iPhone X IPhone X Could go End of Life Summer 2018 for Low Demand

[eyoungren]

They won’t do away with the X or at least it’s features. Apple might bring back Touch ID if they can get it under the screen but won’t go back to an all design when the rest of the industry are doing bezeless designs.

TouchID is not returning.

I've posted a link here in the past where an Apple official has stated that under the glass TouchID was never a consideration. Apple's focus was on FaceID and that is what they will use going forward.

So, any hope that TouchID will return because there is a problem for Apple to solve first is false hope - because Apple isn't interested in Touch ID any more. Period.

 

[Deacon-Blues]

That's unfortunate about Touch ID. I haven't tried Face ID, but I can see how there would be situations where it will be inferior to Touch ID. For instance, often times while lying in bed I will grab my 7+, tilt it up enough to see what time it is, or change a playlist, look at a Ring video feed, etc... The phone unlocks as I grab it and place my thumb. That won't happen with Face ID.

When I use Siri I don't even have to look at the screen to trigger it, just touch my thumb to the phone and speak. Face ID won't let me do that either.

In fact, Face ID will require me to position the phone within a certain zone in front of my face, whereas Touch ID gives me the option to unlock my phone at a steep angle if and when necessary, which actually seems to happen a lot, particularly if it's resting on my desk.

Face ID seems like a solution to a problem no one was having.

But I don't think that is why the iPhone X might not be meeting expectations. I think the primary reason may be price. Apple likes to push it but perhaps they are pushing it a little too hard. I'm not saying the iPhone isn't worth that price, due to the technology it uses, but I am saying that technology may not be compelling enough for people to pay as much as Apple is asking. At least not in numbers great enough to propel the iPhone X to sales records.

Also the screen is smaller feeling than the popular Plus phones, and some people are put off by the notch. These things add up in the consumer's mind.

 

[Phone Junky]

When I use Siri I don't even have to look at the screen to trigger it, just touch my thumb to the phone and speak. Face ID won't let me do that either.

Use "hey Siri". Don't even have to touch the phone.

 

[Wyckham]

Use "hey Siri". Don't even have to touch the phone.

IPhone 6s and above

 

[Deacon-Blues]

I prefer to not have Siri constantly listening to everything I say in the background. Some people don't mind, I know. I do. So I don't use Hey Siri.

Not just for paranoia reasons. I used it for a while and often had false positives, where Siri activated due to thinking it heard me say Hey Siri. I also had countless instances of repeating Hey Siri over and over again, without triggering Siri. Pressing the button is a sure thing. Always goes off when I want it to, never when I don't.

I don't mean to hijack the thread with my opinions on Face ID. I will bring it back to the discussion at hand by pointing out that for me, personally, Face ID is NOT a value-add to the iPhone X. Touch ID is still the premier biometric technology in my opinion.

 

[newellj]

I don't mean to hijack the thread with my opinions on Face ID. I will bring it back to the discussion at hand by pointing out that for me, personally, Face ID is NOT a value-add to the iPhone X. Touch ID is still the premier biometric technology in my opinion.

I agree with this, and I returned an iPhone X that I had for five weeks somewhat reluctantly in part for this reason, but not because of the basic technology. Overall I think the bare technology is at this point probably a draw overall, though some people have strong opinions about how well each works. To me, the sense that TouchID is still the premier technology is because of the UI that Apple has built up around that, and that's all just iOS choices that Apple can rearrange, and probably will. The EOL possibility is interesting to me because it suggests that there may be some fundamental change in how Apple implements FaceID. Not just rearranging the UI and tweaking the UX, but maybe a fundamental change in the FaceID hardware - something that would make the X unattractive or uncompetitive.

Who knows...and I do not think for a moment that Apple is going to do a u-turn on FaceID. Maybe there will be an iPhone 9 with TouchID, maybe (probably) not. If there is, it's probably just a spec-bump...update the SoC, offer some new colors. The 8 itself offers very little more than the 7 other than a serious CPU/GPU speed update, unless 7.5W wireless charging (which you really can't call "fast" by any stretch of the imagination) was for some reason on your must-have list.

 

[upandown]

Sorry but that's such bs

 

[sean000]

I prefer to not have Siri constantly listening to everything I say in the background. Some people don't mind, I know. I do. So I don't use Hey Siri.

Not just for paranoia reasons. I used it for a while and often had false positives, where Siri activated due to thinking it heard me say Hey Siri. I also had countless instances of repeating Hey Siri over and over again, without triggering Siri. Pressing the button is a sure thing. Always goes off when I want it to, never when I don't.

I don't mean to hijack the thread with my opinions on Face ID. I will bring it back to the discussion at hand by pointing out that for me, personally, Face ID is NOT a value-add to the iPhone X. Touch ID is still the premier biometric technology in my opinion.

I can press and hold the power button on my iPhone X and activate Siri without unlocking or looking at the phone.

