“I don’t mean to sound alarmist, but 2014 could well be the year that Apple makes its biggest mistake in recent history,” Gareth Beavis writes for TechRadar. “”
“No, I’m not talking about the iWatch – I still think that could actually be rather good,” Beavis writes. “No, Apple has to, HAS TO, bring out a large screen version of the iPhone or it’s going to really struggle to stay relevant in a rapidly changing world. The phablet, like it or loathe it, is here to stay.”
Beavis writes, “Stats from IDC last year showed that one in five smartphones were a large screen option – that’s 20% of the market that Apple is unable to capture.”
MacDailyNews Take: Not necessarily. Some portion of that 20% are too stupid, blind, or pathologically anti-Apple to have ever purchased an iPhone, regardless of screen size.
This is not to say that Apple, the world’s most valuable tech company, rolling in more billions of dollars than they know what to do with, shouldn’t have a larger screen iPhone available by now. They should. It’s criminal malpractice on the part of Tim Cook that they don’t. The sales Apple have left and continue to leave on the table should have been keeping Phil Schiller up at night for at least the last year.
Yes, Apple should have a bigger iPhone yesterday, but this is just simple logic: Not all phablet owners would have bought an iPhone even if a bigger iPhone was available.
“In markets like China the larger screen device is becoming a real must-have handset, and with lots of potential subscribers there, Apple has to throw away its pride (having maintained for years that 4-inch displays are big enough) and start playing in the big-screen leagues,” Beavis writes. “I’m not saying Apple should lose the 4-inch option – this is something that I’m happy to see on the market, as we should have choice as consumers. I can’t count the amount of people moaning at me that ‘phones are getting too big these days.’ But the clock is ticking. If Apple doesn’t end 2014 with a phablet in its ranks, then all its efforts to crack the Asian markets, as well as ticking the box of power users looking for an upgraded experience, will be for nothing.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: We understand fragmentation. We understand the issues of producing apps that work on devices with various screen sizes (intimately).
None of it matters because too much of the market wants an iPhone with a bigger screen. Developers will simply work harder for the premium customers found on the premium platform. Period.
This omission – not iMacs and Mac Pros that miss Christmas or anything else – is Tim Cook’s biggest mistake to date. Apple should have a bigger iPhone on the market by now, but since, for some inexplicable reason a company with more cash at their disposal than Intel Corp. is worth doesn’t, the sooner the better.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Brawndo Drinker” for the heads up.]
No matter how many times people are thoroughly embarrassed by the reality of just how little people understand what Apple “must” do, bozos still pretend to know what is best for Apple.
Oh, no! There is part of the market that Apple cannot capture!!!! OMFG!!!
Shut up, Beavis.
How about this idea? Apple introduces a new product or even better a new product category that makes us realize it’s something we can’t do without and then we can debate in a few years how much bigger they can make it after the blatant copiers modify it by 0.0003 % and claim to be the leaders of the industry?
This the sort of pig headed ness that so annoys me about Apple. They were late with the iPad mini though thankfully not disastrously so because they had ‘rejected’ work they could dust off. But it seems that with the iPhone they just decided they would rather count their money like Scrooge (or give it to Icahn) than spend some on developing a larger iPhone for those who want one. Certainly ignored the puck there at least till now. Sadly now it will be very late AND they will have to eat gruel. MDN spot on with this one lets hope Apple learn from this and remove that particular aspect of Steve Jobs style. Only a true genius can get away with the occasional blind spot.
Apple sells every iPhone they make the first day they go on sale. And it takes weeks to catch up with demand. Which sales are being left on the table exactly?
So, they need a bigger iPhone, but they also need a small watch. Fat phone, skinny watch. Make up your mind! Enough to drive you crazy.
Boy! One thing that is certain is that Ford & GM are surely glad that some of you folks don’t control the auto industry such as you are attempting to control the phone industry by resisting, forbidding or bad mouthing phones with larger screen sizes. We have subcompoacts, compacts, midsize & full size cars to fit every taste. What make some of you so militaristically resistive in Apple expanding their product offerings? I am also in that camp of Apple users that have been forced to the Note/Mega series by Samsung because I need more real estate on my phone and Apple over the years at the bidding of Jobs has refused to offer one. Times are changing and I’m pretty sure that if Jobs was around now would agree that it’s time to change. If Apple can come up with a 5.7 to 6.3 inch iPhone I’ll hop on that wagon fast as the speed of light. I still want the iPad Mini Retina with iPhone capability. For field engineers and people constantly on the go that want to have true portability will welcome such a device offering. Some people claim to know a few people that want a larger Apple phone but have been forced to the Samsung offering….others have said they know 10. I personally know of about 30 Samsung large screen users here where I work that are solidly in the Apple camp when it comes to their desktop/laptop/music devices. Bring on the phablets Apple as an additional product offering. Strange thing is that the wife has an iPhone 4s and actually hates the big phones and can type 100mph on it. But when we’re on the go traveling she immediately reaches for my Samsung to surf the web or post on FB. Why? Big screen and easier to read. That equals productivity in a sense!
GM didn’t listen to us folks, went bankrupt and had to be given ten of billions of taxpayer dollars to survive.
