Actually, the point was Apple having enough generated revenue with services that they could survive just off that, it's not just about the investor stand point, it's the fact that they have other services that others are not considering aside from just hardware. Hence my example provided. It's a conjectured theory.
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iPhone X Apple is losing its mainstream, non-fan core with the X
- Thread starter MarkB786
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Actually, the point was Apple having enough generated revenue with services that they could survive just off that, it's not just about the investor stand point, it's the fact that they have other services that others are not considering aside from just hardware. Hence my example provided. It's a conjectured theory.
Whilst I agree that the 6 could have had OIS, there isn’t any point in putting a 1080p display on a 4.7 inch screen. Also despite apple’s services not being as developed as others they still make a lot of money form it.
I felt the same way you did in the months before owning each of these devices and time and again Apple has proven themselves right and me wrong.
As relates to the iPhone X, after 24 hours with the convenience of Face ID you realize why Touch ID had to go, it's just slower and more work. The things that concerned me about Face ID like speed, multiple gestures, viewing angles, sunglasses, Apple Pay.....Face ID just does it all, and faster and better. Once you use the X for a day you'd understand. Can't be concluded by a few minutes in an Apple Store.
The headphone jack was another thing that disturbed me greatly, but wireless is actually the better solution and I'm much happier now with Bluetooth cans. The X comes with the RCA adapter and standard earbuds with a Lightning connector of course, its hardly an inconvenience to snap the 2" Lightning adapter onto your headphones and leave it there. Turned out to be much ado about nothing.
And you can't look at what Apple "took away" in a bubble. You have to weigh it against what they added. Taking away Touch ID and the Headphone Jack allowed for a much larger screen, added space for a bigger battery, and significant water resistance. Even if you don't appreciate Face ID or Bluetooth audio as an advance forward, you'd be blown away by the best feature of the X that no one talks much about- incredible, ridiculous battery life. Can't think of anything more important, actually. I used to get home after a 12 hour day on my iPhone 6 with 35% battery life. Today, with the X, same usage patterns, I get home each night with a whopping 81% remaining. I've gone 3 days without charging or topping off. It's crazy.
One doesn't need to be a fanboy to support Apple's current strategies. One just has to experience the products and not just believe what you see in YouTube videos and 15 minutes in a store. Trust me on this one.
It may all be rosey for some enjoying features and trade offs but the iPhone X is at a significant disadvantage as it’s priced itself out of the mainstream market. Some of us are only ever going to give opinions based on YouTube videos and user reviews as owning it is either unaffordable or unjustifiable. The apparent old form factor is going to be popular for some time yet.
I’ll be the first to admit that its price makes me even more judgmental and every aspect will be put under the microscope. However, we’ve been told time and time again that the X isn’t aimed at the average iPhone user so our opinions are irrelevant to those that own it anyway.
Say what you will about my pro/con views on Apple, but criticizing my writing or logic without merit takes it a step too far! [sarcasm]. You claim I'm being contradictory, sidetracking, and improper framed yet provide no points as to why. Just making claims without even pointing out how loses your argument credibility and/or is just lazy. Please elaborate.
Your example of your purchase decision doesn't support or not support my arguments. I believe you take exception to the fact that I'm calling out people like you as hypocritical. You believe the phone you chose to buy is somehow a necessity because it's x% less than the X, but I say it's just another luxury like my phone. Your value-conscious decision doesn't draw the line of what is luxury vs. necessity. The cheapest Android phones will serve the core functions of a smartphone, regardless of how rough around the edges they are. I'm sure many Android buyers think iPhone buyers are idiots and they're "smarter" because they're getting better "value". You're paying a premium for convenience, build, reliability, and service when you buy Apple. ALL Apple products are luxury goods in that regard. The X is just another tier of that. Apple has never been described as "affordable" or "entry level". Why are you suggesting that they turned a corner recently and decided to become greedy and start gouging. Their margins have been relatively consistent over the years (high). Their playbook is the same (except for the Jobs-less 90's). There is a market for higher end phones, they are filling that need.
