I suspect a lot of Apple owners have several devices eg a Macbook, iPhone, Apple Watch, and maybe an iPad or a Homepod too. I would be all that surprised if owning multiple Macs was relatively common as well if you include work computers.
Apple is certainly very good at their core business of building hardware and software, but the thing that sets them apart from the rest is their unimpeachable Brand Halo. Owning Apple products is now considered the ticket to entry for affluence. And 2 billion devices hasn't done very much to dilute that position. Android users (myself included) will show off all the incredible features you get on a device that costs half the price of iPhone and not make a dent in anyone's opinion.
Just as a rough count, I've got a dozen active apple devices in my home. Desktops (3 - one old pro, one current pro, one mini), laptops (2 - one old, one not as old), phones (2 - one current, one old), iPad (1), iWatch (1), home pods (3).
I'll admit to being fairly invested in the ecosystem (and have been for a long time). If you're counting iphones, iwatches, AirPods - it can easily get to multiple devices per person.
Macs are quality machines that have a longevity, so most consumers aren't replacing them every two years. I think Apple should get serious about infiltrating enterprise, the world of Microsoft, with seamless desktop solutions that won't cause any extra work for IT. They could pick up a lot of sales with inexpensive hardware undercutting base model PCs for non-power users by creating secretary suites and suites for desk-monkeys that don't use anything more esoteric than email, office apps and web, while cutting power costs dramatically, as long as the software seamlessly integrates with Active Directory, Exchange/O365, and other Microsoft technologies without any hassle or learning curve, and machines that just work without generating any IT incidents, ever or rarely. This seems like a no-brainer to me, because it's kind of silly and expensive giving a secretary a $800-$2500 base model HP or Dell running Windows 11. They should also try to attract power users with more performant Apple Silicon, but the entire point rests on a proactive developer team issuing fast updates to fix Microsoft periodically breaking things with their updates, and never allow Microsoft to confound the Apple enterprise initiative, as Microsoft will undoubted try to do at every turn.
Not Mac sales related, but I also think Apple should infiltrate and take over the residential kitchen with advanced, efficient utilities, a refrigerator, an inductive range top, a microwave that doesn't "KLUNK!" when the door is closed, a toaster-broiler, maybe a faucet and purifier.
And I think they should do these things before they ever release any VR/AR hardware and get burned like everyone else in the history of VR/AR.
There was a lot of built-up demand for the M1s, especially the MacBook Pros. Those shipped in 2021. The sales you are looking for are spread out in the year before this last quarter of 2022.
And the M2 MacBook Pros were initially rumored for late-2022, causing others to wait.
Mac numbers are not surprising at all. Everyone who was interested in a max already bought one when the m1s dropped. Now the max line is entering the more predictable phase of its life cycle.
Macrumors has a stacked area chart showing the breakdown of the categories by quarter going back to 2009[0]. It's helpful to see all these numbers in context
They'll have to dip their finger into that sweet ad revenue at some point to sate the shareholder's hunger for growth. Ads are already leaking out of the app store into apple news and the stocks app.
That would be fine as long as they don't go for the attention like with regular ads. They need to be very careful though, other device makers are not that behind Apple and worsening the user experience can very well kill Apple.
I have an Apple M1 MacBook Air. Didn't jump yet for M2/M2 Pro/M2 Pro Max. Will probably jump for the next.
I bought an Apple Watch and returned it. It did nothing for me.
If I could run full Mac OS X on an iPad, I'd buy one. Otherwise, I don't have one.
I haven't upgraded my AirPods/I don't have AirPods Pro because I don't like the in-ear and don't need noise cancellation that badly.
I'm probably an outlier but... they haven't been able to convert me on Apple Watch or iPad yet. I wonder how many other customers like me are sitting out there.
Interesting that you upgrade your phone every year. It kinda makes sense when you think about how often you use your phone, but I've done the opposite and only ever upgraded my (or my partner's) phone when it broke or started slowing down, which typically takes ~3 years now with iphones and ~1.5 years with android -- $600-1k just feels like a huge purchase if you're not actively reminding yourself to amortize it.
I'm starting to consider going to your approach (with trade-in) just to get camera upgrades.
iPad has an increasingly narrow use-case now that phones are so big and displays are so good (imo). The only reason I got an iPad was to take notes for class, which it exceeds at very well. It feels like writing on paper, almost. And I'm starting flight school soon too. Seems all the charts/etc. are electronic now, so a tablet with ForeFlight (App Store only) is almost necessary.
It will be interesting to watch that service revenue evolve now that the EU and Biden Administration is rethinking their stance on the App Store. Tim Cook did a fairly good job diversifying Apple's service offerings, but how competitive will they be on an even playing field?
Apple is allowed to collect the 15-30%. No one including EU or US has said otherwise.
And what happened in Netherlands with the dating apps underscores this.
What will happen instead is that there will be other stores/payment methods and Apple will simply bill them instead using the telemetry it has around which apps are being launched. And what those stores will find is that its an unprofitable and unenjoyable business to run and the status quo will largely remain the same.
Ugh. Apple Services are flawed at the root and are a worrying trend. I want to buy hardware that I own. I don't want crappy DRM crap.
Hope they don't get addicted to that crappy business model and become the next Google (search results are so terrible now, almost should call it ad results).