As for FaceID, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. I had more failures with TouchID because it just doesn’t work with my left thumb most of the time. I’m outside the norm in that regard, but I was also frustrated by TouchID while wearing gloves and whenever my hands were the slightest bit damp with water or sweat. FaceID only gives me a hard time in two scenarios: the bed scenario you mentioned, but it works fine as long as I lift my head an inch off the pillow. The other is when the iPhone is flat on a table and I see a notification appear that I want to glance at. FaceID requires me to either lean over the phone or lift the phone at an angle. Easy solution for this though: I have a $6 stand I put my iPhone in on my desk. FaceID works and it’s easier to read. Has to be portrait orientation though. FaceID won’t work in landscape, which to me is another minor frustration. All said, FaceID works more often for me than TouchID, and it’s awesome for secure apps. I use an iPad Pro as well and so I use both FaceID and TouchID everyday. I wish the iPad Pro had FaceID.

I guess the ideal would be both, so you could use the best option for the situation. Don’t know if we will ever see that though.

 

[macfacts]

.... The price point might be reflective of why the demand is not as strong, but that doesn't mean it will cease production.

You don't understand. Apple is going to cease production to keep the price point. If people want an iPhone that is $100 cheaper, they can go for the iPhone 8.

 

[44267547]

You don't understand. Apple is going to cease production to keep the price point.

Except there's no validity whatsoever behind that article. Nor has it been confirmed. So there is no understanding for something that's not necessarily accurate contrary to one's own theory.

If people want an iPhone that is $100 cheaper, they can go for the iPhone 8.

That's insignificant. Because they (The consumer) can still choose any iPhone they want regardless for a discount through carrier incentives, promotions and or financing anyways. Not to mention, one would have to settle for the iPhone 8 if that is something they would actually want over the iPhone X, being that they are entirely two different phones.

 

[boltjames]

You don't understand. Apple is going to cease production to keep the price point. If people want an iPhone that is $100 cheaper, they can go for the iPhone 8.

The fact that the iPhone X is the greatest consumer electronic product ever produced doesn't mean anything to you?

 

[44267547]

The fact that the iPhone X is the greatest consumer electronic product ever produced doesn't mean anything to you?

I definitely think it's a great iPhone in my opinion, but it baffles me that others believe Clickbait articles that literally generate an article that is constructed of false prophecies. Some Times I think anything negative that services about Apple in an article, others will support and believe it because they are disgruntled with Apple themselves, even if the article is some unverified source With false assertions.

 

[Martyimac]

TouchID is not returning.

I've posted a link here in the past where an Apple official has stated that under the glass TouchID was never a consideration. Apple's focus was on FaceID and that is what they will use going forward.

So, any hope that TouchID will return because there is a problem for Apple to solve first is false hope - because Apple isn't interested in Touch ID any more. Period.

I use only passcode, that way if my wife needs to use my phone in an emergency, she can. Is  still going to have passcode as an option?
[doublepost=1516568105][/doublepost]

You don't understand. Apple is going to cease production to keep the price point. If people want an iPhone that is $100 cheaper, they can go for the iPhone 8.

My experience with iPhone 8 is that it was $300 cheaper than the X. Even then it wasn't worth it to me so I stayed with my 6S/SE.

 

[parajba]

The iPhone X is the greatest computer/gadget/tool I have ever bought. And I have had a few! Honestly, this thing is amazing.

 

[macfacts]

The fact that the iPhone X is the greatest consumer electronic product ever produced doesn't mean anything to you?

Apple always holds back features to upsell. They are going to make it so if a customer wants an iPhone with OLED and faceID, they will have to pay over $1000 for it with the iPhone X2.

 

[boltjames]

Apple always holds back features to upsell. They are going to make it so if a customer wants an iPhone with OLED and faceID, they will have to pay over $1000 for it with the iPhone X2.

Face ID and OLED will be the X's differentiated features to make it better than the 8 and 8+ and then the 8S and 8S+ and then the 9 and 9+. The X will go unchanged for two years (except for perhaps a processor upgrade) while the 8S and 9 work their way through the pipeline. With smartphone innovation slowing down and consumers holding onto their phones for longer than 2 years, it makes sense to slow the production cycle on new models too.

 

[newellj]

You don't understand. Apple is going to cease production to keep the price point. If people want an iPhone that is $100 cheaper, they can go for the iPhone 8.

I think you're right about the price point, but right now the 4.8" 8 is $300 less than the X. It will be interesting to see where the rumored LCD version of the FaceID phone comes in - it is supposed to be less expensive, though the rumor says 6.1" screen rather than 4.8", which is closer to Plus size so maybe closer to Plus pricing. Who knows...
[doublepost=1516570826][/doublepost]

With smartphone innovation slowing down and consumers holding onto their phones for longer than 2 years, it makes sense to slow the production cycle on new models too.

