Do you plan to switch from iPhone to Android? (2016)

[Geert76]

Despite my disbelief and disappointment at the rumors of a third and higher tier, more expensive "iPhone X," I have no doubt that if it's real, it'll sell through the roof.

Apple stock is rising just based on the rumors and hype. Come this Fall, Apple is going to do what it does best: make money.

Agree. Apple has such a loyal fanbase. These people don't care if the prices go up again... as long as there is an Apple logo on the back, it will sell like hot cakes.
This happens every single year with the release of the new iPhone.
Apple is fully aware of this.

 

[epicrayban]

Agree. Apple has such a loyal fanbase. These people don't care if the prices go up again... as long as there is an Apple logo on the back, it will sell like hot cakes.
This happens every single year with the release of the new iPhone.
Apple is fully aware of this.

While I agree some of this is true, I think the iPhone X will also sell especially well because Apple is finally offering features that 1) some people have been waiting for, and 2) that the competition has been offering. We saw this happen when they finally introduced the Plus model.

It's just a bit of a shame it'll have to be at the highest tier pricing, as if the exclusive features between the Plus and regular model aren't enough. Regular-size iPhone devotees are going to lose out even more if a third tier is introduced.

 

[tbayrgs]

While I agree some of this is true, I think the iPhone X will also sell especially well because Apple is finally offering features that 1) some people have been waiting for, and 2) that the competition has been offering. We saw this happen when they finally introduced the Plus model.

It's just a bit of a shame it'll have to be at the highest tier pricing, as if the exclusive features between the Plus and regular model aren't enough. Regular-size iPhone devotees are going to lose out even more if a third tier is introduced.

I'm not happy about the rumored fragmentation of the iPhone line either but to clarify, based on the rumors, it's not the fans of the 'regular' sized iPhone that will be missing out but rather those of us that prefer larger devices with larger screens. The high end model is rumored to be roughly the same size as the current non-Plus model. If Apple is going to maximize the display size and reduce bezels, I'd wish they'd do it to both sizes. I'd love a version similar in size to today's 7 Plus with a 6"+ display.

 

[epicrayban]

I'm not happy about the rumored fragmentation of the iPhone line either but to clarify, based on the rumors, it's not the fans of the 'regular' sized iPhone that will be missing out but rather those of us that prefer larger devices with larger screens. The high end model is rumored to be roughly the same size as the current non-Plus model. If Apple is going to maximize the display size and reduce bezels, I'd wish they'd do it to both sizes. I'd love a version similar in size to today's 7 Plus with a 6"+ display.

Very good point. The 5.1" usable space of the iPhone X means a smaller screen. Maybe during certain situations (games, full screen video playback, etc), the screen utilizes the full 5.8" screen?

Either way you cut it, the customer loses out when Apple fragments features and options like this. Depending on what they ultimately decide, if you get the 7S, you could lose out on certain features of the Plus and certain features of the iPhone X. If you get the 7S Plus, you could lose on certain features of the iPhone X, and potentially your aforementioned larger screen usability.

Once again, Apple forcing their customers to pay top dollar to get everything you might want; some of which the competition has been offering for some time now.

The whole idea of giving the iPhone 7 a modest update was to celebrate the iPhone's 10th anniversary a year later with crazy new features. 100% agree with you that this celebration should be across their entire 2017 iPhone line up, instead of only in a third, higher, and even more expensive tier.

They're rumors for now so we will see. As I said earlier, it'll still sell like hotcakes, no doubt, but for the customer? Kind of sucks, in my opinion. I've long warned that Apple's pace -- at the level of the technology -- was too slow. And customers are the ones who will suffer for this.

 

[apolloa]

Very good point. The 5.1" usable space of the iPhone X means a smaller screen. Maybe during certain situations (games, full screen video playback, etc), the screen utilizes the full 5.8" screen?

Either way you cut it, the customer loses out when Apple fragments features and options like this. Depending on what they ultimately decide, if you get the 7S, you could lose out on certain features of the Plus and certain features of the iPhone X. If you get the 7S Plus, you could lose on certain features of the iPhone X, and potentially your aforementioned larger screen usability.

Once again, Apple forcing their customers to pay top dollar to get everything you might want; some of which the competition have been offering for some time now.

The whole idea of giving the iPhone 7 a modest update was to celebrate the iPhone's 10th anniversary a year later with crazy new features. 100% agree with you that this celebration should be across their entire 2017 iPhone line up, instead of only in a third, higher, and even more expensive tier.

They're rumors for now so we will see. As I said earlier, it'll still sell like hotcakes, no doubt, but for the customer? Kind of sucks, in my opinion. I've long warned that Apple's pace -- at the level of the technology -- was too slow. And customers are the ones who will suffer for this.

