iPhone6 will kill high end Android phones in the US

[Kaido]

Samsung's profit issues had/have nothing to do with Apple. They have to do with the segment that will kill *everything*, in terms of relevance anyway: low-end Android.

Yeah, although that's been changing lately. Most people I know who just want a basic smartphone have gone with something cheap like a Pantech Android in the past, but now that iPhone 5C is free on contract, I see a lot of people switching to those. Particularly for non-techy people, the response is usually "wow this works so much better than my Android did". Although the newer cheapo models like the $99 Moto G have pretty acceptable performance, so even that is changing.

 

[ewdotson]

Dunno about that anymore. Surprised by the number of older, non tech folks using phones like the Galaxy S5 without issues these days. Several months back my mom mentioned she upgraded to the S5 from an old Droid she was mostly using as a dumbphone. What surprised me was she had it for over a month and never called for help. Figured out phone, text, email, and browsing OK.

Pretty much this. While one *can* do a lot of tinkering with an Android phone, I think people are overstating how much one *has* to do. These days, they pretty much "just work" as well if that's what you want. I'm really not a tinkerer myself and am perfectly happy with my m8.

 

[Red Storm]

Pretty much this. While one *can* do a lot of tinkering with an Android phone, I think people are overstating how much one *has* to do. These days, they pretty much "just work" as well if that's what you want. I'm really not a tinkerer myself and am perfectly happy with my m8.

This. Samsung even has an Easy Mode that makes things even more simple than an iPhone.

 

[saratoga172]

Pretty much this. While one *can* do a lot of tinkering with an Android phone, I think people are overstating how much one *has* to do. These days, they pretty much "just work" as well if that's what you want. I'm really not a tinkerer myself and am perfectly happy with my m8.

The other thing people often forget about is that these people go into retail stores to buy their phones. The sales associates generally are pretty good about showing the basics of each phone and how to use it. For many that is all they need.

My mom switched from an iPhone to droid 2 then to a razr m. She loves it. Good battery life, good call quality and she can do everything she needs. They really have come a log way for "just working" from a base usage standpoint. I would consider her slightly above tech average but she still asks me for help if it's not immediately apparent.

Apple will pull market share from android no doubt. I know some people that switched to Samsung S4/5 or Notes because they wanted large screens. They are now jumping back to iPhone 6+'s and a couple to the 6. Really just comes down to personal preference.

I find older individuals generally prefer larger screened phones due to what they can see and eyesight. Especially those that have to wear readers.

 

[cbrunny]

In no way will this kill high end Android phones anywhere in the world, much less the US. That's a pretty absurd notion.

People use Android because people like Android. People us iOS because people like iOS.

There may be some marketshare that is gained by Apple with larger phones, but a quick browse of this forum will reveal many users that prefer a smaller screen that Apple is no longer delivering -> Android does. I think those looking for a larger screen outnumber those with a preference for a smaller one, but it's worth noting.

The debate about which OS is better is still all about preferences. If anything, Apple's move to larger screens will only exacerbate this because it effectively removes form-factor from this discussion. Given that the average user doesn't know the difference between a 800, 801, or 805, or Apple's A8, or 1GB RAM vs. 3GB RAM or anything about the spec war, OS preference will rule the day.

In my personal biased opinion, anyone that has used both will see in a hurry that even the basic layers of Android's customization make it a much more personal device than any iPhone has ever been or ever will be. Specs & form-factor aside, that's kind of a big deal. Add on a simply better feature set and better hardware and it's a legitimate no brainer - for me.

 

[Blackjack200]

I'll catch hell for saying this, but in my personal experience, Android users generally fall into two buckets: computer users that hate Apple or really like messing around with the software on their phones, and poor people that have Cricket Wireless or something. I know that there are lots of exceptions both ways, but it's just a

In my office, in my circle of friends, even among my family, iPhones are almost completely ubiquitous.

Here are the last 15 people I texted.

