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Xiaomi Surpasses Apple to Become Number Two Worldwide Smartphone Vendor in Q2 2021

Michael Scrip said:
Very true.

14%... if you just look at that number alone... it sounds tiny.

But with a billion iPhones... a few hundred million iPads... and a hundred million Macs... it's kinda hard to feel bad for Apple and their "niche" ecosystem...

;)
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I don’t feel bad. Neither does my Apple stock ;-)

Would be nice though as an Apple user if iMessage, FaceTime, … where the defacto standards for communication instead of being hidden away in some folder I never access. Simply because no one else uses it. (again, outside the US).

The same applies for many other apps and services. No one uses the iWork formats, so I don’t use the apps. The TV app, while designed to be a media hub, is a ghost town because no Apple TV Channels exist where I live (Belgium) and no local vendor will develop one as there’s no market share, even Amazon Prime can’t be bothered.

I like living in Apple’s ecosystem, but it’s not always convenient.
 
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shadowv4x said:
Yeah. My old Realme [Oppo] phone had only one major update (Android 9->10) and then they just dropped support. Unimpressed. I've heard that Samsung's A series phones have 3 OS upgrades and 4 years of security patches. Hopefully they stay true to their word.
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Samsung did promise 3 OS upgrades for all their recent lineup, including the A series. However, majority of them get only quarterly security updates (in contrast, the S series get them monthly). Also, I would not count the 4th year as it's just biannual security updates, meaning in the 4th year, you're just getting 2 security patches.

Still, this means Samsung phones are better in terms of OS upgrades than any of these Chinese phones, definitely. It's just that at face value during purchase, Samsung phones tend to lose spec wise for the price. Software support is a hidden cost.
 
Say what you want, but I switched to Xiaomi with the Redmi Note 4 in 2017 and never looked back, tried different models from Mi Mix and Mi Mix 2 to mi 9 (wanted to try the top end as well) and now I settled for a Mi Note 10 Lite.

Love their quality / price ratio, the battery on this Mi Note 10 Lite is a beast and I can go trought 2 full days without a charger, it does everything pretty much as needed, it could improve on camera quality but it's not bad.

300 euros vs 1200, I know I did the right choice, while I might not get 6 years of updates I probably change my phone before that anyway, and even if it last 2 years, I would end up spending 900 euros changing it every 2 years and still saving 300 euros, plus i would have a new battery a new warranty and such.

There was a time were iPhone were the future and it was iPhone or nothing, the market nowadays is pretty much stagnant (well there are the fold ones but still) so at the end of the day, it it runs a music app, a browser a camera and a messaging app, it's all I really need.

Maybe I am not the target audience anymore, but for me it makes very little senso to spend 4 times as much.

Most important things for me in a smartphone are battery , call and signal quality and it has to make decend pics, the Note 10 Lite covers all 3.

dojoman said:
People actually spend money for Xiaomi products?
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Very much so, and no regrets!
Being buying Xiaomi since 2017, will keep doing it as long as they offer quality phone for a price that make sense.
 
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dojoman said:
People actually spend money for Xiaomi products?
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People's attitudes on here reminds me of the American attitude to the global car industry in the 1970s and 1980s, totally focussed on the home giants and instantly dismissive of what was being produced in Asia which, to start with, was nothing remarkable. However, whilst the US industry just kept rolling on with mediocre cars and no real innovation, complacently dismissing Asia, Japan was turning into the producer of cars that at first were a match for anything Ford or GM were turning out, and then very quickly surpassed those so when the US market did finally wake up to them, the impact on the US manufacturers was devastating.

Relevance? Xiaomi's mobile phone offerings might not be up to iPhone standard (and maybe never will be), there's clearly 'Apple inspiration' in many of their designs and their market penetration in the US may be minimal, but take a look outside and, as these figures show, you can't ignore them. Take a look at some of the other products they make, such as their smart vacuum cleaners; they're already comparable or better than anything the established household names like iRobot are making.

So many successful Asian companies have followed this model; start off riding the coat tails of successful Western companies, become as good as them, then become better than them.
 
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shadowv4x said:
Yeah. My old Realme [Oppo] phone had only one major update (Android 9->10) and then they just dropped support. Unimpressed. I've heard that Samsung's A series phones have 3 OS upgrades and 4 years of security patches. Hopefully they stay true to their word.
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No, Samsung A-series has 3 OS upgrades +1 year of security patches.
 
lolOwO said:
until iphones come anywhere close to being the only phones you can buy, apple cannot be a monopoly in any meaningful sense of the word. your railroad analogy is garbage
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And not even quality garbage at that, it’s the garbage that’s been sitting in the hot sun for a week. A horrid analogy.
The Sherman act applicability will be in part determined by one’s ability to almost outright control price of (in our example) the smartphone consumer space. Apple does not control price, period. Quite the opposite, others in the space are putting downward pricing pressure on, putting pressure on Apple to produce a better product to compete for revenue. The free market is working well here.
The monopoly discussion continues due to Apple hate and a very obvious lack of knowledge on the word monopoly outside of what they’ve learned reading internet posts.
 
