iPhone X Nearly 6 months in, the iPhone X isn't that successful

[Ralfi]

Almost all of the tech reviewers say the X is the best phone on the market by far.

Not the one's I've seen, although I tend to steer clear of Apple fanboi revewers.

They say it's a fine phone that does many things well, scores ultra high in Geekbench but isn't worth the asking price.

I get the impression Apple specced/sold it to be more a gaming device, & to appeal to younger demographic (animoji's were too heavily marketed...).

Apple needs to appeal to the slightly more mature demographic - those who use many Apps (for business, video, photos, social media etc.) & appreciate true multitasking without App refreshes due to lack of memory....if they did that, then many more would be happy & perhaps think such a high price was worth it.

 

[Black Tiger]

I'm not really trying to start a flame war, an X vs 8 debate or anything. Almost all of the tech reviewers say the X is the best phone on the market by far. I just think that for a flagship launch, fewer people seemed to be interested and ultimately buying the X compared to other launches. I think there was a thread back in October saying that the "mainstream" customer wasn't really into the X, and I have to agree based on what I see and what the numbers say.

Ultimately I think Apple needs to get its "best" phones back to a $799 price or it will continue to see less unit sales growth

Apple has never been motivated by sales or market share. See: the Mac. Who cares if it sells or doesn’t? If people like it, that’s all that matter and this is what drives Apple.

 

[Newtons Apple]

I've attended some work events with some very well-off people in recent weeks and seen a good amount of my friends. Almost all are iPhone users

1) None of my close friends own an iPhone X
2) At these work events, less than 10% of customers have an iPhone X

Many of these people would have bought the latest iPhone very quickly a few years ago. One of my best friends (a millionaire in his 30s) is still rocking a 6S.

The iPhone X is an excellent product (I'm actually considering buying a 256G version to replace my 8+); however, fewer "normal" customers are interested in it than prior phones. I don't think that is controversial at all, and all of the survey data supports this.

How can Apple fix that this year?

You said absolutely nothing that backs up your statement.

I trust that Apple know way more than you about marketing and they will be just fine.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I tend to agree with the OP’s observations but there are a number of things to consider.

1. It’s not the only iPhone in the range and has competition within the same brand. The days of one new iPhone a year are over.

2. It’s the most expensive iPhone in the range therefore it’s got a more niche appeal. It was never going to appeal to the mainstream consumer the way an iPhone 6 did in 2014.

3. People generally are not upgrading as often as they used to with industry experts reporting a significant decline in annual upgrades since the latter part of 2015.

4. It’s got a series of new features that at this point in time do not appeal to everybody. Thus may well change as these features become standard across the range but right now you have to pay more for them and that’s the hurdle for some.

For me I’ve found the iPhone X to be rare in my part of the world. I’ve met one person with one and he sold it shortly afterwards. I’ve seen one used in a cafe in Cardiff and that’s about it. My work is very pro iPhone and I attend conferences where the iPhone is pretty much commonplace. Right now I’d say the iPhone 6S and 7 are still the most popular models and I think that is testament to how good smartphones have got in recent years. The need to upgrade every year or even two years is unnecessary. It’s simply a mature market. This doesn’t mean the iPhone X is not a great iPhone.

 

[joeblow7777]

I'm not trying to say that the X hasn't been successful, but remember back before launch, when everyone was so sure that if you didn't order one within 2 minutes of preorders launching that you wouldn't get one for months? I remember speculation of a 6 month backlog! The hype about slow production and insane demand drove people crazy! lol.

 

[Koobs]

I'm not trying to say that the X hasn't been successful, but remember back before launch, when everyone was so sure that if you didn't order one within 2 minutes of preorders launching that you wouldn't get one for months? I remember speculation of a 6 month backlog! The hype about slow production and insane demand drove people crazy! lol.

Yep, we kept reading that if you didn't order within the first 30 minutes you'd first be getting your iPhone X now. It's a very nice phone, just not worth the extra $200 or so over previous models.

 

[Newtons Apple]

Yep, we kept reading that if you didn't order within the first 30 minutes you'd first be getting your iPhone X now. It's a very nice phone, just not worth the extra $200 or so over previous models.