Again, I could care less about who buys what phone. I have no vested interest in the sales of the X other than modest shares in the company. Why do people who don't buy the X care so much that some people do? Just go take solace in the fact that you outsmarted all the X buyers and be happy.
Good post, I agree the pricing shuts people down to the device before they even wrap their heads around the new featureset.
FYI, I just got 2 iPhone X's at half price through AT&T's Loyalty division. If you know how to do it, the X is cheaper than the 8, and certainly more affordable, good ol' subsidies just like the old days. There's a thread in this forum if you are an AT&T user.
Price isn’t too much of an issue for you guys in the States but our carriers don’t give discounts on iPhones as the price is fixed and out of their control. We pay nearly as much for an iPhone 8 than you guys do for a X. A base model 8 currently costs $937 in your money and the base model X $1339.
It’s putting a lot of people off here and driving up sales of the iPhone 7.
Yikes, didn't realize it was that bad.
Listen, the iPhone X isn't some groundbreaking new product, you're not missing much. That said, it is better than the 8, 7, 6, or any other iPhone before it. The compelling reason to own it isn't Face ID or the OLED screen, it's because of ridiculously great battery life and the convenience of wireless charging. If neither of those make you excited, you aren't missing anything.
Trying to justify Apple's decisions to make yourself feel better about them taking advantage of their consumers. Your entire middle paragraph is all strawmans.
I'm not going to rewrite my entire message. I will repeat 1 major point. Prior to the iPhone 6, each year the iPhone would cost the same amount & have new features. This meant the consumers were effectively getting a better deal each year. value = specs/price. With iPhone 6, Apple's started withholding features from the less expensive phone. With the iPhone X this has gone to the extreme. Instead of releasing a phone for everyone, they are trying to squeeze as much money as possible from their costumers with more expensive phones. That is a huge difference in philosophy and you are completely glossing over it.
excuse
Well obviously they realise that the market is reaching a plateau so they are trying to make as much money as they can now. Nobody can blame them. It’s business. Everyone has the choice of whether they want to buy the phone or not. Nobody is forcing you to buy it.
I guess I’m one of the few who returned my X not because of price but because I couldn’t and didn’t want to get used to the footprint. I’m used to the 6/7/8 footprint cause it’s way easier to use with 1 hand in a case. I can use the X 1 handed naked but I need medium light protection like an Otterbox Symmetry case. Once I put the Otterbox Symmetry case on it totally changed the footprint for the X for me.
For me the bezels on my 8 non Plus and previous iPhones believe it or not actually help me navigate easier. On the X the app drawer and access to to reachability were too low. With the 8 chassis my thumb is right there if that makes sense on my pinky shelf.
I don't think the problem with this matter is the iPhone X itself rather than the marginal updates that come with every yearly iPhone. It is not unusal for Apple to release the iPhone X this year because many people that bought the 6S are now potential candidates for the iPhone X and the ones with an iPhone 7 could get enough money with selling it to be able to buy the X at a reduced price - like I did even though I didn't want to buy it until the next iPhone is released.
But once you get familiar with the UX, I don't think they want to return it (despite its flaws with CC or NC) because it's soo fluid and Face ID so good.
But once you get familiar with the UX, I don't think they want to return it (despite its flaws with CC or NC) because it's soo fluid and Face ID so good.
I've decided to return my X. I'm sticking to my 5S. After 2 weeks of use, I realize, I don't need a new phone. I hardly ever used the X during my 2-week trial (actually I had until Jan. 8, 2018 to return, but decided to return it early). I'm waiting next year to upgrade. The excitement of owning that X was over after a few days. I rather spend my money on a new 15" MBP-tb and upgrade my MBA.
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Yes I can see that. If you’re coming from a non plus the size and height might be difficult to adjust too. I came from three generations of plus phone so I’m quite enjoying the more compact nature of the phone. Those otterbox cases are quite bulky. I used to use them with the Samsung galaxy phones and it felt like you were carrying about a tank. In the end I gave up.
