Phones How does Apple do this?

[jrswizzle]

Yea I understand people upgrade for different reasons, but let's look at it this way. I have the iphone 5 which the newest design and newest ios. The iphone 5s will have the same look, but will be a bit faster I guess. I am not sure how much faster the phone can get. The iphone 5 is crazy fast. There will mostly likely be some new features like siri or something that the S will have that 5 does not have or will get. Is that enough to upgrade a phone?

From that side of things it just does not seem logical.

YOU (because you have an iPhone 5) are the not the target consumer for the 5S. They assume that if you purchased the 5, you are again locked into contract for the next 2 years and will need to wait at least a year (most probably 18 months) to upgrade again.

Apple simply plays to the carrier upgrade schedule which leads to more major updates every two years as opposed to every year.

And as I said, is there really any technology that would require Apple to release major updates every year? People love the look of the iPhone hardware - widely seen as the best out there. Should they simply change it for change sake?

If it ain't broke....

 

[Essenar]

The S series is always what I think of as, the Super Sport of whatever version phone it comes from. The 3G was nice looking, sure. But the processor and memory was the same as the original iPhone. The 3GS was so powerful that even now, it's a viable device to use. I know a girl that still has it. It's jailbroken and unlocked and she loves it. It plays any game she downloads, it's not slow to load web pages.

When I had an iPhone 3G, it felt lacking. 3GS was so solid I didn't want to sell it.

The same happened for the 4S.

For some reason, it just runs so much better.

Right now I have an iPhone 5 and I can't help but feel like it's the odd man out right now. I feel like the 5S will blow its doors off.

I should add that most times, S owners have been really happy with their devices. Most of the people I personally know with an iPhone 4S don't feel compelled to upgrade to the 5. One girl dropped hers, and she was adamant about getting the screen fixed even when her family told her they would outright buy the 5 for her. The same thing happened for me when I had a 3GS. I gave it to my girlfriend at the time because I had gotten an iPhone 4 with Verizon. I just kept wanting to snatch it out of her hands and scream, "No, it's my precious!"

 

[bmac4]

No, I think they care a lot about how it feels in the hand. I just think they prefer it to feel expensive rather than ergonomically correct

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Please don't ever try to become an industrial designer

Well I don't find that it is very comfortable in hand. It looks sexy, but has very hard edges that don't feel that good in hand. I do think you are right they want a premium feeling phone most of all. Which is fine and well it works.

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YOU (because you have an iPhone 5) are the not the target consumer for the 5S. They assume that if you purchased the 5, you are again locked into contract for the next 2 years and will need to wait at least a year (most probably 18 months) to upgrade again.

Apple simply plays to the carrier upgrade schedule which leads to more major updates every two years as opposed to every year.

And as I said, is there really any technology that would require Apple to release major updates every year? People love the look of the iPhone hardware - widely seen as the best out there. Should they simply change it for change sake?

If it ain't broke....

You are completely right. I guess I should have worded the question differently. I guess I was more blow away by the sales numbers for each phone each year because like I said millions have to be buying the newest iphone each year for the numbers to be so high. That is what I don't get.

 

[jrswizzle]

Well I don't find that it is very comfortable in hand. It looks sexy, but has very hard edges that don't feel that good in hand. I do think you are right they want a premium feeling phone most of all. Which is fine and well it works.

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You are completely right. I guess I should have worded the question differently. I guess I was more blow away by the sales numbers for each phone each year because like I said millions have to be buying the newest iphone each year for the numbers to be so high. That is what I don't get.

Generally speaking those numbers are made up of people who fall into one of these categories:

(1) Upgrade every year, regardless - likely not a HUGE portion, but sizeable.
(2) Are switching from another platform (which generally happens more going TO iPhone than from it say the numbers).
(3) Brand new smartphone owners - not a large number. For a number of reasons I'd say most brand new smartphone owners buy Android.
(4) Those who are eligible for upgrade and have the 4S or earlier

The number of people in these groups is pretty large....

 

[bmac4]

Generally speaking those numbers are made up of people who fall into one of these categories:

(1) Upgrade every year, regardless - likely not a HUGE portion, but sizeable.
(2) Are switching from another platform (which generally happens more going TO iPhone than from it say the numbers).
(3) Brand new smartphone owners - not a large number. For a number of reasons I'd say most brand new smartphone owners buy Android.
(4) Those who are eligible for upgrade and have the 4S or earlier

The number of people in these groups is pretty large....

Agreed

 

[bmac4]

What could Apple possible do to make the iphone faster or different? I know they could make it bigger, but we all know they want do that this year. That is why I really see no point in a 5s. Unless they make iOS 7 that much better that they need a bigger processor, and maybe they put a bigger battery in it.

