“When Apple launches a new product, it always seeds a handful of early review units to trusted journalists and publications. This week, like clockwork, we saw the first iPhone X reviews land with the usual list of tech-focused websites. But we also saw something else,” Christina Bonnington writes for Slate. “This time around, Apple didn’t just lend new iPhones to tech pundits: It gave iPhones to a number of up-and-coming YouTube vloggers and celebrities, too.”
MacDailyNews Take: Also, most of the usual journalists and publications to whom Apple would usually give review units at least week or so early, only received them less that 24 hours before their reviews were published. Most of those articles therefore weren’t full reviews, just “first impression” pieces.
“As Recode notes, Apple gave iPhone X review units to YouTube channels, such as Highsnobiety, Booredatwork.com, UrAvgConsumer, and Soldier Knows Best, as well as Mindy Kaling (who wrote about it for Glamour) and The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” Bonnington writes. “And in a major departure from past procedure, Apple didn’t just give these outlets review units—the company allowed some of these vloggers to post video reviews before established tech writers published their impressions.”
“If we’re looking at Apple’s move from a marketing perspective, expanding beyond traditional tech publications makes sense,” Bonnington writes. “If you’re reading an iPhone review on The Verge, or Engadget, or WIRED, chances are you aren’t hemming and hawing about whether you want to buy the new device. Readers of those sites are already passionate about technology, have strong opinions about it, and often have the money to buy what they want. They’re also largely older and male. (As of 2015, the WIRED audience was 72% male, with an average age of 39.) Apple doesn’t need to market as aggressively to this audience, which will seek out information about its products regardless.”
“Who Apple does want to market to: women and teens,” Bonnington writes. “The YouTube channels all allow Apple to target younger consumers who prefer their news in video form.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Yup, expect to see more of this in the future. HomePod is up next.
Why Apple couldn’t include the traditional outlets in their iPhone X review unit push is somewhat perplexing, unless they were purposely trying to create exclusivity and generate even more eyeballs to the YouTube reviewers.
SEE ALSO:
Apple’s bizarre iPhone X launch – November 1, 2017Tim Bajarin’s first impression of Apple’s iPhone X: Face ID worked flawlessly – November 1, 2017
The Verge reviews Apple’s iPhone X: Clearly the best iPhone ever made, despite being marred by its ugly notch – November 1, 2017
The Independent reviews Apple’s iPhone X: ‘This feels like the future’ – October 31, 2017
David Pogue reviews Apple’s iPhone X: ‘The best thing is its size’ – October 31, 2017
Forbes reviews Apple’s iPhone X: Opulent, gorgeous, classy; the best iPhone yet – October 31, 2017
CNBC reviews Apple’s iPhone X: ‘The best smartphone on the market’ – October 31, 2017
Above Avalon’s first impressions of Apple’s iPhone X: ‘An entirely new iPhone experience’ – October 31, 2017
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Ladd Morse” for the heads up.]
Leo wasn’t happy.
The more Apple pushes YouTube the better it is for Google. So good on Apple, right?
same reason Hollywood gives free screenings to the biggest quote whore film critics? soft “gee whiz!” coverage from starstruck shills
Sad that Apple continues to rely on Google. Just like MDN.
For the celebrity distribution, probably a smart marketing thing because so many brainless idiots are infatuated with celebrities.
Search iPhone X in Apple TV YouTube and you get mostly Android-centric self-important wannabes making sarcastic comments while purposely excluding the positives. Frustrating. Watched some dude complaining about full screen videos..but never showed in full screen, while bitching about the smaller cropped view. Also compared just the front facing camera deeming the Pixel and galaxy better. Complained about the price two..while applauding the Pixle XL, lol
Bonnington writes. “If you’re reading an iPhone review on The Verge, or Engadget, or WIRED, chances are you aren’t hemming and hawing about whether you want to buy the new device. Readers of those sites are already passionate about technology, have strong opinions about it, and often have the money to buy what they want. They’re also largely older and male. (As of 2015, the WIRED audience was 72% male, with an average age of 39.) Apple doesn’t need to market as aggressively to this audience, which will seek out information about its products regardless.”
Apple knows that this audience (Verge, or Engadget, or WIRED) is 90% PC gamers who wouldn’t go near an Apple product. Mac/Apple fans get their tech info/reviews from YouTube> Soldier Knows Best, iJustine, MKBHD, Sara Dietschy, Blunty, etc.