What a drop! M1 success and exodus out of butterfly keyboard probably pumped those numbers last year, but I guess we know the trend of growth there is on shaky ground.
Also, i wonder how much of that are companies not needing to buy new hires new laptops
M1 was such a big leap in terms of performance, that people will be happy with it for quite a while - I would expect Apple's user base to keep widening, but the profit from hardware keep falling because people won't need to upgrade as much.
For years they churned out flawed laptops, I know people who went through multiple rounds of keyboard repairs. That has got to have put some people off buying mac laptops for a long time, M(1|2) or not.
I bought many M1s, but haven't bought any M2s yet because the M1 is so great. I am saving the M2 purchase for when it like rains for 2 weeks straight or something.
I didn't upgrade to Apple Silicon right away but I did last year ago with gear going out of OS upgrade support last fall. I imagine a lot of people decided that Apple Silicon was a good upgrade point and I can't see upgrading again for a while unless I replace my iMac with a new mini.
Seems like the shares have only given back today's gains so (for now) I guess the market isn't too concerned. China coming back online should help with the supply chain issues.
Readit News
It's time for a more exclusive/luxurious brand to hit the market, because this userbase is starting to get ridiculous.
Been waiting for more than a decade and still no viable cohesive and consistent luxury non-Android alternative to overtake the iPhone.
Deleted Comment
I'll admit to being fairly invested in the ecosystem (and have been for a long time). If you're counting iphones, iwatches, AirPods - it can easily get to multiple devices per person.
This is actually more devices per user
Dead Comment
Mac -28.72% YoY
iPad +29.64% YoY
Wearables, Home and Accessories -8.29% YoY
Services 6.41% YoY
Total net sales -5.48% YoY
Macs are quality machines that have a longevity, so most consumers aren't replacing them every two years. I think Apple should get serious about infiltrating enterprise, the world of Microsoft, with seamless desktop solutions that won't cause any extra work for IT. They could pick up a lot of sales with inexpensive hardware undercutting base model PCs for non-power users by creating secretary suites and suites for desk-monkeys that don't use anything more esoteric than email, office apps and web, while cutting power costs dramatically, as long as the software seamlessly integrates with Active Directory, Exchange/O365, and other Microsoft technologies without any hassle or learning curve, and machines that just work without generating any IT incidents, ever or rarely. This seems like a no-brainer to me, because it's kind of silly and expensive giving a secretary a $800-$2500 base model HP or Dell running Windows 11. They should also try to attract power users with more performant Apple Silicon, but the entire point rests on a proactive developer team issuing fast updates to fix Microsoft periodically breaking things with their updates, and never allow Microsoft to confound the Apple enterprise initiative, as Microsoft will undoubted try to do at every turn.
Not Mac sales related, but I also think Apple should infiltrate and take over the residential kitchen with advanced, efficient utilities, a refrigerator, an inductive range top, a microwave that doesn't "KLUNK!" when the door is closed, a toaster-broiler, maybe a faucet and purifier.
And I think they should do these things before they ever release any VR/AR hardware and get burned like everyone else in the history of VR/AR.
And the M2 MacBook Pros were initially rumored for late-2022, causing others to wait.
[0] https://www.macrumors.com/2023/02/02/apple-1q-2023-earnings/
Services Revenues: +6.4% YoY
Net Income: -13.4% YoY
I buy the newest iPhone every release.
I have an Apple M1 MacBook Air. Didn't jump yet for M2/M2 Pro/M2 Pro Max. Will probably jump for the next.
I bought an Apple Watch and returned it. It did nothing for me.
If I could run full Mac OS X on an iPad, I'd buy one. Otherwise, I don't have one.
I haven't upgraded my AirPods/I don't have AirPods Pro because I don't like the in-ear and don't need noise cancellation that badly.
I'm probably an outlier but... they haven't been able to convert me on Apple Watch or iPad yet. I wonder how many other customers like me are sitting out there.
I'm starting to consider going to your approach (with trade-in) just to get camera upgrades.
- I keep my iPhones for 3+ generations (that number is increasing)
- Love my Apple Watch (+ AirPods + rescue dog => 1 hour daily walks)
- iPad does nothing for me -> gave to kids
- Macbook Air M1 is awesome, but will upgrade if rumored 15" M2 version arrives
- iMac 5K is wonderful; nothing tempts me away from that yet
And what happened in Netherlands with the dating apps underscores this.
What will happen instead is that there will be other stores/payment methods and Apple will simply bill them instead using the telemetry it has around which apps are being launched. And what those stores will find is that its an unprofitable and unenjoyable business to run and the status quo will largely remain the same.
Dead Comment
Hope they don't get addicted to that crappy business model and become the next Google (search results are so terrible now, almost should call it ad results).
What a drop! M1 success and exodus out of butterfly keyboard probably pumped those numbers last year, but I guess we know the trend of growth there is on shaky ground.
Also, i wonder how much of that are companies not needing to buy new hires new laptops
https://www.keyboardsettlement.com
Don’t miss your paycheck!
are they getting 3.5% on all of their "cash on hand" with recent rise in interest rates?
Turns out they spend $90B a year in stock buybacks and $15B in dividends which is pretty insane.