That is because GM made POS cars and I’ll never own another GM product….got burned twice during the 80s. Still offered a wide variety of vehicles though and that was my point.
Why do none of these people get the iPad mini with cellular and then use one of many VOIP apps?
I believe the reason that Apple has not released a larger screen iPhone, is because they know something we don’t.
Maybe they have something in the pipe that will make screen size irrelevant. Much like they made netbooks irrelevant with the iPad. Or they made all other “smart phones” irrelevant with the iPhone.
The 5c is the last plastic iPhone Apple will build get them while they last. If Apple offers two sizes of iPhone the smaller will out sell the larger by 3 or 4 to one.
As a 53-year old man with very small hands, my brand new 5S is just right: JUST AT the point where if it were any larger it would become unmanageable with one hand – which to me is crucial. I need to be able to take it out of the holster and move around on it quickly and easily without having to bring my other hand into play. The slightly longer screen and iOS 7 have actually made it EASIER for me to read, especially in my preferred landscape mode, so I personally am really happy with it.
Therefore, should Apple release a larger iPhone, I would not be in a big hurry to acquire it. I have no problem with them doing so for those who want one… as long as they NEVER abandon the current one-handed form factor for those of us who need it.
As long as Apple keeps making the current size, which is perfect for one hand use and typing comfortably, then go ahead.
Hopefully Apple knows that those Android Fathead users will NOT switch over and buy one. Even if Apple built a oversized goofy phone, those users won’t buy onto Apple iPhone. That want cheap, goofy looking, ghetto blaster size, useless whizz bang features that Apple will never stoop low enough to do.
Apple MUST make a bigger phone and an iWatch and a bigger iPad and a midrange tower and…
Where does this crap come from? Please, someone, get a shovel and start clearing the manure out of here.
Beavis IS a Butthead!
dmz
I will buy a larger iPhone – if it is larger in thickness for double life battery.
I never understood MDN’s obsessive man-crush on Verizon, and I don’t get the pathological attachment to 5″ screens.
If Apple wants to offer up a larger iPhone, I’m good with that … UNLESS it also means that it displaces or otherwise relegates the smaller iPhone to second-class status (like the crippled small screen offerings from Android OEMs).
At the moment, Apple is the only company that makes a high end smartphone in the 4″ and under size. Android OEMs make larger phones because they HAVE TO, and have somehow turned this liability into a marketing feature.
For me, the iPhone 5/c/s already pushes the limits of easy one-handed operation and pocketability. While wearing jeans, I certainly wouldn’t want to carry something like the GS4 or a phablet. Apple got the form factor right, and it would be sad to see them compromise it in order to chase after the “mine is bigger than yours” Android crowd.
While I’m certain it isn’t criminal malpractice, not offering a larger screen size is definitely a mistake if Apple is serious about making inroads in Korea and China.
I’m currently living in Korea. Having an iPhone puts me in a distinct minority. Having a significant Apple ecosystem at home and work, puts me in an even smaller minority. Of my Korean friends, only three have had an iPhone and 2 have since “upgraded” to larger phones.
Here, virtually every elementary student (and even a significant number of kindergarten kids!) have smart phones. Making phone calls and one-handed operation are of absolutely no importance to them. A bigger screen for gaming, videos etc. is far more important. This appears to also be true for most adults. The actual telephone function is just about the least interesting and least compelling feature when buying a smart phone. My 5 year old son never asks to use my iPhone. He only wants to use his mom’s (or aunt’s or uncle’s…) bigger screen. Fitting them in a pocket is also not important, and they are most likely in hand most of the time. Besides, phones bigger than iPhones (but smaller than the Note) WILL fit in pockets. As bizarre as it looks to me, nobody thinks its strange to see someone holding a huge Note to their ear. I asked my one friend with an iPhone why her husband didn’t have one. She said he likes Apple but playing games on a bigger screen is more important when he’s travelling.
My wife’s Samsung Note (yes, she likes the size) died recently (less than 2 years old). I have never had to find a service centre for my iPhones in 5 years. She has had to do so several times. Most of my friends have also had to do so with their Samsung, LG or Pantech phones. No problem, you’re never far from an A/S center! I’m trying to boycott Samsung at our house – not that easy here! I tried to convince her to get an iPhone (it would be compatible with our ATVs etc etc) and we visited the only Apple reseller in our city. “It’s nice and this one [5C] is cute but….it’s so tiny!” She went and bought an LG G2 …”At least its not Samsung!” she said. (With a screen size over 5 inches, it still fits comfortably in my jeans pocket.The buttons on the back are just plain stupid!)
When travelling to China I see exactly the same trends.
While I am very happy with my “compact” iPhone, based on my observations, there are a HUGE number of people in this part of the world that will not even consider buying one based on screen size alone.
I believe this IS a mistake on Apple’s part.
P.S. – Less than a week old, the LG’s touch screen is not working!! Off to the A/S center!
Beavis – you monkey spank!
Give the punters what they want. Put cell phone capability in the iPad mini and tell the big phone losers to STFup.
Please Apple keep the 4 inch screen as well.
Perhaps instead of catering to the 20 percent of the market that wants larger screen phones, Apple should focus on the 80 percent who don’t.
There certainly should be bigger screen iPhones available, if only to fill out the product range and give consumers choice.