Has Apple had its day?
As Samsung celebrates the sale of over 100 million Galaxy S devices, Apple slashes its iPhone 5 orders. Could the Korean tech giant be inching Apple off its comfortable throne? Stuff wordsmiths Esat Dedezade and Paddy Smith juggle the numbers...
Es: Empires weaken, kings grow old, and crowns tarnish. History has shown us this time and again, and now we see the cracks beginning to appear at Apple's core. The iPhone's stale OS and high price tag are driving people straight into the the arms of the Android camp, and it is the Galaxy S3 in which the people have found their new king.
Paddy: Let's look at the facts. Samsung has sold over 100 million Galaxy S devices. That includes the original S, the S2, the S3, the S Advance and the S Plus and accommodates sales dating back to 2010. Although the figures haven't been made public yet, Apple is expected to have sold in the region of 74 million iPhones in the last quarter of 2012 alone. I don't see the Americans shaking with fear...
Es: Apple's numbers are impressive, I'll give you that. But it's not all rosy down in Cupertino. Its share price has fallen three per cent following news of reduced iPhone 5 orders – the first chink in the iArmour perhaps? And with Samsung unleashing the Galaxy S4 months before the iPhone 6's launch, it could prove to be the ultimate preemptive strike.
Paddy: When you say "news" of reduced iPhone 5 orders, I think what you mean is uncorroborated reports. Even if they're based in fact, it could be a case of a mouthy supplier losing orders, while another more muted partner takes up the slack. Or perhaps Apple is clearing inventory ahead of releasing a new iPhone (the iPhone 5S or 6)? For me, when a nervy market wipes three per cent of a company as good at making money as Apple, it's time to ping your braces, get on the phone to your stockbroker and shout, "Buy, buy, buy!" Oh yeah, and I just looked at Samsung's trading figures... down 2.6 per cent. Explain?
Es: Now I'm no fancy financial analyst by any means, but Samsung's price drop could be linked to Apple's, given that it provides memory modules for the iPhone. However your 'clearing inventory' theory does, I admit, make sense. I guess we'll just have to see what the next year has to offer with the Galaxy S4 and iPhone 6 (with a hopefully revamped iOS7) to boot. But either way, Apple's ruling iron fist is undeniably beginning to loosen its grip.
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Comments
banditmeerkat
18 weeks ago
Comparing how many of Samsung's S series phone to Apple's iPhone is meaningless - how many phones did Apple sell in 2012 versus Android and how is that changing quarter by quarter over time? What is the trend - I suspect Apple are losing ground.
Personally, I've been waiting for the bubble to burst. Since I bought a couple of ipods years ago I feel Apple's products are over rated and over priced. Good, but not the work of a genius as the fan boys would have us believe. What Apple have done really well is marketed; they sold the modern, digital, stylish lifestyle to the consumer and I'll be cashing in when I purchase my Sony Xperia Z.
Thanks, Apple, but no thanks.
CyberAngel
18 weeks ago
I think it's the new Lumia 920 that has stopped iPhone 5 AND the fact that it was worst iPhone ever at launch: bad maps, reddish haze on some pictures, no LTE in the EU (except EE in the UK) etc
While LUmia 920 has very bright, fast and sensitive LCD plus OIS in the camera, free off-loaded world maps etc
billythehamster
18 weeks ago
Where Apple have excelled always is in beautiful design. You may say the OS is dated but its still the nicest looking and the easiest to use. Android is still fugly and clunky.
My 4 year old can work my iPad and when used with a Mac the whole Ecosystem works beautifully together. iTunes, iCloud and iTunes Match save me heaps of time
Granted the maps fiasco but no one is perfect.
Android will always be the OS for nerds and geeks who love to play. Or simply cannot afford an iPhone.
Apple is for people who want it to just work, look smart, easy to use and will pay a premium because they are cash rich time poor. That's not to say one is better than the other it is aimed at different people.
You say fanboy but the most militant users out there come from the open source community. I get their argument but I simply don't have the time to spend hours getting it to work the way I like.
j4spal
18 weeks ago
Good points Billy