Just remember in the UK, the crop of current and up coming Android flagship phones will ALL cost less then the current 128GB iPhone 7 4.7" device... yes lots of fans will buy it, but at over a grand, if it's priced at that point, it won't sell half as well as other phones or any other iPhone, because the way Apple controls the tariffs pricing for its iPhone on the networks, it'll be on expensive tariffs, or over a grand sim free...

I still do not buy the physical size of it that's being rumoured either.. I think it could drive more people away from Apple maybe, if it fragments the line up too much.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Just remember in the UK, the crop of current and up coming Android flagship phones will ALL cost less then the current 128GB iPhone 7 4.7" device... yes lots of fans will buy it, but at over a grand, if it's priced at that point, it won't sell half as well as other phones or any other iPhone, because the way Apple controls the tariffs pricing for its iPhone on the networks, it'll be on expensive tariffs, or over a grand sim free...

I still do not buy the physical size of it that's being rumoured either.. I think it could drive more people away from Apple maybe, if it fragments the line up too much.

The LG 6 is £699 which is the same as the current iPhone 7 128GB. The S8 will likely cost even more than that.

 

[epicrayban]

https://9to5mac.com/2017/03/07/iphone-edition-2017/

Report: This year’s flagship iPhone may be called the ‘iPhone Edition,’ launch well after announcement



Macotakara says that the so-called “iPhone Edition” will be announced in September, as has been the case for all of the recent iPhone announcements. The iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus are also expected at that event. The iPhone Edition, however, “may be very much behind” the iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus in terms of actual release, something that was reported last week, as well.

 

[apolloa]

The LG 6 is £699 which is the same as the current iPhone 7 128GB. The S8 will likely cost even more than that.

I've only seen that mentioned in tech news as a pre order price on one website. LG haven't officially put a price on it yet as far as I know.

 

[The Game 161]

The LG 6 is £699 which is the same as the current iPhone 7 128GB. The S8 will likely cost even more than that.

I think we will see the S8 plus costing at least £800

 

[tbayrgs]

https://9to5mac.com/2017/03/07/iphone-edition-2017/

Report: This year’s flagship iPhone may be called the ‘iPhone Edition,’ launch well after announcement



Macotakara says that the so-called “iPhone Edition” will be announced in September, as has been the case for all of the recent iPhone announcements. The iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus are also expected at that event. The iPhone Edition, however, “may be very much behind” the iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus in terms of actual release, something that was reported last week, as well.

Sigh.

With every rumor I read, the more I think it's about time to start extricating myself from the Apple ecosystem. Sadly, until I see some significant improvement in Android Wear hardware and Chrome tablet/hybrids and their ability to run Android apps well, it's still going to be while.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Sigh.

With every rumor I read, the more I think it's about time to start extricating myself from the Apple ecosystem. Sadly, until I see some significant improvement in Android Wear hardware and Chrome tablet/hybrids and their ability to run Android apps well, it's still going to be while.

It's ridiculous that Apple would classify this as an exclusive, super high end phone when it is not offering anything that the industry hasn't already had on competing devices for years. If they were offering new and exclusive technology that wasn't available elsewhere then you could accept the mindset.

 

[Wildo6882]

Sigh.

With every rumor I read, the more I think it's about time to start extricating myself from the Apple ecosystem. Sadly, until I see some significant improvement in Android Wear hardware and Chrome tablet/hybrids and their ability to run Android apps well, it's still going to be while.

I'm in the exact same boat. I don't REALLY want to be in the Apple ecosystem anymore. But there isn't an Android Wear watch that I like (waiting on the Huawei Watch 2). And I'm waiting to see how well the Samsung Chromebook Pro works before jumping in on that bandwagon. But I'm just not impressed with the mentality of Apple.

 

[epicrayban]

Sigh.

With every rumor I read, the more I think it's about time to start extricating myself from the Apple ecosystem. Sadly, until I see some significant improvement in Android Wear hardware and Chrome tablet/hybrids and their ability to run Android apps well, it's still going to be while.

It's possible to live with both worlds very well. My smartphone needs are greater, so Android's features and flexibility make it the obvious choice. And my iPad and computer needs are filled by Apple... for now. Any shortcomings this blend of ecosystems present is minor to me, and the advantages I get are greater.

Agree with you -- would love to see android wear and chromebooks make gains. I think the chromebook is on its way there.

 

[andreiru]

The two are close but I'll stick to my iPhone for now

 

[tbayrgs]

I'm in the exact same boat. I don't REALLY want to be in the Apple ecosystem anymore. But there isn't an Android Wear watch that I like (waiting on the Huawei Watch 2). And I'm waiting to see how well the Samsung Chromebook Pro works before jumping in on that bandwagon. But I'm just not impressed with the mentality of Apple.

