Facts never lie and according to them, Android is the undisputed champion in this mobile arena. Apple will refuse to agree with this, but the figures are really against them. The close competition continued for some time and in every quarter, Android emerged victorious. But this market share is pointless as the money is absent. Brands like Oppo and Xiaomi copied Samsung’s strategy and used it to fight Apple. Entering the budget phone category was a wrong move and Tim Cook’s company is slowly realizing it. By selling cheap phones, these companies are accumulating cash and their power is huge.
The situation is complicated; smartphone growth is not directly proportional to revenue generation. Subsidized varieties have crowded the market and this mess is problematic.
Companies are giving their full effort, but ultimately their pockets are not filling up. Apple is not making as much profit as it used to but their smartphone business is still profitable. Google can’t control the Android ecosystem; too many hardware brands have already started making products. To remain in the competition, every company is slashing prices and this boosts the growth. However, users are enjoying it, as they are getting better products in affordable prices.
Growth can be defined in many ways, but if it comes from more than two players, it’s disruption. In every region the ratio is stacked against Apple and they can’t possibly do anything. Different vendors are literally struggling, but Google is not bothered about that. They wanted popularity and that mission is accomplished. The fine lines between market segments will become wider and Apple will serve a niche market. Apple has some long‐term plans and as they follow a sustainable business model, those plans will be executed. Before releasing S7, Samsung made the S6 very affordable. This strategy pushed the iPhone SE further down. The third quarter will paint a clear picture of what 2016 will look like.