For me and I’m being honest from my experience the X is just another iPhone. The new UI was nice and Face ID but still just another iPhone. Also although the hardware is the best on the market hardware isn’t important to me as OS. I can get the just another iPhone OS in my iPhone 8 non Plus.
Another thing I didn’t like about the X was I prefer a more industrial design like the 6/7/8. Even the Pixel 2 has a somewhat whimsical industrial design. The X is too fancy for me from a hardware perspective and doesn’t fit my character. To me the X is metro sexual.
Not exactly true because there aren't that many options in the smartphone industry. There are only 2 OSs (iOS and Android) and only a handful of flagship devices. So I can't just get what I want because my options are limited.
There are plenty of examples of people returning the X though. You only have to look around this forum and there is even a thread dedicated to it. The form factor is not yet adored by everybody but then again the X isn’t aimed at the average iPhone user.
That was my reason the form factor. When the specs came out the X naked was same size as my iPhone 7 in a Magpul case. But I forgot to consider the X with a similar case. When I put a similar case on the X it became much bigger.
Now maybe form factor isn’t a good description. Footprint is better. For me the X footprint wasn’t good. For instance the app drawer was too low on the screen. Also to access Control Center and notifications was too high. Also although having the X in a Otterbox Symmetry case which made it big for me to access reachability I had to really dig to get it to work cause the case had a lip.
True that, I also wanted to buy an Plus-version if the X didn't come out but deep inside I knew that it could've been too big so I would probably give it back or sell it. People buying the wrong device for themselves is something everyone could do so I can't blame the X for that tbh
How is the X not aimed at the average iPhone user?
Since the first Android phones started building momentum at low prices, the iPhone consumer has always been high end, agreeing to pay more for a premium product at a premium price. Remember that less than 3 years ago it was customary that a subsidized Android was $0 and a subsidized iPhone was $99, and to get an iPhone with a decent amount of space you needed to spend $199 or more.
Today with subsidies virtually gone and manufacturers selling at realistic prices, the delta between an iPhone X and the latest Samsung is a few hundred dollars, just like the old days. And, what, we're talking about $400 more expensive than an 8? Over a 4 year lifespan of a typical smartphone, it's $100 a year, it's $8.33 a month. I pay more than that a day for a coffee and a bagel.
Point is, the "average" iPhone user has always been a premium consumer used to paying more. If Android is Honda and Apple is BMW, as the years went by Apple decided that besides a 3 Series it was time for a 5 Series. The X is the 5 Series. It's a step-up for a premium consumer. They're not alienating anyone. They're still offering the 6/7/8 form factor. The X is business class for those who don't fly economy.
The truth is though that the X isn’t a 5 series. Don’t drink the kool aid. The Samsung S8 I would consider a 5 series. What you’re getting with the X is beautiful sexy hardware but it’s not a 5 series under the hood compared to other flagship Android devices.
But there are plenty of android devices at various prices and if you don’t want android there are other iPhones on sale at different price points.
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To be fair we have these type of threads every year, with every iPhone.
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I was pleasantly surprised when I set up my X this week because all my banking apps and other apps that I used Touch ID for previously had all been updated to support Face ID.Good news for X owners who use Paypal. They can finally use FaceID with Paypal.
Here's what you don't understand. It's not Kool Aid. It's ecosystem preference.
I have never, ever even looked at an Android phone let alone understand what makes it better or worse than an iPhone. To millions of us very happy in the Apple ecosystem, every 2-3 years when our iPhone's are getting old we see what Apple offers, pick the one that suits us, and that's that. Our movies, TV shows, music, home videos, they're all in iTunes, they're on our Apple TV's, they're on our iPad's, therefore they're on our Smartphone's too.
Android? To millions of people it's not even a consideration. We've never picked one up. It doesn't even exist. That's what you and the other rah-rah Android people will never understand. The 8 is our BMW 3 Series and the X is our BMW 5 Series. Telling us that Kia makes a better car? LOL. No BMW owner would be caught dead in a Kia.