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A comment on New Google Pixel 3, Pixel Slate, and Home Hub. Parent comment

Re:New Google Pixel 3, Pixel Slate, and Home Hub by bscphil on Tuesday October 09, 2018 @01:03PM (#18177690)
Completely a conspiracy theory, but what if Google & others theorize that actively making devices worse causes an unexpected psychological response? Apple customers are devoted and willing to spend large amounts of money to upgrade flashy looking devices regularly, that's why Apple is so profitable. Making a sacrifice (the notch, high cost, lack of a headphone jack) to own an "elite" device effectively commits one to continue defending that decision, both to others (potential customers!) and through additional buying decisions later. A kind of self-induced Stockholm syndrome.
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Re:New Google Pixel 3, Pixel Slate, and Home Hub by rootusrootus on Tuesday October 09, 2018 @01:16PM (#18177821)
I think Apple's pricing only works because the resale is so strong. I've never lost as much money on phones as when I was buying Android flagships. When I can go sell my two year old iPhone 7 Plus for $400, it's a lot easier to stomach the purchase price of an iPhone XS. Not that I'm going to do that this year, mind you, but still.

Apple has really curated their position as the premium choice, and I commend them for that. They learned relatively quickly (though not without missteps) that people would rather buy last year's (or the year before!) flagship at a discount than a brand new budget model. Saves R&D by milking the older model for another couple years, makes a bunch more customers happy, it's really a brilliant strategy.

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Re:New Google Pixel 3, Pixel Slate, and Home Hub by ikawe on Tuesday October 09, 2018 @02:52PM (#18178772)
> people would rather buy last year's (or the year before!) flagship at a discount than a brand new budget model.

Hmmm... then why the iPhoneXR?

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:New Google Pixel 3, Pixel Slate, and Home Hub by sxg on Tuesday October 09, 2018 @03:11PM (#18178932)
Here's an article from a few weeks ago on HN that explains exactly that: https://stratechery.com/2018/the-iphone-franchise/
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Re:New Google Pixel 3, Pixel Slate, and Home Hub by scaasic on Tuesday October 09, 2018 @03:26PM (#18179058)
I think the issue here is that flagship != top of the line anymore. For the iPhone pre-2017, the device targeted at their average customer was also always the latest and greatest. But with the release of the X, Apple introduced a new high-end line meant for enthusiasts, while most people would still be pushed towards the 8 (and now the XR). So the XR isn't really a budget model in the sense that the 5c and SE were, but rather the next entry in the mainstream iPhone continuity, while the XS is the second addition to the "pro" line.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:New Google Pixel 3, Pixel Slate, and Home Hub by __sr__ on Tuesday October 09, 2018 @05:17PM (#18179875)
Hedging their bets? Since iPhone XS devices are are a rather large risk and they need something to fall back on in case they don’t do well. If they do, we may not see a successor.

iPhone SE was probably a similar bet since a lot of people were complaining about the large iPhone 6/6S — not to mention the Plus variants.

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Re:New Google Pixel 3, Pixel Slate, and Home Hub by prions on Tuesday October 09, 2018 @01:13PM (#18177785)
Or, without making ridiculous unsupported pop-psych claims, people buy iPhones because they like them better. But I think Apple managing to induce Stockholm syndrome to millions of people worldwide is much more plausible.
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Re:New Google Pixel 3, Pixel Slate, and Home Hub by gehsty on Tuesday October 09, 2018 @02:39PM (#18178652)
Or faceid, and true edge to edge screen (no chin) combined with a processor 2-3x as quick as the next best thing and an operating system designed from the ground up for speed and privacy are actually worth paying for. So tired of this Apple are scamming us story. Google are charging more for less...
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Re:New Google Pixel 3, Pixel Slate, and Home Hub by Udik on Tuesday October 09, 2018 @01:14PM (#18177797)
It's actually an interesting idea. Of course the negative points should be at least debatable, so that you can say you actually chose to spend more, or to have a notch. Every time someone makes fun of you because you spent a thousand bucks on a phone, you're forced to go into self-defense mode, and that reinforces your identification with the object. Pure speculation, of course :)
[ Parent | on HN ]