Other Reactions to the rumoured killing off of the 5.8” iPhone

[MartyvH]

Even after 8 months, my XS still feels a little too big and heavy in the hands. I would welcome going down to a 5.4". That's what I would personally like. I thought long and hard about the iPhone 8. I even use my SE for things sometimes and is surprisingly comfortable. It still lives on my nightstand.

But 5.8" -> 5.4" seems to go against the trend of bigger screens too much to be plausible. There has been an upward trend in screen sizes since 2007 and the original iPhone, because it's what millions of people want.

 

[JPack]

But 5.8" -> 5.4" seems to go against the trend of bigger screens too much to be plausible. There has been an upward trend in screen sizes since 2007 and the original iPhone, because it's what millions of people want.

By 2020, the 5.8" display will be quite out of place in the world of phablets. It doesn't have a substantially smaller footprint compared to 6.1" and it's not big enough to be a phablet. It's stuck in the middle in the iPhone lineup.

iPhone X seems like a compromise due to the notch. If Apple made it smaller, the display area next to the notch would be too tiny to be useful. But if Apple could remove the notch in 2020, a 5.4" display would make sense. In the end, I suspect Jony Ive wants to go back to the iPhone 6 footprint. His team spent 3 years on that design. The demand for phablets is handled by the 6.1" and 6.7" devices.

 

[Steve121178]

I don't understand the hype for 5G aside from using the phone as a blazing fast hotspot. But even then it would likely eat up most hotspot data caps almost instantaneously. LTE is plenty fast and gets the job done.

I don't understand posts like this. Why is significantly faster global mobile network architecture & standards not something to be hyped about?

 

[ksec]

I don't understand the hype for 5G aside from using the phone as a blazing fast hotspot. But even then it would likely eat up most hotspot data caps almost instantaneously. LTE is plenty fast and gets the job done.

Think of it as Capacity improvement. It is not like LTE can't achieve 1Gbps speed, but there are limitations. 5G removes many of those limitations, better efficiency with spectrum etc. Basically an improved version of 4.5G / 4.9G, just like 4.5G you are likely using now is improved upon 4G.

And the more people on 5G, the higher Total Capacity the Network has, and this allows MNO to sell the Data at a cheaper rate.

So in an ideal world, the faster everyone moves to 5G NR, the faster MNO will raise data cap. But don't expect the price to drop because there is price floor for MNO that not going to change much.
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I don't understand posts like this. Why is significantly faster global mobile network architecture & standards not something to be hyped about?

Let's be fair because many people want cheaper price plan or more data, not necessarily faster speed.
[doublepost=1561018196][/doublepost]Another note, looking at the render.

After a while I am wondering what happen to people who loves 5.8"? Being the perfect between too small 5.4" and too large 6.5". The improvement in bezels get Max to 6.7" with same physical size. The 5.8" could have been 6" too.

So essentially they are forcing those who want a compromise to buy the XR.

P.S - In Japan people loves the 4.7" iPhone 8 Form Factor. Looks like the 5.4" will be perfect for them.

 

[Steve121178]

Let's be fair because many people want cheaper price plan or more data, not necessarily faster speed.

4G data plans are not going anywhere so they can still get their cheap deals. Meanwhile, those of us that work for a living want speeeeed and good coverage & are prepared to pay for it.

 

[44267547]

I don't understand the hype for 5G aside from using the phone as a blazing fast hotspot. But even then it would likely eat up most hotspot data caps almost instantaneously. LTE is plenty fast and gets the job done.

5G will take time to mature, it’s not going to be something that is ‘groundbreaking’ immediately for everyones situation. Personally, I’m not really that infatuated with 5G, as much as I am actually seeing the transition for things like where Face ID leads in the future, or the ‘triple lens camera’.

 

[Anthony T]

Again, the 5.4" would be the same physical size as the current 4.7".

I'm still ok with it, because the screen would be bigger than the 6/7/8 models. The form factor of those phones was fine for me.

 

[Damon2]

I'm considering replacing my 7 this year but I think I'd much prefer 2020 5.4" model.
Don't care for 5G, but I think it would be more deserving of a £1000 price tag.

Compared to this years, kinda wish I upgraded last year to the XS probably would have got at least two years use if I was to upgrade next year.

 

[Falhófnir]

I don't understand posts like this. Why is significantly faster global mobile network architecture & standards not something to be hyped about?

Because for a long time yet it's going to be patchy, it's going to be costly, and what exactly do you (currently anyway) need >60Mbps mobile internet for exactly? 4K streaming is just about wasted on a mobile phone, are you going to be streaming AAA game titles to your mobile either? Does BBC weather not load fast enough on 4G? And this is if the network can even sustain speeds much faster than 4G anyway (I'll believe a signal mast on every street corner when I see it). Speaking of which, do you want to be bathed in significantly more intense radiation anyway when 4G is currently pretty sufficient?