31 y/o man. Poor --> No smart phone
28 y/o woman. P --> Android
31 y/o man Upper Middle Class --> iOS
[Group] 59 y/o man & 30 y/o man, both UMC --> iOS
35 y/o woman. Middle Class --> iOS
61 y/o man. MC --> No smart phone
30 y/o man. UMC --> Android
32 y/o man. MC --> iOS
Group: 32 y/o woman. 65 y/o man, 30 y/o woman, 2 UMC, 1 MC --> iOS
30 y/o woman. Upper Class --> iOS
30 y/o woman. UMC --> iOS
46 y/o woman. UMC --> iOS
30 y/o woman. UC --> iOS
30 y/o woman. UMC --> iOS
65 y/o man. Poor --> iOS

I'm not reading through this entire flame bait thread. Suffice to say, no, it will not. Android's rise to dominance was not dependent on larger screens, or even driven by larger screens.

Heck, it wasn't even a rise to dominance.

Seems like skinny jeans are doing a fine job of 'destroying' iPhone 6s with little help.

Heh

People use Android because people like Android. People us iOS because people like iOS.

People use Adroid and iOS mostly because that's what they already have and it's a real bitch to switch.

 

[vi edit]

I'll catch hell for saying this, but in my personal experience, Android users generally fall into two buckets: computer users that hate Apple or really like messing around with the software on their phones, and poor people that have Cricket Wireless or something. I know that there are lots of exceptions both ways, but it's just a

3 years ago I'd agree. Not so much anymore. Since the Galaxy S3 and on up Android really took a foot hold in predominant "Apple" demographics. It was particularly around the end of the S3's model run that it really seemed to ramp up as Verizon and others were heavily discounting them. 2 for 1 deals, $.99 contract phones, ect.

That was when I started seeing normal soccer Mom's start carrying them. 50 year old's start carrying them. Even doctors who in my experience were almost entirely Apple buyers started switching over.

The S3 was the first major marketing push and unified product that Samsung offered across all major carriers in the US. It was the first Android device that offered a great blend of hardware, screen size, good camera and a version of Android that finally didn't suck.

That was a Halo device for Android that really gave them momentum and viable, if not even more desirable alternative to an iPhone.

 

[preslove]

People get locked into whatever os. Whenever I use my fiance's iphone I get annoyed by the lack of a back and menu key, as well as other small design choices. My fiance hates android phones because she has always had iPhones

 

[Cadarin]

I was pretty happy about 3 years ago when my wife switched from an iPhone to a Samsung. It was the last Apple product in our house, and I never have to install iTunes on anything ever, ever, ever again.

 

[Mopetar]

I think it was around that time they moved away from requiring iTunes at all. You can download most stuff straight to your device now and I think their cloud backup solution can replace iTunes as well.

Personally I wish they would spin-off a separate program from iTunes that takes care of the syncing because it's lead to a lot of bloat for iTunes. The store should be a separate app as well.

 

[Rdmkr]

Imagine if the iphone did manage to "kill" the high end android market, as in send the price of flagships down and into the $300 range. Major, major win for the android phone consumer. Who exactly are we trying to scare here?

 

[ultimatebob]

Well.... it should help to kill what's left of the Windows Phone and Blackberry market share, anyway.

I doubt that those cheap Lumia phones that always seem to be on closeout special will sell as well when you can get an iPhone 5C for free on contract now.

 

[Commodus]

Imagine if the iphone did manage to "kill" the high end android market, as in send the price of flagships down and into the $300 range. Major, major win for the android phone consumer. Who exactly are we trying to scare here?

Well, it wouldn't suddenly get these companies to lower their margins -- they'd just switch their attention to mid-range and low-end phones. You're not going to see a full-size Galaxy S or One series that costs as little as a Nexus.

As I've said earlier, though, I don't think it'll "kill" high-end Android. Apple may well get some market share back, but I don't think it's going to completely crush the GS5 and other phones in the market. For Samsung, the main concern is that it's being pinched at both the high and low ends -- new iPhones that are bound to lure some away from the Galaxy line, and low-cost Chinese phones that eat away at its budget lineup.

 

[blairharrington]

I was pretty happy about 3 years ago when my wife switched from an iPhone to a Samsung. It was the last Apple product in our house, and I never have to install iTunes on anything ever, ever, ever again.

You don't need to use iTunes for anything with an iPhone/iPad. It's amazing how many forum members don't realize this.

