While technically the iPhone keeps getting better and better, and Apple has all these other initiatives that make it and its ecosystem impressive, I would doubt that this has anything to do with their massive profits.
It might be why a lot of techies buy the phone (though I'm still loyal to my Lumia :)) but surely the primary reason remains the fact that the iPhone is a premier fashion item and/or has most of the apps?
> the primary reason remains the fact that the iPhone is a premier fashion item
But what does that mean? _Why_ is the iPhone a fashion item and other phones are not? Why does the iPhone command such a high degree of customer loyalty compared to its competitors?
Perhaps it's not what you meant, but when I read the argument that the iPhone is only/primarily successful because it's a fashion item, I feels like what is implied is that the iPhone as a product is similar to it's competitors and is only differentiated by better marketing. Which I think is BS. But if it were true, it would be even more astounding, considering Apple spends only a fraction of the amount Samsung does on marketing.
No that's not what I meant. There is much about it that's amazing - its screens are certainly better than my 920 for example. What I was saying is that the technical aspects of the phone are (mostly) irrelevant when it comes to its sales.
Most people, I would assume, don't go out and decide between the phones based on which has the best performance or interface merits. They just go out and get an iPhone.
There is no doubt when the original iPhone came out it was streets ahead of the competition, the likes of Nokia and Blackberry had become complacent, Apple turned the industry upside down.
The competition hasn't stood still since then though, the difference between a Lumia a Samsung and an iPhone much.
So why do people continue to pay a large premium for a small increase (if any) in functionality?
Anecdotally people seem to think differently about IPhones. They expect them to last a few years and retain value. People are more likely to protect them with cases and actually use the warrenty. A lot of other phones feel much more flimsy and you never seriously expect them to last more than a year or two. And because they are cheaper you can always just get another one.
A large premium? Outright, an iPhone is the same price as a Galaxy S5/Note. The Lumia on the other hand is much cheaper, which is one of the reasons my girlfriend wanted a 930 for Christmas (which I got her), the other being that she really likes Windows Phone. I personally prefer the iPhone, but I use Apple everything.
its marketed as a hip, cool, and high tech, with a hint of luxury (emphasis on aluminum cases and such), that the average person can afford. Remember the stereotype of the pretentious twits sitting in Starbucks with their Macbooks?
Once your sold on their product its not simple to leave, let alone the simple fact that their products just work and do not require of you much to continue to do so.
Especially now that screen sizes are in the same ballpark, the iPhone and its interface don't look markedly different from competing Samsung/HTC/Nexus phones. People like how iPhones work.
It might be why a lot of techies buy the phone (though I'm still loyal to my Lumia :)) but surely the primary reason remains the fact that the iPhone is a premier fashion item and/or has most of the apps?