Aoligei said:
Apple is monopoly in its own iOS ecosystem and it happened to have most profitable business and App Store. It has market power to dictate market movement and developer.

There is no competition within iOS ecosystem. Apple controls everything, down to iOS accessories. Apple is the monopoly in any measurable way.

Google has even less market share on smartphone hardware, does this mean Google is not monopoly
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This is so full of holes it’s hard to know where to start.
Apple cannot be a monopoly of its own products or ecosystem. If so all companies are monopolies in their own right. Adobe with photoshop is a monopoly, right? This is laughable.
For god’s sake it’s the internet, the Sherman act is easily found and read. Can any of the anti Apple monopoly pushers read it? It’s not a terribly long document. Just one of you read it then pass it around your hate Apple group therapy session — instead of parroting internet talking points by clickbait loudmouths.
Google is not a monopoly either in this discussion, period. They could be as a web search company where they own 90%. But They would have to have control of the pricing and have acted in bad faith to break competition.

Monopoly does not have a discussion here except by those who know not even basics of the germane congressional act. It’s embarrassing…
 
yabeweb said:
There was a time were iPhone were the future and it was iPhone or nothing, the market nowadays is pretty much stagnant (well there are the fold ones but still) so at the end of the day, it it runs a music app, a browser a camera and a messaging app, it's all I really need.

Maybe I am not the target audience anymore, but for me it makes very little senso to spend 4 times as much.
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The immediate future is still Apple despite your more basic needs on a smartphone not matching Apple’s iPhone offerings. In 12 days take a look at the quarterly numbers to be reassured of Apple’s place.

You want a phone with the basics and that’s all. Then a lower cost is perfect for you. There really is no need to buy the higher priced Apple or Samsung. The expense of the iPhone with far tighter privacy security isn’t for you or the virtually malware free OS isn’t critical for you, very timely os updates, Eco items like Watch and hearables and that interop seamlessly, those things aren’t for you. the Xaomi is a best choice for you. It’s great that there are offerings for all levels of consumer needs.

if someone asked me and said their use case was yours, I would direct them to the inexpensive phone models except first explaining privacy security issues of Android and what phones will have CCP concerns. I’d let them make the choice as you have. I’m sure they’d be as happy as you are too..
 
One2Grift said:
The immediate future is still Apple despite your more basic needs on a smartphone not matching Apple’s iPhone offerings. In 12 days take a look at the quarterly numbers to be reassured of Apple’s place.
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Never said Apple is in troubles, and the good thing about choices is that just because one is making numbers does not mean it's the best for you.

Lots of people buy what is cool...

One2Grift said:
You want a phone with the basics and that’s all. Then a lower cost is perfect for you. There really is no need to buy the higher priced Apple or Samsung. The expense of the iPhone with far tighter privacy security isn’t for you or the virtually malware free OS isn’t critical for you, very timely os updates, Eco items like Watch and hearables and that interop seamlessly, those things aren’t for you. the Xaomi is a best choice for you. It’s great that there are offerings for all levels of consumer needs.
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I need a Smartphone, I see no task I can do with an iPhone I cannot do with any other smartphone, as for security, I am careful what I install and what I share with people, people want secure stuff, then they share the heck on social media and such being careless so...

One2Grift said:
The expense of the iPhone with far tighter privacy security isn’t for you or the virtually malware free OS isn’t critical for you, very timely os updates, Eco items like Watch and hearables and that interop seamlessly, those things aren’t for you. the Xaomi is a best choice for you. It’s great that there are offerings for all levels of consumer needs.
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I get the latest security patch for at least 2 years then it might start being behind for a month or two, but as I said, 2-3 years is what I keep my phone usually anyway, then there's other problem like battery and such, so not an issue for the SW update, nor I need Apple to slow down my phone just cause..

As for ecosystem, I am okay, the Amazfit GRT is nice and does what i need, no need for anythig fancier than notification and some activity monitor, and the phone works wonders with google home, and with windows you can actually do some nice things, the only real issue I have it's when I try to use stuff with my iPad (Latest M1 12.9).
I understand Apple closeness there and don't complain, but it's more a limitation of iOS / Mac OS rather than android, as it seems to wokf fine with Windows.

One2Grift said:
if someone asked me and said their use case was yours, I would direct them to the inexpensive phone models except first explaining privacy security issues of Android and what phones will have CCP concerns. I’d let them make the choice as you have. I’m sure they’d be as happy as you are too..
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My use case is pretty much the average Joe, he needs a phone, an internet device a camera and a music app, some casual gaming.