 

[blairharrington]

People get locked into whatever os. Whenever I use my fiance's iphone I get annoyed by the lack of a back and menu key, as well as other small design choices. My fiance hates android phones because she has always had iPhones

She hates Android because she's never used it?

 

[sze5003]

She hates Android because she's never used it?

More like people get used to the OS they have been running and have no idea how the other works. My friend who has an iPhone tried my android device and didn't like how the interface is set up.

 

[badb0y]

Samsung's profit issues had/have nothing to do with Apple. They have to do with the segment that will kill *everything*, in terms of relevance anyway: low-end Android.

Not Apple.

Like I mentioned before this mobile trajectory is almost exactly like the PCs went through back in the day.

 

[purbeast0]

More like people get used to the OS they have been running and have no idea how the other works. My friend who has an iPhone tried my android device and didn't like how the interface is set up.

i have an android tablet and an iphone, and much prefer ios. things are just more intuitive and smoother on ios, that is basically what it boils down to me. i think the smoothness of the OS is actually what really makes ios stand apart from android to me.

i've also developed apps for both platforms, and google makes android development a huge fucking headache compared to apple.

if i wanted my tablet or phone to be like a pc, i'd use my laptop.

 

[ultimatebob]

3 years ago I'd agree. Not so much anymore. Since the Galaxy S3 and on up Android really took a foot hold in predominant "Apple" demographics. It was particularly around the end of the S3's model run that it really seemed to ramp up as Verizon and others were heavily discounting them. 2 for 1 deals, $.99 contract phones, ect.

That was when I started seeing normal soccer Mom's start carrying them. 50 year old's start carrying them. Even doctors who in my experience were almost entirely Apple buyers started switching over.

The S3 was the first major marketing push and unified product that Samsung offered across all major carriers in the US. It was the first Android device that offered a great blend of hardware, screen size, good camera and a version of Android that finally didn't suck.

That was a Halo device for Android that really gave them momentum and viable, if not even more desirable alternative to an iPhone.

Yeah... it almost seems like Apple used the Samsung Galaxy S3 as their design target when they developed the iPhone 6.

4 3/4 inch screen? Check.
NFC? Check.
8 Megapixel camera with HD video recording? Check.
Curved corners and tapered edges? Check. Seriously... It seems like Apple stole a design que from Samsung for a change! Maybe Samsung will sue them for that

I wish that Apple would have stolen the replacable battery and upgradable storage options while they're at it.

 

[jpeyton]

I'll catch hell for saying this, but in my personal experience, Android users generally fall into two buckets: computer users that hate Apple or really like messing around with the software on their phones, and poor people that have Cricket Wireless or something. I know that there are lots of exceptions both ways, but it's just a

In my office, in my circle of friends, even among my family, iPhones are almost completely ubiquitous.

I'll play that game. In my office:

Me: LG G3
21YO Male: SGS5
45YO Female: HTC 8X
52YO Female: LG G2
19YO Male: SGN3
60YO Female: iP4S
28YO Female: iP4
42YO Female: LG G2
25YO Male: SGS4
20YO Male: SGS5
21YO Male: SGS4

One former employee, a 31YO female, also had an LG G2. The G2 took over our office by storm. I guess it helps that our company uses Google Apps heavily at the corporate level, and Google integration with Android phones is simply in another league compared to iOS.

 

[s44]

45YO Female: HTC 8X

There's always one joker...

 

[lopri]

I need adblock. I occasionally get shocked using other people's mobile devices and see how many ads one has to deal with on mobile these days.

 

[SpacemanSpiffVT]

im amazed anyone is posting in this thread. obvious trolling.

 

[Red Storm]

You don't need to use iTunes for anything with an iPhone/iPad. It's amazing how many forum members don't realize this.

What about downgrading from faulty iOS updates?

 

[ControlD]

You don't need to use iTunes for anything with an iPhone/iPad. It's amazing how many forum members don't realize this.

How do you transfer local media to your iDevice without iTunes (serious question)?

If the answer is some third party program, then that's a half solution. I found those always stopped working with major iOS updates which meant I was back to using iTunes until people figured a way around the system.