iPhone6 will kill high end Android phones in the US

[OneOfTheseDays]

I'm predicting it will. The major reason why Android rose to prominence so fast in the high-end was the larger screens. It wasn't the software, apps, or any other reason IMHO. It was those big beautiful 4.5-6" screens. With that advantage completely thwarted I see no reason why any average consumer would choose a similarly priced Android phone over the iPhone6.

Anecdotally, I know a ton of friends who are jumping ship now that Apple finally caved in and delivered on the large screen goodness. What are your thoughts?

 

[paperwastage]

yay @ bait title...

and no. I still want my customization options that Apple will never offer (root, changing basically anything you want)

and have you looked at the Z3 (and other phones)? there are still aspects that Apple is missing out (waterproof/resistant, much better multitasking, wireless charging, ...). things that the average consumer will still want

 

[Anubis]

my thoughts are that I don't know a single person who has swapped from android to IOS or IOS to android in the past 3 years and I don't see that changing anytime soon

and besides paying me 10s or thousands of $ nothing is going to get me to swap to an iphone. id go to windows before I went to IOS

 

[Red Storm]

I wholeheartedly disagree.

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

I'm talking about the average consumer, not the high-tech guy.

The average consumer does NOT want to root his phone and customize it six ways from Sunday. With iOS8 I'm arguing that they are providing the framework to satisfy the large majority of consumer customization needs (e.g. different keyboards, extensions, etc.).

 

[poofyhairguy]

With that advantage completely thwarted I see no reason why any average consumer would choose a similarly priced Android phone over the iPhone6.

Because I want a phone from 2014 not 2012.

For the regular consumer Samsung is laying it on thick that Apple had to copy them. I think the iPhone 6 will be the hottest selling phone ever due to pent up bigger screen demand for iOS fans, but the big picture is long-term iOS is looking at OSX-levels of marketshare.

 

[Ravynmagi]

Larger iPhone is going to be great for Apple and Samsung might take some kind of hit from this. But clearly you've been drinking too much Drain-o if you think this will kill high end Android phones in the US.

Screen size isn't the only thing that makes Android phones popular.

* Choices. Android gives users lots of choices, you can get phones with SD slots, removable batteries, and a stylus. You can get a phone with front facing speakers. You can get phones with different types of display technology. You can get phones with much higher screen resolutions. You can get phones in lots of styles and looks. Tons of choices.

* Ease of use. I think my iPhone is a pain in the ass to use the way I want. With my Android phone I can easily drag and drop my music, audio books, videos, and play with with a variety of apps on Android. This is a freaking afternoon project on my iPhone.

* Customizing. Android allows me to significantly customize the look with different launchers, widgets (I don't like them, but it's a choice), and such.

High end Android phones will be just fine in the US.

 

[Commodus]

I don't know if I'd say "kill," but there's no question that a lot of Android manufacturers are going to be nervous. If your marketing is based almost exclusively on screen size and specs, what do you do when that advantage is taken away from you?

Samsung has been running ads trying to make fun of Apple being late to the big-screen parade, but you know that these ads only exist because the company is sincerely worried about its high-end sales. People certainly don't buy Galaxy S and Note phones for the software, so the company now has to sell based on more esoteric features like camera modes and pen input. About the only Android maker that really stands out in the US market is HTC, and it doesn't have similar clout.

It doesn't help that the company is in a very awkward position, either... the Galaxy S5 is no longer the hot new thing, and the Note 4 doesn't ship to the US for another month. Even with iPhone 6 Plus shortages, that's a huge window of opportunity for Apple. We're about to find out how much loyalty mainstream Samsung phone buyers have, and I suspect the answer is "not much."

 

[Red Storm]

I'm talking about the average consumer, not the high-tech guy.

The average consumer does NOT want to root his phone and customize it six ways from Sunday. With iOS8 I'm arguing that they are providing the framework to satisfy the large majority of consumer customization needs (e.g. different keyboards, extensions, etc.).

The problem is you're assuming that "Everyone wants an iPhone, and all those who don't have one would if they could."

