The most interesting part to me, as a consumer and not a stock holder, is the fragmentation of the iPhone lineup. When you look at the fact that at 2017's launch you had a choice of the iPhone X,...
The most interesting part to me, as a consumer and not a stock holder, is the fragmentation of the iPhone lineup. When you look at the fact that at 2017's launch you had a choice of the iPhone X, the 8, or the 8 Plus, you'd already fragmented the market and caused confusion among non-informed consumers. Then this year got even worse: Xs and Xs Max, later followed up by the XR, a model which carriers were all too happy to push to consumers as "the new iPhone" or "this year's iPhone." The ads were (and still are) everywhere, pushing that model over the more-expensive but better-specced hardware. My brother-in-law decided to switch, went to the Verizon store asking for the biggest iPhone (he's a big man), and was sold the XR. When I told him there was a bigger model available (the Xs Max), he wasn't too happy.
That kind of fragmentation leads to confusion and frustration on the part of consumers. It used to just be "the new iPhone," now it's "one of the new iPhones." I've talked to people who have a new iPhone and aren't even sure what model they received. That's terrible for brand loyalty and confidence.
The most interesting part to me, as a consumer and not a stock holder, is the fragmentation of the iPhone lineup. When you look at the fact that at 2017's launch you had a choice of the iPhone X, the 8, or the 8 Plus, you'd already fragmented the market and caused confusion among non-informed consumers. Then this year got even worse: Xs and Xs Max, later followed up by the XR, a model which carriers were all too happy to push to consumers as "the new iPhone" or "this year's iPhone." The ads were (and still are) everywhere, pushing that model over the more-expensive but better-specced hardware. My brother-in-law decided to switch, went to the Verizon store asking for the biggest iPhone (he's a big man), and was sold the XR. When I told him there was a bigger model available (the Xs Max), he wasn't too happy.
That kind of fragmentation leads to confusion and frustration on the part of consumers. It used to just be "the new iPhone," now it's "one of the new iPhones." I've talked to people who have a new iPhone and aren't even sure what model they received. That's terrible for brand loyalty and confidence.
Biggest error was not keeping Steve Jobs alive.