A combination of nervousness and excitement filled Abby De Sagun as she received her school grades . Her parents promised to reward her if she achieved high marks in most classes. And good grades earned her what she wanted — an iPad. Abby felt joyful when her parents agreed to buy her one, but more so, she wouldn’t have to feel odd around her classmates.
“I was excited because it was going to be my first iPad and only a few of us had it at that time,” De Sagun said.
Several years later, Apple positioned itself as one of the top tech brands, with the iPhone being their most well-known product. But with the alternatives we have today, is spending on their brand line still worth it?
Eric Myers, who holds an MBA, has been an Apple user for a long time and does not see himself switching phone brands.
“I love its convenience and ease of use,” Myers said.
After a year-long wait, Apple launched the iPhone 16 to the public in Sept. 2024. Aside from a new side button disguised as a camera control and Apple intelligence, there’s not much that’s new. So what makes the public continue to buy their smartphones?
Myers explained that familiarity is one reason the public continues to buy and use iPhones. He also explained how Apple positioned the brand to cater to almost every age bracket through its product line.
“The consistent software format, convenience and seamless integration across Apple’s different models are a few of the main reasons why I keep using them.”
Abby De Sagun
Since 2011, Apple sold more iPhones than the previous model every year until 2019, when its first annual sales declined primarily because of China’s economic slowdown.
Apple caused an uproar in 2016 when the company planned to remove the headphone jack for the coming iPhone 7. Over 300,000 people signed an online petition advising Apple not to go through with their decision.
Howerver, De Sagun, a loyal Apple consumer, said that no matter what changes occur she will continue to purchase iPhones over any smartphone.
“I think that I’ve been so used to using iPhone that I was and will be able to adapt to the drastic changes they made over time,” De Sagun said. “The consistent software format, convenience and seamless integration across Apple’s different models are a few of the main reasons why I keep using them.”
Myers confirms that view and argued that Apple controls the smartphone market, and even with the unusual changes the iPhone has undergone, the public would continue to conform and support such decisions.
Additionally, Myers said that Apple isn’t just a brand anymore. It is also a status symbol. Although, that status comes with scrutiny Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Justice sued Apple, alleging that the company monopolized the smartphone market.
The company also faced a notable lawsuit, commonly known as Batterygate, for allegedly slowing down older phone models to preserve battery life.
Despite this, De Sagun returns to Apple’s advantage over other brands with its convenience and ease of use making it the smartphone of choice for her.
“Whenever I misplace my phone, I just use my Apple watch to ping and locate it. I think the Apple ecosystem provides convenience in my everyday life so it makes me feel as if life gets easier with it,” De Sagun said.