That's a really strange/ignorant/fanboyish way of looking at things.

My non-tech friends are a mix of Android and iOS. Some chose their phone due to looks, others for specific features (mSD & removable battery, iTunes music collection, drag and drop files to/from PC, etc.). Not one person I know automatically wants any particular brand of device. They go with what suits their needs, looks nice to them, and meets their budget.

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

Larger iPhone is going to be great for Apple and Samsung might take some kind of hit from this. But clearly you've been drinking too much Drain-o if you think this will kill high end Android phones in the US.

Screen size isn't the only thing that makes Android phones popular.

* Choices. Android gives users lots of choices, you can get phones with SD slots, removable batteries, and a stylus. You can get a phone with front facing speakers. You can get phones with different types of display technology. You can get phones with much higher screen resolutions. You can get phones in lots of styles and looks. Tons of choices.

* Ease of use. I think my iPhone is a pain in the ass to use the way I want. With my Android phone I can easily drag and drop my music, audio books, videos, and play with with a variety of apps on Android. This is a freaking afternoon project on my iPhone.

* Customizing. Android allows me to significantly customize the look with different launchers, widgets (I don't like them, but it's a choice), and such.

High end Android phones will be just fine in the US.

Again, you are NOT the average consumer.

It was ALWAYS the bigger screens that kept people tied to high-end Android.

 

[Red Storm]

It was ALWAYS the bigger screens that kept people tied to high-end Android.

Sorry but repeating something over and over again doesn't change it from opinion to fact.

 

[Zaap]

Haha. Yeah, sure.

Right now, the iPhone 6 is brand new, the latest/greatest thing currently available. I don't even care much for iPhones and even I'm impressed with it cause it's new, different and interesting.

Now let's give it a year. It'll be the same ol' iPhone. *yawn*

Now let's give it another year. Maybe there will be an S-bump or whatever, but as for form and everything else, likely same ol' same ol'.

Now that Apple's done something new they can rest on their laurels til the cows come home. Years from now people will be clinging to their iPhone 6's eagerly awaiting the iPhone 7.... !

Meanwhile Android makes will have to hustle and provide a steady stream of new and interesting models to keep consumers happy. Nowhere near as much laurel-resting to be done. We'll likely see a Galaxy S7 long before an iPhone 7 and Note 5? 6 maybe? And who knows how many different and interesting models from other makes.

For those upgrading from last-last(-last?) year's iPhone, the ip6 line will be a lasting upgrade for yeeeears to come. Others will very quickly prefer something that's actually new for 2015, 2016... and that choice is Androids best strength. (To say nothing of escape from the walled garden and other strengths.)

 

[rcpratt]

I bet Android does better in the next 3 years than iOS.

You've got your head so buried in the Apple sand it's not even funny.

 

[vi edit]

It doesn't help that the company is in a very awkward position, either... the Galaxy S5 is no longer the hot new thing, and the Note 4 doesn't ship to the US for another month. Even with iPhone 6 Plus shortages, that's a huge window of opportunity for Apple. We're about to find out how much loyalty mainstream Samsung phone buyers have, and I suspect the answer is "not much."

I'm not so sure on that. There are a number of things that the Note still does that the 6+ doesn't. It's a far better "productivity" device with the pen input, better use of multi screen and floating windows. Plus it still offers 2x the available storage out of the box that the 6+ does. And if that's not enough a dirt cheap SD card will bump that up even more. And battery life wise, I would think that the Note bests the 6+.

Apple is going to continue to sell to people highly entrenched in their ecosystems. That's a given. And it's going to pull a few fence sitters over to it's side. But I don't think that it's going to be in significant numbers. And the other ace up the sleeve of a company like Samsung in particular is this...

Samsung isn't just phones. They have a huge portfolio of products they make. They will gut the price of a device to make it move or add incentives to get them off the shelves that Apple will not do. They'll eat $150 in phone revenue to take a sell away from Apple or sweeten the pot doing a 2 for 1 deal. Money still talks when it comes to consumers.

