Why Apple are struggling to sell new iPhones

Forums › Apple iOS and devices › Why Apple are struggling to sell new iPhones

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

20516 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4797

#2166493 23-Jan-2019 20:17

Personally I prefer iOS, because I find the whole system works better, except the podcast app, which often doesn't download the podcasts properly. Also I don't want google getting all my info. The apps I find are also better quality and less prone to crashing. Androids interface used to be a lot better, but Apple eventually caught up, except for the icons and widgets interfaces, which aren't as good.

Apple did just start selling the iphone SE again in the US at a heavily discounted price, for quite a good phone, and I like the small form factors.

dafman

4054 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2652

Trusted

#2166575 23-Jan-2019 21:54

matisyahu:

I'd be tempted to buy a Samsung phone if Samsung didn't have a tendency to throw customers under the bus 12 months after launching their products along with actually delivering security updates on time - they still haven't delivered Android Pie to devices in New Zealand. When a vendor treats their customers with such disregard I have to ask why anyone would have such loyalty to such a company.

My S7, nearly 3 years old, is running Android Oreo with a September 2018 security patch. From a functionality level, there's sod all between the latest S9 and my 3-year old S7. I'd pick that 9 out of 10 Android users could even tell the functionality difference between Oreo and Pie.

And, similarly, most iPhone users couldn't tell you what tangible improvements the latest iOS update offered over the previous.

Geeks obsess over version upgrades (Android & iOS) but in reality there is very little of substance for the average user these days between version upgrades. When I upgrade to a S10 next month, the user experience will feel very similar to my 3-year old S7.

So paying a massive 'Apple premium' for more regular updates over Android is not really a great value for money proposition for your average phone user.

blakamin

4431 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1306
Inactive user

#2166583 23-Jan-2019 22:27

dafman:

When I upgrade to a S10 next month, the user experience will feel very similar to my 3-year old S7.

Maybe for samsung and their OS (touchwiz still??), but Googles android launcher changed UX significantly with Android P.

pdh

442 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 290

#2166608 24-Jan-2019 04:25

Samsung household here - just don't like Apple's we-know-better stance + bling.
For both of us being geeks & coders - in phones, we're more hardware-driven.

The 3 Galaxies I've bought (S2 S4 & S8) - plus the wife's S5 and now Note 9 - have all been bought for advances in the hardware.
We couldn't care less about software versions & upgrades.
But show us advances like waterproofness, wireless charging, bigger screen & stylus - and the old device goes into the drawer.
Future = foldable screens + who-knows-what ?

Dial111

979 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 656

#2166617 24-Jan-2019 07:04

why do people care so much about what other people use as a phone?

tdgeek

30048 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9455

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2166618 24-Jan-2019 07:08

Dial111: why do people care so much about what other people use as a phone?

Yes, its funny

The post above yours is a person who dislikes Apple for emotional reasons only. Phones are tools, they do things, a lot of things, but that same poster has no interest in that also

Its JUST a phone

Lego

Shop now for Lego sets and other gifts (affiliate link).

Item

1739 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 726

Subscriber

#2166625 24-Jan-2019 07:35

Dial111: why do people care so much about what other people use as a phone?

Humans crave tribes and self-validation.

zyo

513 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 60

#2166636 24-Jan-2019 08:11

Still rocking a OnePlus 3t with Oreo. Am I bothered by the lack of Android pie? Not really when everything i use just works.

There is not a lot of must have features in each Android revision these days.

Normal users are more focused on camera quality, battery life etc which Apple has stagnated and overtaken even by some mid teir manufacturers.

trig42

5889 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2094

ID Verified

#2166676 24-Jan-2019 08:39

Apple phones definitely have much better resale value.

If you don't buy the newest (I'm still on a 7, quite happily), the incremental upgrade costs are not that huge.

If I bought an 8 or an X this year (probably an X), I can sell my 7 for about $400-$500, no issues - cash and quick. I can buy an X for $1000-1200 ish, so I'm happy to spend ~$600-700 for two-three years of phone.

This is what we (wife and I) have done with iPhones for the past 5 years. We can only do this because they hold their value (and we take good care of them, so they always sell - no scratches etc).

sxz

761 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 194

#2166681 24-Jan-2019 08:52

I love phone updates because I feel like I'm getting something new. But, is it really that important?

Just because my android probably only gets 2 years of updates (if that), doesn't mean it stops being useful after 2 years.

zyo

513 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 60

#2166685 24-Jan-2019 09:01

trig42:

Apple phones definitely have much better resale value.

If you don't buy the newest (I'm still on a 7, quite happily), the incremental upgrade costs are not that huge.

If I bought an 8 or an X this year (probably an X), I can sell my 7 for about $400-$500, no issues - cash and quick. I can buy an X for $1000-1200 ish, so I'm happy to spend ~$600-700 for two-three years of phone.

This is what we (wife and I) have done with iPhones for the past 5 years. We can only do this because they hold their value (and we take good care of them, so they always sell - no scratches etc).

Yes iPhone do hold value long term (or generally any Apple products for that matter), but if you are careless like a lot of people are, owning them could be a pricey proposition because of the repair cost (974 dollar back glass replacement for example)

https://support.apple.com/en-nz/iphone/repair/service/pricing

And no, phone cases are not fool proof.

Dyson

Shop now for Dyson appliances (affiliate link).

trig42

5889 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2094

ID Verified

#2166686 24-Jan-2019 09:03

zyo:

Yes iPhone do hold value long term (or generally any Apple products for that matter), but if you are careless like a lot of people are, owning them could be a pricey proposition because of the repair cost (974 dollar back glass replacement for example)

https://support.apple.com/en-nz/iphone/repair/service/pricing

And no, phone cases are not fool proof.

True.

Touch wood, however, I have never broken a screen, let alone a back glass. Always in a case, with screen protector.

howdystranger

152 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 32

#2166690 24-Jan-2019 09:13

One thing I've never figured out is how important security updates are. I like that my OnePlus 6 offers 3 years of security updates, but if I didn't get them would anything actually go wrong?

Handsomedan

7770 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 7406

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#2166694 24-Jan-2019 09:22

kobiak: Because cheap 200-300 USD Android one phone kicks iPhone arse :)

The difference between iPhone and cheaper no name devices is so small, most of ppl buy iPhone because of status rather then features.

I actually couldn't disagree with you more.

I stick with iPhone because I have so much invested in the ecosystem - from apps to other Apple Devices.

I love the idea of getting way more for less through Android and would jump ship if I was starting all over again, but you're wrong if you think Apple buyers are just buying for status...it's just a bloody phone/personal computing device.

And as others have said - Apple continues to support old devices for a long time.

Handsome Dan Has Spoken.
Handsome Dan needs to stop adding three dots to every sentence...

Handsome Dan does not currently have a side hustle as the mascot for Yale

*Gladly accepting donations...

zyo

513 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 60

#2166695 24-Jan-2019 09:31

trig42:
zyo:

Yes iPhone do hold value long term (or generally any Apple products for that matter), but if you are careless like a lot of people are, owning them could be a pricey proposition because of the repair cost (974 dollar back glass replacement for example)

https://support.apple.com/en-nz/iphone/repair/service/pricing

And no, phone cases are not fool proof.

True.

Touch wood, however, I have never broken a screen, let alone a back glass. Always in a case, with screen protector.

Screen protector protects sratches not drop damage.
I have been plenty of broken iPhone screens on buses/trains.
Also doesn't help when iPhones are needlessly thin and made of fragile materials.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6