Could Apple’s Popularity Be Dwindling?
If competition steps up against the iPhone, who can we expect to lead the smartphone pack?
For many diehard Apple fans, having an iPhone is as central to their existence as their middle name. After all, Steve Jobs created the iconic Apple brand not just to be a technology company, but an identity. However, as it reaches its tenth birthday, the cult-status of Apple’s iPhone seems to be dwindling ever so slightly. With the iPhone 8 set to be released later this year to mark the anniversary, it seems that we’re seeing more and more former Apple “lifers” considering switching to another smartphone model.
Stiff Competition
While Apple may have been the first out of the gate when it released the iPhone, ten years ago, since then competition in the smartphone market has intensified. Overall, we’ve seen Apple’s competitors seriously up their game. And now, with Google’s Pixel phone getting rave reviews, there’s another major player on the scene.
However, it’s not just the competitors that are giving Apple a run for its money; it’s Apple itself. The release of the iPhone 7, sans headphone jack, caused an uproar, as many people felt Apple was creating redundancies for the sake of selling new products – for example, Apple’s cordless “air-buds” in lieu of the previous earbud headphones with a wire.
Stiff Criticism
In addition, the price of Apple’s products continue to rise. As one contributor to Mashable pointed out: “iOS is inferior to Android in a number of ways, and the devices are expensive (peep the latest rumor that the iPhone 8 could cost upwards of $1,000). Off-contract, the iPhone 7 starts at $649. Now more than ever, Apple needs strategies to lock users into their universe, because it’s easier than ever to switch from iPhone to an Android. Today, Android is totally user friendly, easy on the eyes and runs on sleek, modern handsets that have challenged the iPhone’s design if not overtaken it entirely.”
Apple still has a solid market dominance and brand affection that counts for a lot. But the release of the iPhone 8 will tell a lot about the smartphone market’s future.
If sales slump and the trend of once-devotees of Apple and iPhone moving to other models continues, these are the top non-Apple phones on the market that will have driven the shift:
Google Pixel
This isn’t Google’s first foray into the smartphone market, but this headline says it all: “Is Google’s Phone an iPhone killer?” After killing its prior Nexus model for the Pixel, many wondered what Google was up to. But since then, the reviews have been convincing. As one blogger put it: “After looking at all these points, I see no reason for sticking to the iPhone. Pixel has much more to offer. Looking at the open app ecosystem, ease of navigation, ease of sharing, the smartest virtual assistant, etc., switching to Pixel is a no brainer. iPhone may have the retina display, but Google’s phone is Pixel perfect.”
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
Samsung has had a rough go with the drama surrounding its Samsung Galaxy Note 7 exploding and being recalled. However, that doesn’t detract from the fact that it’s still making great phones. Noted for its speed and size, Samsung’s current top of the line model still has many believers. An update is due sometime in February to a slew of Samsung phones, which will only stiffen the competition.
Sony Xperia XZ
There are a lot of different companies running on Android OS, including Samsung, Sony, HTC and LG, and after Samsung’s rather unfortunate exploding battery drama, the market has opened up a bit to allow other leaders to emerge. One such leader is Sony, who has upped the game with its flagship smartphone model.
The reviews are overwhelmingly good, with a consensus point being that “Sony has taken everything great about its last few smartphones and put them into one package for the Xperia XZ. It’s waterproof, has a premium design, a beautiful display, incredible camera tech and the best battery life we’ve seen on a flagship Sony phone in some time.”