The Problem With Apple

In 2007 Apple released the first iPhone, redefining what the mobile phone was. But now, it's rare to see anything truly innovative from Apple's yearly releases. What lies in the future for Apple, in its current era of useless innovation?

Despite sticking to this yearly cycle, in recent years phone manufacturers have fallen into a far more iterative release schedule, and are not making the large strides in technical innovation like the early days of smartphones. Despite overturning major phone brands like Nokia and Blackberry almost overnight, nowadays, the best features Apple can promote are more cameras, improved battery life, incremental improvements in image quality, among others. This is in comparison to old, yearly innovations like the iPhone 3G, the front-facing selfie camera, iMessage, iCloud, Siri, Apple Pay, and more.

This slowing of innovation is causing consumers to keep handsets for longer, with US consumers upgrading their phones every 2.67 years in 2023, down from 2.53 in 2015. Globally it’s down to 3.6 years. In addition consumers are frequently opting for cheaper or older models to save money over the inflated costs. This is reflected by the introduction of the iPhone vs iPhone Pro branding in Apple, and Google releasing their ‘A’ models for their Pixel devices. Wearables like smart watches and premium devices like Samsung's Z flip and Fold are being used to diversify and offset slowing sales.

As innovation slows, awareness of the environmental damage Apple causes with its excessive manufacturing is now growing. Is Apple's technological peak about to end? Or will they find the Apple magic to innovate once again?

[RaindoggTV]

it is interesting that the two most useful features apple added to the iphone were due to anti trust rulings. USB-C and RCS

[louisgiokas]

I upgraded from an iPhone 7 base model to an iPhone 15 Pro earlier this year. My old phone had a wonky battery. I could actually get it replaced, but after about six years I thought it would be best to upgrade. I had been upgrading my tech in general after a long hiatus. There is basically nothing that the new phone adds that I need. The only thing I notice is the better camera. Even that is of limited use to me. I guess I am not an "ideal" customer.

[grbkset-]

I buy flagship phones 2 years old for $200-$300. They'll last another 5 years.

[johnjay]

I'm sick of these clickbait videos. I watched half and it's just a history lesson. Get to the frigging topic. Get to "The problem with apple".

[entropyachieved]

Paying a lot of money for very little. In a lot of ways my old phone from 6+ years ago was almost as good as the one I have now

[dhavald]

must bring back 3.5mm audio jack. there is no point of removing it.

[morenojader]

The thing is that smartphones have reached peak of innovation

[bondgabebond]

All I expect from my phone is to ring when someone calls. I hope that someone answers the phone when I call. Outside of that, it sits alone most of the time.

[a.m.]

Apple is doing exactly what Nokia did: keep making the same things with tiny changes. Apple will pay a price for this.

[Alan-megan]

I’m still using my iPhone 6s from 2015!!! It’s far too smart for my brains stills.. can’t imagine upgrading to iPhone 16!!

[Zakariah]

Tim Cook has no vision. Apple is in trouble.

[BrilliantDesignOnline]

First, I would never purchase sickly proprietary Apple products. The only reason I upgrade my phone now is mechanical failure, especially because it is a royal pain to reconfigure it to my customizations. My Samsung ANDROID Galaxy 10+ serves every need I require of it, has tolerable battery life, and I just have no reason for anything else. But I am sick of everyone thinking a phone is better than a computer, be it a laptop or a desktop, because I need it for REAL things, like SolidWorks and CNC things, which require REAL power and a REAL interface, unlike a phone.

[Saroku]

The Problem is that people don't realize that innovations are not something that can be mass produced yearly, they happen from time to time. Just because the first years of a product line where innovative doesn't mean that this certain product has or can make new innovations in the future every year. Unrealistic expectations, thats like being mad that new laptops from 2024 don't have any new innovations.

[amanjyotijatta]

Yesterday's technology with tomorrow's price, Apple is robbing us

[ManOfSteel]

totally useless since past 10 years battery capacity is between 4, 000 and 5500 mah depending on size of phone. average is 4500mah 😢

[thebigjr]

It's weird. Over the past 10 years a lot of people have pointed out how new phones are basically the same year on year. Yet people still pay 1400 for a new phone. They just want to say they have the latest phone. I don't get it.

[csibesz]

My biggest problem is that manufacturers phase out "smaller" devices...

[c.galanza]

The restrictions made to Huawei by the USA contributed greatly to the decline of innovations.

[ShaferHart]

I still can't believe that consumers allowed the notch to became mainstream so thank you for giving it a mention, it's such an aberration. You called it a compromise when there was no compromise to be had to be had. Respect to Sony for being the only sane manufacturer out there who stuck to its guns and showed respect for their customers. They have avoided this "compromise" by doing nothing at all and just putting the camera and sensors in the phone's forehead just like we had done since forever before Apple came up with the notch.

[theenergizer]

I'm waiting for 4-dimensional laser screen projection on my next cellphone. Hurry up apple, give me this.