 

[jrswizzle]

What could Apple possible do to make the iphone faster or different? I know they could make it bigger, but we all know they want do that this year. That is why I really see no point in a 5s. Unless they make iOS 7 that much better that they need a bigger processor, and maybe they put a bigger battery in it.

Again, you have to think about it from the standpoint of an iPhone 4S owner....not an iPhone 5.....

From the 4S to a 5S, even in the current iP5 form factor, you'd get the design change, speed bumps, battery bumps, camera bump etc.....

Apple actually does quite a bit behind the scenes in each iPhone upgrade that most people throw out the window because it doesn't "look different".

 

[bmac4]

Again, you have to think about it from the standpoint of an iPhone 4S owner....not an iPhone 5.....

From the 4S to a 5S, even in the current iP5 form factor, you'd get the design change, speed bumps, battery bumps, camera bump etc.....

Apple actually does quite a bit behind the scenes in each iPhone upgrade that most people throw out the window because it doesn't "look different".

Is the iphone 5 that much of a boost in the battery department? Also if you have the 4s the phone is still really fast they could almost wait until the 6 to upgrade. I do get what you are saying this would be a great upgrade for iphone 4s users. I don't know maybe I just get board with stuff too easy.

 

[jrswizzle]

Is the iphone 5 that much of a boost in the battery department? Also if you have the 4s the phone is still really fast they could almost wait until the 6 to upgrade. I do get what you are saying this would be a great upgrade for iphone 4s users. I don't know maybe I just get board with stuff too easy.

People don't buy phones nowadays because their old one wasn't fast enough.....most smartphones since about 2010 would be fast enough for a vast majority of the buying population - and the processors and speed put in flagships now are simply overkill....

Yes, you do

 

[irDigital0l]

As we all get prepared to see Apple reveal a new iPhone, and most of us believe it will be the 5s. I have a question. How does Apple sell millions upon millions of iphones, and then a year later release an S model that sales millions upon millions? No other phone manufacturer does this. The S model is aways just a spec bump with a couple of features Apple says the old phone can't do. Last year we had Siri that no other Apple device had at the time. I am a huge tech guy that loves having the latest and greatest, but even when I had my iphone 3g I saw no reason to get the 3gs. I waited until the 4 came out. Now someone in the forum told me that the only reason they has the S models was because there old iphones broke and were out of warranty. I can understand that upgrade.

Beyond the fact that the phone looks just like the older model. If you are like me with At&t you have to pay the upgrade fee plus $250 to upgrade early to an iphone. I just cannot see paying $450 on contract each year for an S model.

No other phone manufacturers have this practice. They always give us a bit of design up at the least. Let's look at the galaxy phones. Each galaxy S model has been a design change, and up until the S4 it has been a pretty big one. I understand none of these phones are as popular as the iphone, but still the companies that make them at least update the look of the phone.

Why does Apple do this? What makes you guys that do upgrade each year want to have the new S model? It kind of makes me think Apple holds out on some of the specs on the first redesign model, and them puts it all into the S model. Makes people want a new phone. I like Apple and understand a lot of what they do with the iphone, but this just kind of blows my mind. I guess more so the customers that buy into this than Apple. Apple is selling millions of each of these iphones why would they stop making S models?

Are you serious?

There's millions of people out there. Every day people start and end their contracts. Every day people get their first smartphone.

People are going to buy the iPhone 5S. Most are newcomers or have their 2 year contracts ended. Some are just loyal Apple fans that upgrade every year.

Most don't care if the iPhone 6 will be different or the UI needs to change.

 

[bmac4]

People don't buy phones nowadays because their old one wasn't fast enough.....most smartphones since about 2010 would be fast enough for a vast majority of the buying population - and the processors and speed put in flagships now are simply overkill....

Yes, you do

Yea talk about getting a new phone every year. I had 3 phones in the 2012 calendar year. Oh and I am thinking I am going to order the nexus 4 here in just a few minutes. That will be 3 in the calender year 2013.

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Are you serious?

There's millions of people out there. Every day people start and end their contracts. Every day people get their first smartphone.

People are going to buy the iPhone 5S. Most are newcomers or have their 2 year contracts ended. Some are just loyal Apple fans that upgrade every year.

Most don't care if the iPhone 6 will be different or the UI needs to change.

No I just posted this to be stupid.

 

[Michael Goff]

No not that much, but there were some upgrades. It gives people something new to look at. If I have my iphone 5 for a year, and then get the 5s the design just gets kind of old after a while. To me at least.

I didn't say it was a bad thing.

Also, that last part is key. Everyone should find what works -for them-. I personally like the way that the Galaxy Nexus feels, so I'll be trying to get something like that. If the 5S won't do it for you? Find something that does.

Life is too short to spend it with something you don't like, tech included.