Have you followed anything about the Huawei Watch 2 from MWC? It's pretty much been universally panned and considering the design and specs, I can't disagree. I already have a Huawei Watch and its sequel seems like a huge letdown, offering nothing beyond what's available on the original. And while I like the design of the original, the user experience was 'meh' at best and without a rotating crown, I can't see it improving that much once it evenually gets Android Wear 2.0 (who knows when this will happen).

I was also quite intrigued by the Samsung Chromebook Pro but again, just about everything I've read about it and its ARM equipped Plus counterpart point toward a buggy, uninspired performance. I believe the Verge's Dieter Bohn got his hands on a Pro model and said while it was admittedly an early release, the performance was disappointing and that the Plus actually offered a better experience. The reviews I've read for the Plus haven't been very inspiring either.

I found the latest version of the Asus Flip initially more compelling considering that is going to be a version with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage yet comparisons show the display is noticeably inferior to the Samsung's and I'd much rather have the 3:2 display ratio. But then the Samsung doesn't have a backlit keyboard, it doesn't offer configurable RAM or storage, and the trackpad appears to be mediocre at best.

I'm not giving Apple any more money but if there aren't any better hardware offerings than what's been revealed lately, I feargoing to be stuck using my existing gear for quite a long time.

 

[Wildo6882]

Have you followed anything about the Huawei Watch 2 from MWC? It's pretty much been universally panned and considering the design and specs, I can't disagree. I already have a Huawei Watch and its sequel seems like a huge letdown, offering nothing beyond what's available on the original. And while I like the design of the original, the user experience was 'meh' at best and without a rotating crown, I can't see it improving that much once it evenually gets Android Wear 2.0 (who knows when this will happen).

I was also quite intrigued by the Samsung Chromebook Pro but again, just about everything I've read about it and its ARM equipped Plus counterpart point toward a buggy, uninspired performance. I believe the Verge's Dieter Bohn got his hands on a Pro model and said while it was admittedly an early release, the performance was disappointing and that the Plus actually offered a better experience. The reviews I've read for the Plus haven't been very inspiring either.

I found the latest version of the Asus Flip initially more compelling considering that is going to be a version with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage yet comparisons show the display is noticeably inferior to the Samsung's and I'd much rather have the 3:2 display ratio. But then the Samsung doesn't have a backlit keyboard, it doesn't offer configurable RAM or storage, and the trackpad appears to be mediocre at best.

I'm not giving Apple any more money but if there aren't any better hardware offerings than what's been revealed lately, I feargoing to be stuck using my existing gear for quite a long time.

I have looked at it, and I actually like it. Especially the Classic edition, which actually looks like a real watch instead of a fitness tracker. The rotating crown isn't a deal breaker or maker for me, either. But I also know that an Apple Watch would fit the bill for me, too. I'm also not a fan of blindly following reviewers' opinions. I can't count the number of times that I've loved something that was universally panned or hated something that was universally praised.

I also don't care about the reviews of the Pro. It simply isn't a finished product. What was tested was completely beta. It isn't even the right color. I've seen quite a few reviews of the Plus that are favorable, and I talked to a friend of mine that loves his. I do agree with everything you said about the new Flip vs. the Plus. I want something that's more tablet-like, and that's the Samsung offering.

 

[tbayrgs]

It's possible to live with both worlds very well. My smartphone needs are greater, so Android's features and flexibility make it the obvious choice. And my iPad and computer needs are filled by Apple... for now. Any shortcomings this blend of ecosystems present is minor to me, and the advantages I get are greater.

Agree with you -- would love to see android wear and chromebooks make gains. I think the chromebook is on its way there.

I've tried 'the blend' of gear before , and personally I still find the experience lacking. I like the advantages offered within a particular ecosystem--heck, even Samsung's Flow app seems like a great benefit to owning Samsung gear and just tend to find the 3rd party solutions that I have to cobble together to replicate what I previously had as inferior.

To be clear, I'm quite happy with my existing workflow and hardware and am sure I can be happy with it for a while. I still easily prefer iOS/Mac OS/WatchOS for my personal needs. Unfortunately, I also have a bad habit of wanting to try new tech and use the latest and greatest and I'm just not seeing compelling choices for the immediate future. Each major ecosystem has some signifcant areas of weakness.

 

[martint235]

I think we will see the S8 plus costing at least £800

That's because Samsung has seen Apple's pricing policy and likes it. It remains to be seen whether or not the Note 7 debacle will hit Samsung in the fan base. Probably not is my view.

However once you look outside of LG, HTC and Samsung, there is a great deal going on in the Android world with highly specced phones at around the £500 mark. The OnePlus 3T, the Huawei P9 for example are quality pieces of kit.