Yes you can play the privacy thing, but then again, the average Joe shares the c*** out of his life on social media and probably care less about privacy.

Currently running the June security patch from Xiaomi / Android, wich is the latest releaseed.

Never had any security / privacy issue, not with iPhone / iPad and not with Android.

EDIT:
I also run apps like Rita (just one of different app i use and used with iOS as well) and make sure very little is shared with companies.

Site I use have much more chances of getting hacked than my phone does, so I care more about that.
 
Apple defenders are out in force in this thread is see. At the end of the day, today's world is all about technology mobility, instant connectivity and ease of use and if a mobile manufacturer comes along and makes a phone that is affordable to those in many countries where only the wealthly can afford Apple and Samsung phones, then that mobile phone manufacturer will slowly start to creep up the rankings and will eventually be number one.

There are more less well off people in the world than there is well off and if a mobile phone manufacturer can produce a phone that provides all the necessary functions that a smartphone provides but yet make the price affordable to the less well off people in the world, that mobile phone manufacturer will be number one.
 
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laptech said:
Apple defenders are out in force in this thread is see. At the end of the day, today's world is all about technology mobility, instant connectivity and ease of use and if a mobile manufacturer comes along and makes a phone that is affordable to those in many countries where only the wealthly can afford Apple and Samsung phones, then that mobile phone manufacturer will slowly start to creep up the rankings and will eventually be number one.

There are more less well off people in the world than there is well off and if a mobile phone manufacturer can produce a phone that provides all the necessary functions that a smartphone provides but yet make the price affordable to the less well off people in the world, that mobile phone manufacturer will be number one.
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There are many that can afford it, but still do not want to spend that much money for little gain.

I see no reason (I used to when I was younger) to spend 1200$ on a smartphone, especially when a 300$ one does the same thing.

I do not need a fashion gadget, I need a tool, but I understand and don't judge the people that want an iPhone, if it works for them I am happy for them.
 
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yabeweb said:
.....

I do not need a fashion gadget, I need a tool, but I understand and don't judge the people that want an iPhone, if it works for them I am happy for them.
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The section in bold is where your thinking is wrong in todays world. A mobile phone is deeply rooted in today's society. It has moved on from being a 'fashion gadget' to becoming a 'tool', a tool that would enrich the lives of those not able to afford a modern nice looking mobile phone. If Xiaomi is able to fill the void of modern day smartphone at a very low affordable price so the less well off can afford them, then all good for Xiaomi.

There are many many poor countries in the world. Why should their citizens be ostracized against having a modern day smartphone that is affordable to them to allow them the same joys that citizens in wealthier nations do? Samsung wont do it, Apple certainly won't do. If Xiaomi can do it, then great. If they knock Samsung and Apple of their perch, maybe it will show both companies that having the best looking and functioning phones is not everything.
 
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laptech said:
The section in bold is where your thinking is wrong in todays world. A mobile phone is deeply rooted in today's society. It has moved on from being a 'fashion gadget' to becoming a 'tool', a tool that would enrich the lives of those not able to afford a modern nice looking mobile phone. If Xiaomi is able to fill the void of modern day smartphone at a very low affordable price so the less well off can afford them, then all good for Xiaomi.

There are many many poor countries in the world. Why should their citizens be ostracized against having a modern day smartphone that is affordable to them to allow them the same joys that citizens in wealthier nations do? Samsung wont do it, Apple certainly won't do. If Xiaomi can do it, then great. If they knock Samsung and Apple of their perch, maybe it will show both companies that having the best looking and functioning phones is not everything.
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You underestimate how many iPhone buyers get an Apple Phone just for the logo, at least where I live, the iPhone is still a statement.

It might be different in U.S. but the > WORLD < is a lot bigger.
 
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sw1tcher said:
Creating the SE and moving some manufacturing to India means Apple does care (to some extent) about quantity.

telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com

Apple starting iPhone 12 production in India; Analysts say 2021 could be its best year

Apple Iphone 12: Apple, though, isn't yet starting manufacturing of its Pro models under the iPhone 12 series and will continue to import for domestic demand.
telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com

NEW DELHI: Apple is starting production of its latest 5G-ready iPhone 12 smartphone in India for local customers, deepening its local manufacturing operations, a move which analysts say would help the Cupertino-based company reduce the high cost of the imported device due to an import duty levy and boost its volume share further in the world’s second largest market.
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Of course Apple has always been about market share and to say different is asinine, ALL companies care about it!
 
falkon-engine said:
You know full well Apple is the sole App Store operator for iPhone and iPad apps. On android, google is not a monopoly (in the android App Store operator market) because other android app stores exist, like Amazon, Samsung, and so on. Come on.
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They know, they don’t care, anything to defend Apple though….
 
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Quite impressive the impact that Trump had. Huawi is nowhere to be seen in the list anymore after his ban.
 
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