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Samsung taking market share from Apple in U.S. as foldable phones gain momentum

cnbc.com

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Re: Samsung taking market share from Apple in U.S. as foldable phones gain momentum

#301

Post by greesil »

ThrowawayR2 wrote: post #216
V__ wrote: post #179

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would agree with you before Apple switched everything to gestures. Any time I now have to help a family member out on an iPhone I get extremely frustrated. Does the interface want me to swipe, long press or do something else? There are no real hints. Extremely irritating.

I miss the three physical navigation buttons that phones used to have. Yes, they took up a bit of space but they were also unambiguous about what their navigational function was.

I know in Android you can switch back to three button navigation if you want.

Re: Samsung taking market share from Apple in U.S. as foldable phones gain momentum

#302

Post by thewebguyd »

macguillicuddy wrote: post #265
neya wrote: post #188

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I discovered something insideous after being in the iOS ecosystem. Apple still slows down iPhones, but not in the way you think - every year around their iPhone launch schedule, like clockwork, my iPhone 14 Pro Max slowed down just enough to make me think it was ageing, but not enough to suspect - after a lot of tests, it turns out, the reponsitivity of the touch was being reduced in software. So, the "smooth" iOS po…

I wonder if there's a correlation here with new versions of iOS being released around the same time as new phones? Is it possible that OS optimization takes a back seat to bug fixes during the run up to release then subsequent point releases improve performance?

That's been my experience, using iPhones primarily since the 6s.

The .0 releases of iOS have been getting worse lately and are not great, but usually by .2 or .3 it's fine if not better on the older devices.

I think the annual release schedule is too much for Apple to the point that now the .0 release is effectively a public beta. Especially if there are any big changes. iOS 26 RC is laggy on my 16 Pro Max, which without a doubt can absolutely handle it, it's just a buggy mess still. I'm sure that by .2 it'll be fine.

Re: Samsung taking market share from Apple in U.S. as foldable phones gain momentum

#303

Post by thewebguyd »

MBCook wrote: post #152
rs186 wrote: post #16

So the facts we know are that 1) Samsung market share rising from 23% to 31% and 2) they recently released new foldable phones. But do we know that's the actual primary reason for the increase? I couldn't tell that from the article. The article mentions engagement of specific social media posts, but that's as much as it, without any sales number/estimates from anyone.

I heard a stat the other day in the Dithering podcast, I’m not sure from where, that said that foldable phones are something like 1.7% of the market in the US. If that’s close it’s not why Samsung‘s market share increased so much. That was for ALL foldable phones of all brands. That wouldn’t make statistical sense. There are people who like foldable phones. Apple does not have them. And Samsung‘s market share went up…

Yeah I doubt the foldables are driving it.

I also bet the numbers will change now that the 17 is out. These things are cyclical, and whomever releases first in a year typically gets a small boost. Samsung releases phones twice a year, Jan/Feb and July typically, while Apple is once a year in the fall.

These numbers are also only for one quarter.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see Android's market share increase in the US, and I say that as an iPhone user. Apple's marketshare, especially amongst young people in the US is not beneficial at all, it's effectively a monopoly, and with iMessage popularity here it causes a communications lock-in effect. But, I'm doubtful without seeing a full years worth of numbers or a more consistent increase.

Or maybe people are finally tired of Apple stagnating and are finally open to trying the other side.

Re: Samsung taking market share from Apple in U.S. as foldable phones gain momentum

#304

Post by thewebguyd »

runjake wrote: post #154
ls-a wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Foldable phones are selling like hot cakes outside the U.S. but I don't know about the U.S. market. Could be catching up. Here are some things to know about folding phones 1. They're like expensive cars. Do not own one without a warranty 2. As soon as the new model comes out, swap it in 3. If you're into smaller phones, they're a good option 4. They are not for the financially conscious. Those things are kind of a st…

Anecdotal, but I'm seeing a lot of folding phones in public. I look at the prices and wonder how some of the people I see with them can afford them. But using them is probably many people's favorite hobby at this point?

Probably carrier financing. Most carriers will offer 3 year monthly payments for phones, along with other promos that come along with bill credits w/ trade-in, etc.

I doubt many are dropping $2,000 cash on the new phones but are more likely getting it financed as part of their phone plan.

