who could say no to Craigs beautiful face? The iPhone X can!

Then when i did get working, the fact it had to be RIGHT IN YOUR FACE and the swiping to get it to unlock also put me off. Then the rest of the features perked me up a bit and I thought "actually this iPhone is looking pretty good".

Unfortunately the Apple magic sapped away when the landscape video playback had rounded corners (what is this? 1990?) and THAT NOTCH CUTTING INTO THE SCREEN ARGH.

Then the price was revealed.

And then I said "HARD PASS".

No interest in the iPhone 8 (I am not paying nearly the price of the X for "yesterdays" tech. So the 8 is horrifically overpriced.

Sadly the thing is that Apple make kit so good that iOS 11 and my iPhone 6S+ are rocking happily. But the 8 could persuade me if it was £300 cheaper... I am still swayed by Apple somewhat....

I'm genuinely happy that you are still doing well with your 6S+. It is a really solid phone. But IPhone 8 has yesterday's tech? Where is everyone getting the idea that just because the external and internal design language is relatively unchanged, the components are completely unchanged? The iPhone 8 and the 8 Plus contain both new and old tech, with improvements where it is needed in key features. (Except perhaps audio recording--I don't know about that yet.)

It depends on what you value. If you value photography on your cell phone, as I did, you likely would have appreciated moving from the IPhone 6S+ to the IPhone 7+ for the fact that colors were more accurate. Brown and gold tones became more true as the slight greenish-aqua tint became a thing of the past so skin and hair tones started looking more flattering, too. I appreciated the ability to use the 2x zoom to bring me closer to once in a lifetime scenes of wildlife without image degradation. Some might consider the upgrade between the two insignificant, but for me it made a worthwhile difference and reason to upgrade.

I keep reading it's not worth going from the iPhone 7 Plus to the iPhone 8 Plus. I think The Verge, which I hardly ever pay any heed, is touting that. Well once again, there are differences that will be of value to some people if they investigate what the spec changes mean to what they want to do.

I don't know what that might be for you or for anyone else so I can't issue a blanket judgement that going from an iPhone 7/7Plus to an iPhone 8/8Plus is a worthwhile upgrade but for me it is, if I go this route. I remain undecided between the 8 and the iPhone X.

If I go to the 8 Plus from my 7 Plus I'll get an even better camera than the one I already love, with a new feature. I'll get better stereo speakers. I'll get the wireless charging I've enjoyed having since I got my Samsung phones. I'll get an improved display. I already like my IPhone 7 Plus display and end up using it more than my S8+ display for videos, despite the latter being the much hyped AMOLED. Any improvement can only be Nirvana at this point. (However I do remain unimpressed at the lack progress in the improvement of the ppi on the IPhone 8 display after these many generations).

OLED may or may not be a phenomenal upgrade. I have had it on my S7, S7 Edge and S8+ and while it can be gorgeous, I have seen less than awe inspiring issues with OLED. Mainly I value the savings on battery life in dark modes and the higher contrast ratio is pretty cool. Perhaps Apple's homegrown specifications will do something magical with OLED, but I will believe it when I see it. At any rate as much as I would likely enjoy it, I am willing to do without it this year if I decide the 8 Plus is a better decision for me than the X.

 

[doelcm82]

Ok this fascinates me because I never felt there was anything radical about the iPhone from year to year. You’d maybe have one big feature like retina screen, FaceTime, Siri, or Touch ID. And the rest would be faster processor, better camera and software improvements. I’m just imagining what people today would say about the 3G > 3GS. In my opinion the 7 > 8 is a bigger upgrade than the 3 > 3GS.

That's just silly. The 3GS had a COMPASS, for Pete's sake!

Actually, before the 3GS was released, I upgraded my iPhone every single year. I skipped the 3GS, though, and upgraded every two years after that until the iPhone 7. I wanted the iPhone 7, but circumstances kept me from buying it, and I decided to wait another year for the tenth anniversary model.

 

[bbeagle]

Nice, where did you get that? I may have steel that from you

I'm surprised anybody likes that image - it's incredibly lame, and any regular non-techie person will just laugh at you for showing them that.

Not many Apple users care what specs iPhones have. They buy iPhones because they work better, are faster, and easier to use regardless of what the specs are.

 

[Boatboy24]

Nobody's waiting for X either.

There's nothing compelling about the 8 - I'll only upgrade if my carrier gives me one free. The X is too expensive for what it offers. Yes, the tech is cool, but only the uber-geeks care about that. Unfortunately, the technology in these things has now gone beyond the point where people care. Their current phones do what they want them to do. Let's face it - if you asked the average person on the street with a 6 or 7, most of them don't even have Touch ID or Apple Pay enabled.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

The iPhone X will sell out practically before the website goes live and there will be people lining up at stores. Guaranteed.

That's because Apple is behind the curve on production, and there will be SMALL NUMBERS of them available. So, yes, it will be a feeding frenzy for the few that are available.
[doublepost=1506083221][/doublepost]

Nobody's waiting for X either.

There's nothing compelling about the 8 - I'll only upgrade if my carrier gives me one free. The X is too expensive for what it offers. Yes, the tech is cool, but only the uber-geeks care about that. Unfortunately, the technology in these things has now gone beyond the point where people care. Their current phones do what they want them to do.

But...but... People have wanted animated poop and AR emoji's since the inception of the iPhone. FINALLY, the iPhone X has it!

 

[doelcm82]

It's almost as if the Apple haters, that frequent Macrumors, think that if they post in the forums about how people won't buy the X iPhone, Apple doesn't innovate, no headphone jack, blah, blah, blah, that people won't buy the X.

The iPhone X will sell out practically before the website goes live and there will be people lining up at stores. Guaranteed.

I'm not making predictions about how well the iPhone X will sell or how long the lines will be. But I will be waiting up to preorder the iPhone X at the earliest possible second. Then I will wait patiently (going on with my usual life) until it arrives.