 

[Radon87000]

I doubt this iPhone Edition will even ship on time. I am reading supply constraints everywhere. Also I cant rationally justify spending 1.3k every year. The name "Edition" almost confirms my belief that the 1K variant is just the 32GB version and to get the 128GB its going to be 1.3k at the very least. And thats without AppleCare probably

 

[The Game 161]

Sigh.

With every rumor I read, the more I think it's about time to start extricating myself from the Apple ecosystem. Sadly, until I see some significant improvement in Android Wear hardware and Chrome tablet/hybrids and their ability to run Android apps well, it's still going to be while.

Dunno I think the S3 tab sounds good and the gear S3 sounds a good wearable option too

 

[epicrayban]

Apple: Come celebrate the tenth anniversary iPhone with us... if you're rich!

Assuming Apple sticks to tradition and the 7S and 7S Plus are only internal upgrades, how dated will those two flagship devices look next to 2017 flagships like the G6, S8, and soon after, the Note 8? Who knows what Huawei and OnePlus and others might have in store too with their designs. The current iPhone design already looks embarrassingly behind when it comes to the bezels and general ergonomics/sizes.

I warned for years that Apple was falling behind at the level of the technology. Now, Apple devotees may have to face even more fragmented and feature-exclusive decisions in Apple's 2017 offerings.


What I'm hoping is Apple actually plans to redesign the entire lineup so that at least the 7S and 7S Plus will get wireless charging, which would require a glass back. It might not have edge panels or the new gesture bar, but it'll at least have that to minimize fragmented features? I don't know...

I would still hate to get the 7S or 7S Plus knowing Apple has figured out a consistent back navigation solution in the form of a gesture bar, but that I can't use it even in a 2017 flagship Apple device.

 

[tbayrgs]

Dunno I think the S3 tab sounds good and the gear S3 sounds a good wearable option too

If you like Samsung, sure. I'm personally not a fan of most of their mobile software ecosystem. I do a huge amount of my daily work on my 12.9" iPP and while I can see eventually moving to a Chrome OS/Android app device, Android tablets just don't compare, IMO. The hardware looks decent but Android tabs are still an inferior experience at present. The S3 tab is using a year old CPU and the prospects of software updates....well, no need to beat this dead horse any further.

I have very similar feelings about the Gear S watches. They're quite nice pieces of hardware but the support from the dev community just doesn't compare to WatchOS and Android Wear. I don't want to rely predominantly on Samsung software.

 

[apolloa]

Apple: Come celebrate the tenth anniversary iPhone with us... if you're rich!

Assuming Apple sticks to tradition and the 7S and 7S Plus are only internal upgrades, how dated will those two flagship devices look next to 2017 flagships like the G6, S8, and soon after, the Note 8? Who knows what Huawei and OnePlus and others might have in store too with their designs. The current iPhone design already looks embarrassingly behind when it comes to the bezels and general ergonomics/sizes.

I warned for years that Apple was falling behind at the level of the technology. Now, Apple devotees may have to face even more fragmented and feature-exclusive decisions in Apple's 2017 offerings.


What I'm hoping is Apple actually plans to redesign the entire lineup so that at least the 7S and 7S Plus will get wireless charging, which would require a glass back. It might not have edge panels or the new gesture bar, but it'll at least have that to minimize fragmented features? I don't know...

I would still hate to get the 7S or 7S Plus knowing Apple has figured out a consistent back navigation solution in the form of a gesture bar, but that I can't use it even in a 2017 flagship Apple device.

They won't, don't know if you lot have forgotten, but last year Apple and Schiller and Cook ALL made a specific point of stating the iPhone 7 was a 'new design' during their keynote, they did that for one reason and one reason only, to push sales and to set the design up to be used for this years refreshed models.

 

[epicrayban]

They won't, don't know if you lot have forgotten, but last year Apple and Schiller and Cook ALL made a specific point of stating the iPhone 7 was a 'new design' during their keynote, they did that for one reason and one reason only, to push sales and to set the design up to be used for this years refreshed models.

Right. I mean, I wouldn't be surprised one bit. If they keep to tradition, then what does that make the 7S and 7S plus? Pretty much a three year old design that's expected to go for a fourth year.

For better or worse, only Apple could get away with this.

 

[Radon87000]

They won't, don't know if you lot have forgotten, but last year Apple and Schiller and Cook ALL made a specific point of stating the iPhone 7 was a 'new design' during their keynote, they did that for one reason and one reason only, to push sales and to set the design up to be used for this years refreshed models.

I just hope they don't keep this strategy up even in 2018. Keep reusing this old design and implement incremental updates and charge hefty premiums for new features.