clarker99

purchase iPhones in sufficient numbers, this is very unlikely to change and even if change is provoked by a reality check in the shape of something like a profit warning, the most probable change would be to pricing first and, only as a last resort, features. 

In terms of where the puck might be at any given time, Apple has mostly missed it many times in recent years. By accident, strategic planning, strategic misplanning or by simply failing to see what users actually want or need.

Apple is a 'play safe' company in many regards today, and there isn't much room for 'cool' on the roadmap. There will be occasional moments along the way for some great innovation but that isn't where the company is at. 

Margins and revenues are what really count. That cannot be criticised from a business perspective but it comes at a price for users. 

The latest iPhone offerings are really a prime example of the drip, drop attitude to features.

I haven't seen a single review that hasn't carried a tone of an 'S' series review. Of course that is exactly what they are. 'S' series phones without the 'S' in the name because Apple marketing knows full well that users are onto the 'S' labelling and what it represents.

Android manufacturers could band together for a branding campaign and really destabilise the entire iPhone ecosystem by attacking the notion that Apple is actually cool and pointing out the bare truth. That would really do some damage but I feel Android manufacturers just don't feel a need for that.

Apple is fine with the current scenario because it knows that most buyers won't be asking about things like refresh rates at purchase time, but if purchasers knew that the asking price is underdelivering with regards to the competition that would probably have an impact on sales. 

Although Apple has had no option but to progressively expand its model offerings (an essential move IMO) adjust pricing and slowly add the most glaring feature omissions (tri-cameras, better low light photography, more camera versatility, better and faster charging options, longer battery life, smaller notch, 5G, higher base storage...) there is still a huge amount of damage that a concerted Android branding campaign could do (both from a hardware and software perspective).

However, in the case of flip phones specifically, from a business perspective for Apple, it doesn't make a lot of sense. Unlike Samsung or any top Chinese vendor) they are a 'mainstream' company with no 'non-mainstream' product outlets. 

Everything has to be mass market. That makes it virtually impossible to bring a nascent form factor to market. 

Do I think they should do it, though? Definitely! 

benefit from such a phone. My guess: It will debut in the fall of 2024.

people have standard USB chargers at home anyway, but by shipping new phones only with a USB-C cable, those ubiquitous chargers aren’t USB-C so $$$$ for Apple selling a USB-C charger with a percentage of purchases (and there goes the so called carbon footprint 🤔).