OPINION: This week we’ve seen a contemporary batch of ‘leaks’ seem about each the brand new iPhone 14 and Pixel 7 strains of telephones, that are each anticipated to look throughout the subsequent 6 months.
These included a brand new posting on eBay claiming to be for a prototype of the hotly anticipated Pixel 7, which isn’t anticipated to really launch till October, based mostly on Google’s typical launch cycle and extra rumblings concerning the iPhone 14’s specs than I care to element.
However for me the one article about both telephone that basically stood out wasn’t a leak, it was a sales report from Client Intelligence Analysis Companions (CIRP) concerning the iPhone 13. Gross sales experiences are by no means probably the most grabbing merchandise in most shopper evaluate websites’ record of priorities however for me, this one was essential because it proved clear proof for a problem I’ve been having with Apple, and to a big extent Google’s, telephone methods.
The stat that stood out was that, regardless of the report suggesting the iPhone 13 household is promoting nice, the mini variant was struggling. Particularly it reported that whereas the usual iPhone 13 accounted for 38% of complete smartphone gross sales throughout this yr’s first quarter, the iPhone 13 mini solely demanded a 3% share.
There are a mess of the way to interpret why that is the case, however for me the reply’s easy: Apple’s making too many telephones.
I first began fascinated with this final yr whereas having a drink with a buddy simply after the launch of the iPhone 13 line. Throughout it they, having held onto an iPhone 7 far longer than they need to, requested me which new iPhone they need to get. This led to a rabbit gap dialog the place I needed to clarify the distinction between the Professional, Max, Mini and SE in nice element. The bemused look on their face on the finish and ongoing confusion at how precisely the SE and Mini are completely different made clear, in the meanwhile Apple’s paralyzing individuals with selection.
Because it stands, if you happen to think about all of the iPhone 13 variants and the actual fact it’s nonetheless promoting older fashions in its retailer at a diminished worth, there’s an excessive amount of overlap within the agency’s present library. Again within the day the selection was easy, you obtain that yr’s iPhone or waited one other yr. Nowadays it’s important to navigate whether or not you need the newest era, or to go for final yr’s mannequin at a diminished worth.
Even if you happen to’re set that you really want a small telephone, you additionally then have to determine if it’s the SE or Mini that’s higher for you – one thing that’s tough for those that don’t actually care or hold observe of tech as Apple’s Retailer pages make them sound very like-for-like. Merely put it’s all very complicated, which is why I’m not shocked many individuals are ignoring the Mini.
The worst half is that I can see Google happening an analogous path with Pixel with the looks of the brand new Pixel 6a. As we famous earlier than, the Pixel 6a to a big diploma overlaps with the bottom Pixel 6, making the machine really feel prefer it’s been made redundant after simply half a yr available on the market. With the Pixel 7 additionally already teased at Google I/O 2022 mere weeks in the past this solely provides to the confusion making it tough for a mean purchaser to know what telephone they need to get.
I can’t assist however assume that in right this moment’s age, the place most gross sales knowledge suggests individuals are ready longer to improve their telephones, firms like Apple and Google can be higher off simplifying their providing, making it simpler for customers to know which telephone they need to get after they lastly resolve to improve.
Although I can’t see this occurring anytime quickly, it’s additionally the principle cause why I wholeheartedly imagine on this article’s headline and would fortunately argue there ought to solely be one iPhone 14 and Pixel 7.