You would definitely think so. Whether Apple or anyone else in the industry has the nerve, or smarts?, to do that, remains to be seen. Or maybe they know something about volume, pricing and margins that we don't (which is likely).

 

[sean000]

I use only passcode, that way if my wife needs to use my phone in an emergency, she can. Is  still going to have passcode as an option?

You can always use a passcode. FaceID doesn’t change that. My wife can pick up my iPhone-X and simply enter the passcode when FaceID doesn’t recognize her. Works exactly the same as entering a passcode when TouchID fails.
[doublepost=1516578325][/doublepost]

I definitely think it's a great iPhone in my opinion, but it baffles me that others believe Clickbait articles that literally generate an article that is constructed of false prophecies. Some Times I think anything negative that services about Apple in an article, others will support and believe it because they are disgruntled with Apple themselves, even if the article is some unverified source With false assertions.

It reminds me of all the clickbait articles from 2015 that declared the Apple Watch a failure and predicted that Apple would abandon it as a product. The X has always had its critics, and the 8/8+ has appealed to many simply because it offers a familiar experience if they are upgrading from an older iPhone. People don’t like it when the technology they use changes. I think Apple was on the right track introducing the X along with the more familiar 8. In another year or two the home bar and FaceID won’t seem like such a radical change for people, because they will have heard from existing X owners that it really isn’t as different as they think it is. Price is another story, but I don’t think it has been the deterrent some think it is.

 

[apolloa]

Except there's no validity whatsoever behind that article. Nor has it been confirmed. So there is no understanding for something that's not necessarily accurate contrary to one's own theory.



That's insignificant. Because they (The consumer) can still choose any iPhone they want regardless for a discount through carrier incentives, promotions and or financing anyways. Not to mention, one would have to settle for the iPhone 8 if that is something they would actually want over the iPhone X, being that they are entirely two different phones.

If you have to finance your mobile phone, you have more serious problems.....

And it’s a myth for carriers subsidising the iPhone, here in the U.K. sure you can get then on contract, but if you want the X or 8 Plus then it’ll cost you a LOT. You can easily end up spending £1600 to £1900 for a 64gb iPhone X depending on network and minutes and data usage and text allowance.

 

[HallStevenson]

If you have to finance your mobile phone, you have more serious problems.....

Speak about things you know something about. In the US, why spend $999 all at once when carriers let you divide that up over 24 months ?

 

[boltjames]

You would definitely think so. Whether Apple or anyone else in the industry has the nerve, or smarts?, to do that, remains to be seen. Or maybe they know something about volume, pricing and margins that we don't (which is likely).

Apple is running the "Now Mature Killer Product" playbook to a tee.

It's a consumer electronics staple. A product explodes, it plateau's, it starts to die. Then you flip the script from competitive pricing wars to raised quality and raised retails. You trade unit sales for profit dollars and you survive until the next big product emerges.

It happened with AM radios, turntables, 8 track tape players, cassette players, rack systems, mini systems, boomboxes, Walkmen, camcorders, CD players, DVD players, MP3 players, digital cameras, pick a home run product, once the sales start to falter and the marketplace is saturated the smart companies slow innovation, focus on quality, raise retails on the commonplace versions, create upscale luxury versions. The X is rumored to be the most profitable iPhone ever created. That's its sole purpose.

 

[rafark]

I'm sorry for the haters, but neither the price nor the notch and face id are going away. You might want to start looking for another Company to buy your phones from instead.

 

[jav6454]

I'm sorry for the haters, but neither the price nor the notch and face id are going away. You might want to start looking for another Company to buy your phones from instead.

I wouldn’t be too sure of that... we have the case of the 5C which brought “Color”. Now it’s gone.

The notch can also disappear you know...

 

[rafark]

I wouldn’t be too sure of that... we have the case of the 5C which brought “Color”. Now it’s gone.

The notch can also disappear you know...

This thing has been in the works for years, eventually all the lineup will follow this design. You don't ditch years of R&D like that.

The notch will indeed disapear, and it's most likely what Apple is working on right now. Do expect it to be gone, but no less than 5 years from now. Even if it were technically possile today (it's not), Apple wouldn't release it, as Cook's team already has a defined plan for the next several years of the products they'll release each year.

 

[jav6454]

This thing has been in the works for years, eventually all the lineup will follow this design. You don't ditch years of R&D like that.

The notch will indeed disapear, and it's most likely what Apple is working on right now. Do expect it to be gone, but no less than 5 years from now. Even if it were technically possile today (it's not), Apple wouldn't release it, as Cook's team already has a defined plan for the next several years of the products they'll release each year.

Well, so did the PowerPC Cube and it disappeared after flopping. The 5C also went bye-bye after flopping. The camera iPod Nano went bye-bye.

Just because it costed money doesn’t mean it won’t go away. Apple will just write those costs out. Also, the $1k price tag very likely made up for R&D.