Please don't ever try to become an industrial designer

Didn't plan on it, I just don't have the eye that some people apparently do. I plan on being more of a programmer, design has never been my forte.

 

[bmac4]

I didn't say it was a bad thing.

Also, that last part is key. Everyone should find what works -for them-. I personally like the way that the Galaxy Nexus feels, so I'll be trying to get something like that. If the 5S won't do it for you? Find something that does.

Life is too short to spend it with something you don't like, tech included.



Didn't plan on it, I just don't have the eye that some people apparently do. I plan on being more of a programmer, design has never been my forte.

Yea I loved my Galaxy nexus. Broke the sim tray on it. Why too much to get is fixed. I just order the nexus 4 will see if I like it better

 

[Michael Goff]

Yea I loved my Galaxy nexus. Broke the sim tray on it. Why too much to get is fixed. I just order the nexus 4 will see if I like it better

I hope you do.

I'm really paranoid about getting one of those because of the whole "I cracked the glass" thing.

Phones should not be made completely of glass.

 

[bmac4]

I hope you do.

I'm really paranoid about getting one of those because of the whole "I cracked the glass" thing.

Phones should not be made completely of glass.

Yea I had the iphone 4 and did ok, so I hope I can do the same. I have the note 2 as well so if I do have a mess up I have a back up

 

[daneoni]

Simple there are two contract cycles. S and non-S. Releasing a phone with new everything every year is pointless because many will be stuck in contracts. Hence just refine the previous model to catch new customers until current customers can upgrade. Then rinse repeat cycle.

 

[Michael Goff]

Yea I had the iphone 4 and did ok, so I hope I can do the same. I have the note 2 as well so if I do have a mess up I have a back up

I'd say to get a case regardless, really.

I had one for my 4S while I had it.

 

[bmac4]

I'd say to get a case regardless, really.

I had one for my 4S while I had it.

Yea I order a case when I ordered the phone. Just a clear one so I could still see the back.

 

[Michael Goff]

Yea I order a case when I ordered the phone. Just a clear one so I could still see the back.

Excellent.

I'd love to know what you think of the feel after a while, since you're a fellow GNexus lover. <3

 

[bmac4]

Excellent.

I'd love to know what you think of the feel after a while, since you're a fellow GNexus lover. <3

Well do for sure. I honestly do not know why I got the iphone 5. That is what I replaced the gnex for and had it for 5 months and now I am using the note 2. Loving the note 2, but want stock android too. I am just going to switch between the two.

 

[Marco123]

Bought a mini today and absolutely love it but one thing that's really pissed me off are the amount of apps that need to be bought separately that I have on my iphone 5 such as angry birds and cut the rope. It's annoyed me so much that I think I'll go with a galaxyS4 soon.

 

[roxxette]

Bought a mini today and absolutely love it but one thing that's really pissed me off are the amount of apps that need to be bought separately that I have on my iphone 5 such as angry birds and cut the rope. It's annoyed me so much that I think I'll go with a galaxyS4 soon.

Yeah a lot of popular apps sell the ipad version separate, sucks but cant blame then.

 

[bmac4]

Simple there are two contract cycles. S and non-S. Releasing a phone with new everything every year is pointless because many will be stuck in contracts. Hence just refine the previous model to catch new customers until current customers can upgrade. Then rinse repeat cycle.

Yea I get the people that have the 4s want the 5s, but like I said in my OP it is not just them that buy S model some have to have one a year. Why? The 5S can't bring enough to the table to warrant that upgrade plain and simple. I get what Apple is trying to do. I don't necessarily like it or think they should but I understand it.

Also I know good and well that Apple is not just releasing phones in upgrade cycles they know that people buy each year. Most people on this site upgrade each year to a new phone. I know I do, but Apple does not give me a choice of a new phone just and upgraded version of the phone I have had for a year. I get board to easy with phones to have the same phone for 2 years. I guess Apple does not have to built phones for people like me cause they sell enough without doing that.

 

[daneoni]

Yea I get the people that have the 4s want the 5s, but like I said in my OP it is not just them that buy S model some have to have one a year. Why? The 5S can't bring enough to the table to warrant that upgrade plain and simple. I get what Apple is trying to do. I don't necessarily like it or think they should but I understand it.

Those that buy yearly either have the disposable income (target demographic) to do so or need to do it for their job/business (reviewers) or have family plans. And S upgrades have enough of a difference to usually warrant the uptake.

 

[bmac4]

Those that buy yearly either have the disposable income to do so or need to do it for their job/business (reviewers). And S upgrades have enough of a difference to usually warrant the uptake.

Really they do? A new processor when the iphone 5 is already fast enough. A new camera when the camera is one of the best if not the best. Why do you need that if you have the 5?