Re: Samsung taking market share from Apple in U.S. as foldable phones gain momentum

#305

Post by nancyminusone »

I still don't think I'll ever be able to trust a foldable phone. Doesn't matter how many videos you show me of "look, we folded it 200,000 times and it didn't break!", I've repaired enough broken wires and accidentally broken enough ribbon cables to want those things as far from my pocket as possible.

Re: Samsung taking market share from Apple in U.S. as foldable phones gain momentum

#306

Post by danielbln »

claytongulick wrote: post #291
nomel wrote: post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How has the reliability been? Here's part of the list of warnings I saw when I setup a Samsung Fold for someone else: > Don't press the screen or under display camera with a sharp object such as a pen or fingernail. Doing so can result in scratches, dents, or damage to the screen. > This phone isn't dust-proof. Exposure to small particles such as sand may cause damage. I live close to the beach, so very often have a…

I actually went back to the s25 from the fold because of this. When you get sand in the hinges, it's pretty annoying and difficult to clean out. I was always nervous about taking my phone out on the beach. That's tough living in Florida, the whole state is basically a giant sand bar. I also actually didn't like the fold part. Most of what I do on a phone is read Kindle or browse the web. For Kindle, the phone was unc…

The new Pixel 10 fold has a sealed hinge, and is water proof.

Re: Samsung taking market share from Apple in U.S. as foldable phones gain momentum

#307

Post by thewebguyd »

bioffense wrote: post #241
Lio wrote: post #4

If Samsung had a better reputation for privacy they’re the brand I’d switch to for one of their folders. I’m put off by how Samsung monetise every data source they’re trusted with though. E.g. TV viewing, phone data, Samsung Pay, forced analytics, etc. As a brand they don't seem to have any restraint when it comes to user privacy.

Every company doesn't do well with privacy. So the next step matters -- security. Out of all the companies, Google and Samsung are by far the most secure companies in terms of breaches and the magnitude of those breaches. Of course, not going to that next step would be ideal, but at least you have some control over your choice on security.

Except not now with Google's changes to Android security patches moving to quarterly instead of monthly so they can cover for shitty OEMs that don't push updates.

You don't think those vulnerabilities are going to leak out during the 4 months that OEMs have them before patches are pushed out?

Google has chosen to sacrifice security for marketing.

Re: Samsung taking market share from Apple in U.S. as foldable phones gain momentum

#308

Post by thewebguyd »

izacus wrote: post #99
Zigurd wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple sometimes manages to wait out bad ideas: they never gave into the bad idea of touchscreen "convertible" laptops, just conceding the touch bar which is now extinct.

That's a most generous reading of the touchbar fiasco I've ever seen (and I've heard a lot of Apple fans speak).

The touchbar would've ben great if they also didn't remove the function rows & escape key.

Re: Samsung taking market share from Apple in U.S. as foldable phones gain momentum

#309

Post by thewebguyd »

bigyabai wrote: post #211
Zigurd wrote: post #137

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just like Apple released touchscreen laptops, amirite? They were a bad idea and a crime against ergonomics.

This but unironically. The funniest product in Apple's lineup right now, bar none, is the iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard. Apple spent 15 years refining their replacement for the laptop, and it's a touchscreen laptop that runs less software. You'd think that Apple would stop themselves after reinventing the 2013 Microsoft Surface. Then they reprised Hololens with Vision Pro - how was nobody paying attention to Microsoft…

tbh, Apple lost the plot for the iPad with iPadOS 26.

They brought floating windows, a menu bar, and more mouse and keyboard features but then took away the UX that made it a great touch tablet - no more slide over, and no more quick split view you have to drag the windows your self or tap the green dot and then choose your split ratio - too many extra clicks.

They managed to turn it from a great tablet to a shitty laptop to the point that now I don't even see a reason for owning one if you have a macbook air, unless you REALLY need the pencil.

Re: Samsung taking market share from Apple in U.S. as foldable phones gain momentum

#310

Post by empath75 »

rs186 wrote: post #16

So the facts we know are that 1) Samsung market share rising from 23% to 31% and 2) they recently released new foldable phones. But do we know that's the actual primary reason for the increase? I couldn't tell that from the article. The article mentions engagement of specific social media posts, but that's as much as it, without any sales number/estimates from anyone.

You can see in the report that this article is based on that is a cyclical swing that happens every year based on their respective release cycles. Silly article.

https://www.canalys.com/newsroom/us-smartphone-market-q2-202...

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