In my opinion, Apple got ahead of itself with the iPhone 5. Apple Fanboys are quick to gobble up the new tech, but average people, myself included, don’t want to “upgrade” their gadgets every 12-18 months. The iPhone 5, to most consumers, is just a flashier version of the 4/4S, and adoption is weak as a result.
I believe this is less about money and more about market saturation. People will gobble up tablets, because they’re new and cool. Apple’s almost perfected the iPhone, and minor tweaks, performance increases, etc. are going to go unnoticed unless and until the newest whiz-bang apps require them.
FWIW, Microsoft is feeling the same pinch with Windows 8. People don’t want a new OS just because it supports touchscreens. Win7 works very well already.
I agree with everything you said!
iPhone 5 can recognize 5Ghz wi-fi.
otherwise I’m not impressed.
We have reached the age when stuff is “good enough” for at least 4-5 years.
You’re right.
1. iPhone 5 is not enough of a step up from iPhone 4 to make it desirable.
2. Phone company upgrade deals are on the 24 month contract schedule, making a 12 month new technology cycle self defeating.
3. Those of us in the boonies don’t get a signal strong enough to justify a large wireless expenditure every 12-18 months. If we don’t spend much time in town, it’s hard to justify anything more complex than a phone that’s just a phone.
“Apple Fanboys are quick to gobble up the new tech, but average people, myself included, don’t want to “upgrade” their gadgets every 12-18 months.”
Not all Apple users are like that.
I just retired my old PowerMac g4 for a 2012 Mac Mini. I bought the g4 tower in 2004, it was nearly 9 years old when I took it “off the table” for its replacement. The Mini cost me 1/2 of what I paid for the g4 in ‘04, and it’s a dandy pint-sized computer.
I’ve never owned an iPod, iPad, or iPhone — no particular need for such devices, although they look snazzy enough. Another reason is I dislike the way Apple “locks you in” to their apps and organizational paradigms (for example, you can’t manage content on an iPod Touch without using iTunes, which forces you to import/organize your music as they decree).
I own a cellphone, but it’s a Samsung that is several years’ old, not a smartphone, only something that can be used in emergencies. It’s turned off 100% of the time (except when I absolutely need to use it, of course). I pay $10 every four months to keep it activated (pageplus.com).
I’m guessing the real reason for the slow sales is that most folks who were going to buy an iPhone have bought one, and don’t feel compelled to upgrade yet. Did they think they could keep selling the same people a new phone every year?