I agree but also think that due to that extra $200, the X is pretty profitable for Apple.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I agree but also think that due to that extra $200, the X is pretty profitable for Apple.

Yeah I think when Apple claimed it was the most successful iPhone in its first quarter they meant in terms of revenue rather than units sold. That would make sense due to the fact it’s nearly £400 more than a base iPhone 6 at launch.

You would be tripping over iPhones 6’s in the months after it was released. I’ve seen 2 iPhone X’s in the months it’s been out. Incredible really how rare it is in the UK. We are Apples biggest European market too.

 

[joeblow7777]

Yep, we kept reading that if you didn't order within the first 30 minutes you'd first be getting your iPhone X now. It's a very nice phone, just not worth the extra $200 or so over previous models.

I kept saying, they wouldn't be releasing the phone at all if they were so woefully unprepared to fill orders, but people just don't see things logically. In a few months it'll be a whole new round of crazy.

I agree with your assessment of the X as well. I ended up getting an 8+ because the X just doesn't offer anything that's worth the extra money to me.

 

[DNichter]

It all comes down to money. If the X was priced at $799, a lot more people could afford/justify the cost. As is, it's too much for a lot of people. For those who bought and have the phone, they love it. Ultimately it doesn't mean much to Apple as they priced it as such knowing full well they wouldn't sell as many, that's why they offered the 8 as well. Component/manufacturing costs will come down this year and more people will buy.

 

[The Game 161]

I've attended some work events with some very well-off people in recent weeks and seen a good amount of my friends. Almost all are iPhone users

1) None of my close friends own an iPhone X
2) At these work events, less than 10% of customers have an iPhone X

Many of these people would have bought the latest iPhone very quickly a few years ago. One of my best friends (a millionaire in his 30s) is still rocking a 6S.

The iPhone X is an excellent product (I'm actually considering buying a 256G version to replace my 8+); however, fewer "normal" customers are interested in it than prior phones. I don't think that is controversial at all, and all of the survey data supports this.

How can Apple fix that this year?

Sales suggest it is very successful. Just because you don't see loads in the wild doesn't mean much as how many really carry their phones around showing everybody?

 

[raqball]

Sales suggest it is very successful. Just because you don't see loads in the wild doesn't mean much as how many really carry their phones around showing everybody?

Yup! And...... It's not 6 months in as claimed in the OP. I believe the X was released Nov 3rd which is what 4 months and 2 weeks ago..

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Sales suggest it is very successful. Just because you don't see loads in the wild doesn't mean much as how many really carry their phones around showing everybody?

I think that depends on the environment you are in. In an office/corporate environment I see dozens of mobile phones daily, mostly iPhones. If I’m in the city I see lots too in cafes, pubs, people walking down the street etc. The same on public transport. If those are the types of scenarios you don’t find yourself in then I agree you won’t see people publicising the type of phone they use.

The sales of the X are apparently impressive, although it’s never been made clear whether that’s revenue or units sold. I feel the X is the rarest iPhone to date from my experience and observations in my part of the UK, but then it’s suggested over 40% of the global X sales have been in the US. It’s no wonder our social spaces aren’t flooded with them lol.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I've attended some work events with some very well-off people in recent weeks and seen a good amount of my friends. Almost all are iPhone users

1) None of my close friends own an iPhone X
2) At these work events, less than 10% of customers have an iPhone X

Many of these people would have bought the latest iPhone very quickly a few years ago. One of my best friends (a millionaire in his 30s) is still rocking a 6S.

The iPhone X is an excellent product (I'm actually considering buying a 256G version to replace my 8+); however, fewer "normal" customers are interested in it than prior phones. I don't think that is controversial at all, and all of the survey data supports this.

How can Apple fix that this year?

If none of your friends own an iPhone X, I guess I will have to sell one of them my iPhone X, seeing how they are probably so very lonely without one. I can't have my iPhone X knowing that others have deemed it unsuccessful. I don't know if I will be able to sleep at night.
[doublepost=1521495017][/doublepost]

Apple said it was their best selling iPhone and the profit numbers to sales numbers confirmed this - you can't skew those numbers. It's doing very well.

Furthermore 3 people I know, including myself, have an iPhone X. So your personal experience doesn't necessarily reflect a larger picture.

