Ah, Apple, the company that brought us such terms as “smartphone” and “app”. Without Apple’s products, the world would look very different. While Apple can’t lay claim to inventing the microchip, they have a pretty solid claim as the company that brought smart phones and tablet computers to the mainstream.
Yes, the iPhone is now synonymous with smartphones, and yes, ‘iPad’ is now used as a generic term for a tablet PC. Apple took the market by storm and didn’t let up; after years of amazing releases, Apple has truly cemented themselves as leaders in consumer technology.
So what?
Maybe it’s just me, but with each new release, Apple products feel more and more predictable. Yes, they are amazing products, yes they are some of the best products available, but there’s no excitement. I remember seeing people camp overnight for the latest iPhone; now it seems Apple has lost some of its luster.
Same styling
One of my main gripes with Apple products is the styling. Yeah, I know what you are screaming at your screen “Apple products look the best, they have the best materials” Yep, Apple sure knows how to make a premium product, and with famed designers in their stable, it’s easy to appreciate Apple’s subtle design flair.
I mean, it was easy to appreciate a few years ago, now it seems like they are just pumping out the same designs. Look at the new iPhone 11 and tell me it doesn’t look the same as the iPhone 8. Sure, there are subtle upgrades in the design language, but for the layman, most of their products look the same.
Not enough upgrades
From a hardware point of view, Apple is a strange case. Their flagship laptops and devices are loaded with cutting edge technology, and if you tick all the boxes when buying, you are sure to get the fastest machine on the market. What about the entry-level machines? Here’s where apple starts to become a little boring.
There is no “entry-level” when it comes to Apple products. You either get the best one (lots of $$$), or you get the standard one, which is usually slightly underpowered and still costs a lot of money. If you are after bang for your buck, Apple’s line up seems boring compared to other tech companies.
Too many releases
Apple, like many other manufacturers, follows a pretty consistent release schedule. While this is great for consumers saving up their cash for the newest release, it has taken away the excitement of a new release. Gone are the days of huge keynote speeches and fans being whipped into a frenzy, replaced with a few generic TV ads, yawn.
It’s hard to get excited about a new iPhone when there is a new variant released every few months. With strange naming systems, it’s also harder to know where your product sits in Apple’s line up. With 2020 set see another crop of iPhone releases, it’s hard to imagine we will see anything revolutionary.
Apple is one of the greatest companies ever. Their vision and products changed our world forever and the company looks to be in a strong position moving forward. With cash stores that could literally last them a century and a devoted fanbase, Apple isn’t going anywhere. Perhaps the power and stability afforded to them from the success of their products have made Apple feel like they can rest on their laurels.
With a history of groundbreaking products, perhaps I am unfair on Apple. Maybe they can coast on what has worked before, but I hope they don’t. I hope for the day a new release will get me excited because, for now, I think Apple products are boring.
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