Reuters: Apple pushes outdoor features to test user spending power
Apple just released a new model that uses satellites to send emergency messagesiPhone14, and launched the Ultra Watch, a smartwatch focused on adventure and sports. These outdoor-focused products will test whether Apple’s relatively wealthy users will continue to spend amid rising inflation.
D.A. Davidson analyst Tom Forte said: “It’s interesting that despite the inflationary pressures, Apple has decided to basically maintain its original intelligence.cell phonepricing level. Apple’s decision or strategy is that the company believes it can continue to maintain profit margins by stopping lower-priced devices. “
“Apple is competing for a consumer base that already has high loyalty to its existing products and suppliers, and over time it has Will need to prove myself again.”
New York Times: Apple Watch focuses on fitness features
At this year’s event, Apple unveiled the iPhone 14 with satellite phone capabilities that can be used in emergencies. However, Apple’s smartwatch has gradually attracted a large number of fans of all ages.
Originally released in 2015, the “wearable computer” still accounts for a tiny fraction of the company’s revenue. But it helped Apple build a fortress around the iPhone, deepening user loyalty to the company’s most important device.
On Wednesday, Apple expanded that strategy with a new line of smartwatches. In particular, Apple’s launch of a new fitness-focused smartwatch, the Ultra Watch, for sports enthusiasts of all kinds, puts Apple in a market segment dominated by Garmin.
Apple leads the way in smartwatch sales, with a market share of nearly 51%, ahead ofSamsung(19%) andHuawei(5%). The Apple Watch Ultra and the lower-priced Apple Watch SE should help Apple boost sales in the business, said Francisco Jeronimo, vice president of device research at market research firm IDC. The watch business brought in an estimated $17 billion for Apple last year.
Smartwatches are nowhere near as important to Apple as the iPhone, which accounts for more than half of the company’s total revenue. But the devices have helped Apple deepen customer loyalty. “The more products you buy from Apple, the less likely you are to leave Apple for another company,” Geronimo said. “Your entire life will be wrapped up in a single ecosystem.”
Washington Post: New features + stable prices attract users
Apple on Wednesday unveiled updated versions of this year’s iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods. While the company isn’t rolling out any major design changes or brand new products, there are some new features that might appeal to those interested in buying a new device. Most notably, a number of features can help people out of trouble when something bad happens, like car crash detection, and the ability to connect to satellites via the iPhone in an emergency.
But the most striking development is what Apple has not done by raising prices, despite soaring inflation last year. People around the world are using their phones for longer periods of time, and it’s getting harder for Apple to convince them to upgrade. By combining the constant rollout of new features with keeping prices stable, Apple may be giving those grappling with economic challenges a new reason to upgrade.
Bloomberg: Apple’s incremental improvements are enough to entice consumers to upgrade
Apple’s new iPhones retain the general look and feel of older models, but have enhanced cameras, long-awaited satellite information and a new interface called “Dynamic Island” on high-end models. Apple argues that these new features, combined with no major price hikes, will be enough to fend off competition from Samsung and other rivals. The iPhone now accounts for about half of the U.S. smartphone market and hopes to build on that.
“While many of the new features Apple announces are incremental improvements rather than breakthrough innovations, we believe Apple has done enough,” said Neil Saunders, managing director of market research firm GlobalData. more work to convince consumers to upgrade and keep using its products, driving demand growth.”
Many analysts had previously predicted that Apple would raise prices, but the company has apparently found more subtle ways to steer consumers toward higher prices. By keeping its best new features on Pro-level devices or other high-end models, the company hopes to grow its customer base. “We keep challenging ourselves to raise the bar and make the iPhone even better,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook.
CNN: It’s critical for Apple to convince customers to upgrade iPhones
Apple unveiled four new smartphones at Wednesday’s event, with hardware upgrades in battery life, cameras and more, along with a host of new features.
Throughout the event, Apple seemed to alternately promote its own lineup of products: on the one hand, they are tools to let us live our best lives, and on the other, in a world of uncertainty, help customers avoid possible encounters any problem, from a car accident to being trapped in the wild.
Perhaps the most surprising thing, however, is the price, with the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus starting at $799 and $899, respectively, the same price as last year’s models. The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max start at $999 and $1,099 respectively, also the same as last year. Analysts had widely expected Apple to raise the price of the high-end model by $100.
Leo Gebbie, principal analyst for network equipment at CCS Insight, said: “It’s impressive that Apple’s new iPhone 14 has maintained the same selling price as last year in the US. We had expected inflation, production and zero Rising component costs, along with other expenses such as higher shipping costs, will cause Apple to increase retail pricing.”
Obviously, it’s always crucial for Apple to convince customers to upgrade their devices, especially iPhones. The iPhone remains Apple’s core product. That task is likely to become more difficult this year due to broader economic pressures, including fears of a looming recession.
Financial Times: Apple trying to launch new iPhone to drive growth
Apple on Wednesday released two new iPhones with emergency satellite communications and improved cameras, as well as two revamped Pro models. Clearly, the world’s largest company wants to expand its foothold in the premium smartphone market.
These new product launches come as Apple has overtaken Android to capture more than half of the U.S. smartphone market, giving Apple an increasing opportunity to diversify its revenue streams into moreAccessoriesand subscription services areas.
Globally, Apple has a much smaller market share and is expected to account for 18% of total shipments in the first half of 2022, according to market research firm Canalys. But Apple dominates the higher-margin devices. In the first half of this year, two-thirds of phones priced over $600 were iPhone models.
Meanwhile, new smartwatches could help continue to extend Apple’s lead. According to CounterPoint Research, Apple’s smartwatch has a global market share of more than 30% this year, twice as much as No. 2 Samsung, which has a market share of less than 10%.
Apple CEO Tim Cook said the new products demonstrate the unique and powerful synergies of the company’s products. His comments come as Apple is looking to tap into a growing number of accessories and services, where the company has profit margins of more than 70%.