The author seems to be putting the lion's share of the blame on the consumer. Is it the consumer's fault there were still huge supply chain issues limiting options and availability? Especially in the "chip" industries? Is it the consumer's fault there were unrests at major Chinese factories, limiting and even shutting down production? Is it the consumer's fault improvement's over previous year's models tend to be marginal at best, often negligible and insignificant? Is it the consumer's fault the market is nearly saturated already - with over 85% of the world's population having mobile phones? That's the entire population, not just adults and big kids!!! Is it the consumer's fault they charge outlandish fees for their latest phones? Is it the consumer's fault phones typically have many features users don't need - but are still paying for? Is it the consumer's fault phones come with highly advanced features (cameras, for example) when much less capable and less expensive features are more than adequate? Is it the consumer's fault so many consumers are tired of all the marketing hype that suggests we must have the latest phone every year? Is it the consumer's fault their current phone still easily meets their needs? Is it the consumer's fault having the latest and most fancy, and most expensive smartphone is no longer a status symbol? Sure, the number of consumers simply wanting a new phone - despite their current phones being perfectly acceptable - may have dropped a little. I think this supposed decline in consumer "demand", however is just indicative of a long overdue market correction - an adjustment getting the "supply and demand" balance to where it should, and needs to be. When was the last time you saw a smartphone commercial that talked about the device's "phone" features? JMHO.
I only buy a new smartphone if the manufacturer no longer provides security updates. Because of the long update supply, I bought a Pixel smartphone.
I have only ever bought two smartphones: Moto G (3rd generation) released on July 28, 2015. I got mine in December 2015. OPPO Find X3 Pro was released in Australia on April 1, 2021 for pre-order, and for purchase on April 13, 2021. I got my current phone, the Oppo in the Black Friday sales of November, 2021 at a good price, AU$999.00. It is a good reliable phone, which has been running Android 13 for a few months, now. Will be updated to Andoid 14, hopefully, later this year.
I bought my last new phone because I discovered my previous phone will not stay on the back bumper of my truck during a 10 mile drive. And I bought my current phone because my last phone was 3G, didn't support 4G, and the local providers were terminating 3G and implementing 5G. I hope to keep my current phone forever. My fear, besides dropping it, or it growing legs and wandering off, is the battery will die (or catch fire in my pocket or explode) and since it is hard-wired in and not replaceable (a very unfriendly - should be illegal - anti-consumer tactic ), I will be forced to buy a new phone, again.
I have to suspect that sales started to drop off when phones started costing 4 digits. Too many companies seem to think customers are an unlimited source of untapped revenue.
I sure would think $1000 price tags would have an effect. Yet, they couldn't price them there if people wouldn't buy them.
I see quite US-centric approach to smartphones in this thread Only flagships devices prices discussed. Since IDC is " The premier global market intelligence firm " and article mentions focus on more than one market I just want to mention that $1000 flagships can't explain entirerly worldwide shippments drop. In many countries having a midrange smartphone is not a sign of being broke or something.
Nope, Samsung is right there with them. The S23 is coming any minute. And they cost just as much as the Apple phones.
I personally think its bonkers that people want to spend this much on smartphones. Even for a laptop this is already quite expensive. Sometimes I don't even believe the numbers that Apple reports about how many iPhones they sell each year. I wonder how much are first time users (people in their teens) and how many are replacements.
I bought my current smartphone and desktop, used from eBay. I spent less than US $100 four years ago for my smartphone. I may upgrade before too long because I need more storage space, but the performance is still good. The desktop I use daily cost US $150, apart from the cost of extra RAM and a SSD and I'm very happy with it.
I'm not into used products, but from what I understood you can buy new ones also for around €100, like from Motorola. I seriously don't know why people spend so much time on their smartphone.