 

[badb0y]

The fact that the smartphone market has mirrored the PC market thus far, what's probably going to end up happening is Apple will control the high-end market while Android does the low-mid end product stack. There's too much competition for companies to churn out high-end devices on the Android platform, Samsung is probably the only one that's going to survive the race to the bottom.

 

[ponyo]

iPhone 6 has only been out for several days yet I'm already bored of the phone. And I haven't even seen or touched the phone in person yet.

 

[poofyhairguy]

It was ALWAYS the bigger screens that kept people tied to high-end Android.

And price- the iPhone 6 plus costs a ton to get to 128gb. And extra features, many that iPhones still don't have. And brand appeal- Apple and iPhone has turned into a "mature" brand while Galaxy is an up-and-comer.

And and and and

I will be the first to admit this will be a huge seller for Apple, but it won't even come close to killing high-end Android.

 

[vi edit]

The fact that the smartphone market has mirrored the PC market thus far, what's probably going to end up happening is Apple will control the high-end market while Android does the low-mid end product stack. There's too much competition for companies to churn out high-end devices on the Android platform, Samsung is probably the only one that's going to survive the race to the bottom.

What would be funny is somebody like Sony comes in and can manage to make a big push of something like the Xperia Z3 compact (or even smaller...a Z3 Mini that's like 4.3") that offers insane battery life, water proofing, good camera, and smooth OS and steals sales left by the gaping hole Apple created by going big.

 

[badb0y]

And price- the iPhone 6 plus costs a ton to get to 128gb. And extra features, many that iPhones still don't have. And brand appeal- Apple and iPhone has turned into a "mature" brand while Galaxy is an up-and-comer.

And and and and

I will be the first to admit this will be a huge seller for Apple, but it won't even come close to killing high-end Android.

The mistake your making is assuming that Apple will kill the high end Android market, that's not true. Android will kill the high end Android market, we already have el-cheapo phones like OnePlus that mirror high-end Android devices for a cheaper price. This is amazing for the consumer but I don't think Samsung, HTC, and the other highend Android vendors are happy about this.

It's not really a problem, it's just something that comes with having an open platform like Android.

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

There are literally no major consumer facing features that Android has that consumers are wanting on iOS.

It has always been the larger screens. We're already seeing evidence of iPhone6's being sold in record numbers. High-end Android manufacturers are indeed shitting their pants right now. Apple is coming for their lunch money.

 

[Ravynmagi]

Again, you are NOT the average consumer.

It was ALWAYS the bigger screens that kept people tied to high-end Android.

You are definitely right, I'm not the average user.

But I do think some or many of the things I listed are appealing to the average user.
Android isn't a one trick pony.

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

You are definitely right, I'm not the average user.

But I do think some or many of the things I listed are appealing to the average user.
Android isn't a one trick pony.

They are appealing, if executed correctly, and I don't buy for a second that Samsung has ever implemented a software feature correctly.

 

[Oyeve]

There are literally no major consumer facing features that Android has that consumers are wanting on iOS.

It has always been the larger screens. We're already seeing evidence of iPhone6's being sold in record numbers. High-end Android manufacturers are indeed shitting their pants right now. Apple is coming for their lunch money.

How much is apple paying you to spew this stupidity? It is NOT all about large screens. Its much more than that, like storage options, not need for stupid bloatware to get a pic off the thing, hell, even true NFC, which the iphone lacks is reason enough NOT to get an iphone.

 

[tHa ShIzNiT]

Sadly, I may return to the world of iphone because I actually think iTunes is the best music management program I have used. And I think I've tried them all. I also like mediamonkey, but not as much.

Also, their fingerprint ID is the best in the business. And, in my experience, siri works better than ok google. Those are pretty big for me.

I'll miss the waterproofing. I'll miss the drag and drop files, which I do wirelessly through airdroid.

Still undecided. But I don't think there's a point in waiting...at least in terms of the price coming down. I dont see that happening for a long time.

 

[ChronoReverse]

And thus the 180 is completed. We've gone from "lol silly large screen Androids" to "lol Androids only selling because of large screens".