 

[Zorori]

As I suspected, and I maintain the Xs is the poorest selling of the 3: https://www.macrumors.com/2019/04/24/cirp-iph/

It's quite clear from how the X sold (~15%), that people didn't buy the XS because they already had an X or they wanted an upgrade. As there wasn't an X Max, the numbers for the XS Max are inflated (and you could say the same about the XR, but that's at a different price point)

We'll have a much better idea once this year's phones come out. As it's likely each phone will have an incremental upgrade and you'll be able to compare the numbers. I suspect they'll sell in similar numbers, like the 7 & 7Plus, 8 & 8 Plus on those charts.

 

[Steve121178]

Because for a long time yet it's going to be patchy, it's going to be costly, and what exactly do you (currently anyway) need >60Mbps mobile internet for exactly? 4K streaming is just about wasted on a mobile phone, are you going to be streaming AAA game titles to your mobile either? Does BBC weather not load fast enough on 4G? And this is if the network can even sustain speeds much faster than 4G anyway (I'll believe a signal mast on every street corner when I see it). Speaking of which, do you want to be bathed in significantly more intense radiation anyway when 4G is currently pretty sufficient?

Well yes, it will be patchy as they've only just started to roll it out. But it's so easy to upgrade existing 4G base stations to 5G, no more than 2 hours work. It's not like the huge physical hardware upgrades that were required to upgrade 3G infrastructure to 4G.

And yes, I need the speed & lower latency 5G will bring (1 to 2ms).

Did you freak out when you had to make the move to Cable/ADSL from dial-up?

 

[dcpmark]

This writer from Forbes is calling this new 5.4” is the “spiritual heir” to the SE, and will be used one-handed. Since it’s going to be around the size of the iP8, anyone who says these things has never held an SE in their hands, or used an iP8....without the bezels the top of the screen will be even harder to reach than on an iP8:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/gordon...upgrade-iphone-xs-max-iphone-xr/#516106a36f08

 

[JPack]

It's quite clear from how the X sold (~15%), that people didn't buy the XS because they already had an X or they wanted an upgrade. As there wasn't an X Max, the numbers for the XS Max are inflated (and you could say the same about the XR, but that's at a different price point)

We'll have a much better idea once this year's phones come out. As it's likely each phone will have an incremental upgrade and you'll be able to compare the numbers. I suspect they'll sell in similar numbers, like the 7 & 7Plus, 8 & 8 Plus on those charts.

By that logic, the sales numbers for iPhone X might be "inflated" due to pent up demand for Apple's first thin-bezel device. Not to mention there was no 6.5" iPhone in 2017, so consumers settled for 5.8".

The reality is, Apple sells similar units of iPhone each year simply because consumers are always upgrading. The demand for large phablets has overtaken regular sub-6" devices and demand continues to increase.
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This writer from Forbes is calling this new 5.4” is the “spiritual heir” to the SE, and will be used one-handed. Since it’s going to be around the size of the iP8, anyone who says these things has never held an SE in their hands, or used an iP8....without the bezels the top of the screen will be even harder to reach than on an iP8:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/gordon...upgrade-iphone-xs-max-iphone-xr/#516106a36f08

Forbes regularly puts out click-bait articles. The SE was clearly introduced for emerging markets at $399. It was discontinued once companies like Xiaomi priced 6.26" phones in India for less than $150.

The 5.4" iPhone is Apple's way of not putting all of their eggs in one basket. The 6.1" and 6.7" iPhones will be very competitive phablets in 2020. In all likelihood, the 6.1" will adopt triple rear cameras while 6.7" will add a ToF sensor. Apple doesn't need a third phablet in the middle. They would prefer consumers jump to $1,200 for a 6.7" phablet with 5G.

 

[44267547]

This writer from Forbes is calling this new 5.4” is the “spiritual heir” to the SE, and will be used one-handed. Since it’s going to be around the size of the iP8, anyone who says these things has never held an SE in their hands, or used an iP8....without the bezels the top of the screen will be even harder to reach than on an iP8:

You’re right. The misconception is that this new ‘smaller’ (5.4) iPhone is the answer to the SE, when it is not, it will not be the price that the SE once was and as you said, it won’t be easy to manipulate it one-handed the way the SE was either. The SE was a ‘one off’ phone, in my opinion of someone that follows Apple closely, the SE isn’t intended to be returned back to the market, Apple wants a mid-grade phone, but in the same respect not to detract away from the XR. I suspect a 5.4 inch iPhone will do well, but with the caveat that it won’t offer certain technological features.

