Super Cycle Phones and 5 G Hype

Supercycle IPhone : Dial Down 5G Hype

Apple’s supercycles have been growing gradually less super. But that hasn’t stopped the stock, as revenue from services and accessories balloons.

  The long-awaited iPhone supercycle is here, but it’s no slamdunkercycle, judging by the disagreement among Wall Street forecasters. I can see why. Apple is a world-class wooer, and my iPhone purchase history suggests that I’m with it from the first IPhone handset. But I could go either way on the newly unveiled iPhone 12.

Each year’s new top models come with faster chips and cleverer cameras, and some features that aren’t exactly deal closers. Surgical-grade stainless steel? Thanks, but I’m not planning any invasive phone procedures. A LiDAR scanner that can create depth maps to, among other things, “show you how a new sneaker will fit?” It sounds great for George Jetson, but maybe I’ll just stick a foot in one and walk around.

Some years, however, Apple brings features so compelling that even fencesitters rush to upgrade. 

This year, that’s supposed to be fifth-generation, or 5G, wireless. It promises the speed of a wired broadband connection, but on-the-go, through a phone signal. There are only two problems: The networks are mostly unprepared, and many of the users are stuck at home due to COVID19 on Wi-Fi. That makes 5G about as attractive now as a half-price cruise. But India is still struggling to a real 4 G speed. 

One of Apple’s biggest iPhone supercycles started in fall 2014, when it moved from four-inch screens to the option of five-inch ones. For those who never experienced the smaller phone, imagine browsing the internet on a McDonald’s hash brown !

But now, Apple is introducing a “mini” iPhone with a 5.4-inch screen. It might be on to something. Its biggest screens are good for video, but they can cause thumb fatigue among users who scroll Twitter throughout the day for fresh signs of the apocalypse.

In USA, the main reason for year after year upgrade of handset is  due to irresistible temptations offered by service providers If small screens are a throwback, so are this year’s carrier subsidies, which appear to be the most generous in five years. For example, AT&T is offering $800, paid over 30 months, for some customers who trade in an iPhone 8 or more recent device and sign up for one of its unlimited plans. To determine which carrier is offering the best deal, factor in how much they’ll pay for a particular model, over what time period, and whether there’s an activation charge. Then adjust for the cost of the service, the signal quality in your area, and which streaming service might be thrown in free—Disney+ and Apple Music in the case of Verizon , HBO Max for AT&T; Netflix for T-Mobile US (TMUS)—and for how long. If the analysis takes more than six weeks and $30,000 in accounting fees, you might be overthinking it. But in India, no such big offerings are available from service providers so only 5% mobile users are on IPhone. Let us see and watch when IPhone comes from Status Symbol to utility item in India, price point is the real key. But who bothers !