Real numbers can't compete with logical fallacy. Get with the program.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

If none of your friends own an iPhone X, I guess I will have to sell one of them my iPhone X, seeing how they are probably so very lonely without one. I can't have my iPhone X knowing that others have deemed it unsuccessful. I don't know if I will be able to sleep at night.

Reading the OP I can’t see anything in it that is offensive or claiming to be actual fact. It’s an observation inviting discussion and it’s amusing how people here like yourself appear to be taking it rather personally.

Nobody is disputing it’s made Apple lots of money, a fact I really couldn’t give a toss about as I don’t gain anything from that. But at our level it is reasonable to comment on observations. I’m sure there are more iPhone X’s in California than Swansea and it’s merely anecdotal.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Reading the OP I can’t see anything in it that is offensive or claiming to be actual fact. It’s an observation inviting discussion and it’s amusing how people here like yourself appear to be taking it rather personally.

Nobody is disputing it’s made Apple lots of money, a fact I really couldn’t give a toss about as I don’t gain anything from that. But at our level it is reasonable to comment on observations. I’m sure there are more iPhone X’s in California than Swansea and it’s merely anecdotal.

I am not taking anything personally. I don't even know the person. I was posting in a fun illogical manner to show how the OP is the same.

The OP is meaningless drivel.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I am not taking anything personally. I don't even know the person. I was posting in a fun illogical manner to show how the OP is the same.

The OP is meaningless drivel.

I didn’t find it illogical. It’s the exact same experience as mine. None of my friends or family own an X and I’ve seen two since it was launched. If Apple hadn’t claimed it was a success I would think it had flopped purely on my own observations.

The OP is a personal observation and if it’s ‘drivel’ as you claim then so are our responses in all honesty.

 

[Brandonjr36]

One thing I think thats hurting Apple is iOS 11. It’s not that good imo, I liked 10 a lot better. Also I wish Apple would give us some features instead of screwing around with stupid a** Animoji’s..

 

[Apple_Robert]

One thing I think thats hurting Apple is iOS 11. It’s not that good imo, I liked 10 a lot better. Also I wish Apple would give us some features instead of screwing around with stupid a** Animoji’s..

iOS 11 is packed full of features. What is missing for you? I don't care about Animoji either. Apple is trying to appeal to the younger users is all.

 

[Brandonjr36]

iOS 11 is packed full of features. What is missing for you? I don't care about Animoji either. Apple is trying to appeal to the younger users is all.

And I understand I’m a person that thinks they should offer different things for everyone to love. But honestly the only thing I have noticed is Animoji’s and Screen recorder. 2 features I myself don’t use. They won’t offer a legit dark mode they won’t offer anything decent imo.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

iOS 11 is packed full of features. What is missing for you? I don't care about Animoji either. Apple is trying to appeal to the younger users is all.

I think Apple would have had more success with Animoji if they’d put the feature on an iPhone that younger users are likely to be able to afford.

Away from the iPhone X ios11 lacked stability and battery efficiency. On paper it’s packed full of useful features but in real use it’s been the buggiest release for several years. That did fix a lot of the issues eventually but it took three months.

 

[44267547]

I think Apple would have had more success with Animoji if they’d put the feature on an iPhone that younger users are likely to be able to afford.

But given the technology with the TrueDepth Camera, it would still increase the cost of a cheaper iPhone. But I do see the appeal within emoji for a younger demographic, but I think Apple was trying to somehow exhibit the TrueDepth Camera differently other than just using it for Face ID.

 

[Phone Junky]

I don’t care how successful the iPhone X is. I don’t care how many Apple sold. All I care is that they sold the one I’m holding in my hand.

 

[Raist3001]

but I think Apple was trying to somehow exhibit the TrueDepth Camera differently other than just using it for Face ID.

I agree. I just wish is was for something better than animoji

 

[AlphaGuitarist]

I've had my iPhone X since release date. I think it's a great phone and would go as far as saying that it's the best phone I've ever had. Here in NYC, I see them in the wild on a regular basis. As many others have said, I think that the main issue is the price. In fact, it's the main reason why I plan on keeping mine for at least 2 years. I have the 256GB model, whose final cost, including taxes, was $1,250. Not exactly pocket change.