 

[Falhófnir]

You’re right. The misconception is that this new ‘smaller’ (5.4) iPhone is the answer to the SE, when it is not, it will not be the price that the SE once was and as you said, it won’t be easy to manipulate it one-handed the way the SE was either. The SE was a ‘one off’ phone, in my opinion of someone that follows Apple closely, the SE isn’t intended to be returned back to the market, Apple wants a mid-grade phone, but in the same respect not to detract away from the XR. I suspect a 5.4 inch iPhone will do well, but with the caveat that it won’t offer certain technological features.

It's not yet completely possible to say, but for now the likelihood is the 5.4" will replace the current 5.8" models, which has so far meant feature parity with the Max variant, and more feature rich than the 6.1".

 

[dcpmark]

Forbes regularly puts out click-bait articles. The SE was clearly introduced for emerging markets at $399. It was discontinued once companies like Xiaomi priced 6.26" phones in India for less than $150.

I’m no expert, but won’t there always be a market for those who will buy the cheapest iPhone because they want to stay in the iOS universe? Or is brand loyalty like that just a Western way of thinking, and people in other countries are more agnostic, are simply looking for the largest new phone they can buy for cheap, and will flock to (or stay with) Android just because they are cheaper? Larger, cheaper Android phones aren’t new, right?

 

[aakshey]

I’m no expert, but won’t there always be a market for those who will buy the cheapest iPhone because they want to stay in the iOS universe? Or is brand loyalty like that just a Western way of thinking, and people in other countries are more agnostic, are simply looking for the largest new phone they can buy for cheap, and will flock to (or stay with) Android just because they are cheaper? Larger, cheaper Android phones aren’t new, right?

In India/China not too many people buy iPhone SE/7/7+/etc any more. People either buy X or Max mostly. XR is very common though. But not quite as much as X.

Some people do feel the way as the West. But more from a POV that they’re buying their first iPhone.

There is almost 0 loyalty towards the Apple ecosystem much less iOS. Most people would rather buy OnePlus or Samsung today as Apple has priced itself out of the market.

Apple has gone from maybe 2% market share in India to under 0.5% and their share is only shrinking.

In the premium smartphone market in India Apple had 80% market share in 2016. Now they’re down to 10% or so in 2018.

 

[JPack]

I’m no expert, but won’t there always be a market for those who will buy the cheapest iPhone because they want to stay in the iOS universe? Or is brand loyalty like that just a Western way of thinking, and people in other countries are more agnostic, are simply looking for the largest new phone they can buy for cheap, and will flock to (or stay with) Android just because they are cheaper? Larger, cheaper Android phones aren’t new, right?

Brand loyalty is universal phenomenon. But Apple doesn't resonate as loudly the further you are from the U.S. The market share of iOS in Europe is much lower. It drops further as you continue to move out because people don't care about Steve Jobs or simply haven't heard of him. As Android manufacturers consolidate and become larger, they offer better value than before.

 

[Wide opeN]

Brand loyalty is universal phenomenon. But Apple doesn't resonate as loudly the further you are from the U.S. The market share of iOS in Europe is much lower. It drops further as you continue to move out because people don't care about Steve Jobs or simply haven't heard of him. As Android manufacturers consolidate and become larger, they offer better value than before.

Add to that, Apple basically prices themselves out of the market in countries where gross incomes are not as high as the US.

 

[Ralfi]

I'm thinking the uniqueness of the 5.8" beyond 2020 may add to its appeal for many (like myself)*.

The X/XS should still feel like new phones by then under IOS 14.

*If Ming's right

 

[Falhófnir]

Brand loyalty is universal phenomenon. But Apple doesn't resonate as loudly the further you are from the U.S. The market share of iOS in Europe is much lower. It drops further as you continue to move out because people don't care about Steve Jobs or simply haven't heard of him. As Android manufacturers consolidate and become larger, they offer better value than before.

The Market share of iOS is often higher in the UK, Australia and Japan than in the US in the Kantar estimates that pop up on the front page from time to time.

 

[craigio85]

The Market share of iOS is often higher in the UK, Australia and Japan than in the US in the Kantar estimates that pop up on the front page from time to time.

Apple is also the market leader in Iceland, Ireland, Denmark, Estonia, Norway and Sweden.

 

[TotalMacMove]

I would be so down for a edge to edge iphone slightly smaller than the XS. I miss the 7 size.

 

[klky]

I wouldn't mind a 5.4" phone at all, assuming Apple doesn't arbitrarily cripple it with lesser parts.

 

[mjb59463]

If they did this, I’d still get the smaller size. The Plus is too unwieldy for my needs.