Analytic reports iPhone 6 sales dominating over iPhone 6 Plus: here is why it's a trend bound to change.
According to data collected by Mixpanel, iPhone Plus sales seem to be struggling to penetrate a market that may not be ready yet for a 5.5 inches iPhone. The data, collected over a period of three days, effective September 17, shows how both versions trended on the first day, with similar numbers, until the iPhone 6 took the lead, leaving the iPhone 6 Plus in the dust.
Although it’s hard to establish whether the larger screen size of the iPhone 6 Plus had anything to do with the lag in sales, Slate Magazine Will Oremus, paints a picture of something Apple might have missed when considering to go “Bigger than Bigger”.
One important factor to consider, is pocket size. Ever since the introduction of phablets, like the Samsung Galaxy Note, or the LG G3, another example of a 5.5 inches phone, users have been struggling with where to store their devices when not in use. The limited pocket size available on women’s clothes, as well as some of the most fashionable, yet very tiny purse options available, make the iPhone 6 Plus a very tough sell.
User experience is also an important issue raised by Oremus, as he realized he had to rely on both hands to operate the device for most tasks, sometimes doubling the time to perform actions, like typing emails or use social apps, that used to be much faster to access on older iPhones, small enough to be operated with one hand.
There is a way to see the iPhone 6 Plus as a tremendous success, however. Perhaps not an instant one, but it is starting a trend that is building towards a greater purpose, and these are some reasons why:
Road safety
Texting and driving is like smoking. We all know it kills us in the end, but we do it anyway. Just because.
Since that is a good enough reason for most, who are willing to risk their own lives, and others, while giving up vital seconds of their attention, from the road ahead to a tiny screen, Apple couldn’t pick a better time to create a product that, market research be damned, it’s just too big to be used with the one hand that’s better off clutching the 12 o’clock of a steering wheel. To that, we say “kudos” to Apple.
Productivity
A bigger screen requires a longer attention span, while offering an almost “tablet-like” experience. It’s now possible to type up documents, and perhaps even work on spreadsheets, on an iPhone.
Does this mean the iPhone 6 will crush the iPad Mini? That is extremely unlikely. The iPad Mini is one of the most successful ideas Apple has ever had, and now, thanks to the iPhone 6, there is an ever greater chance that sales of iPad Mini will do even better in the future.
The dawn of wearables
Wearable devices are very likely to become a requirement in future years, offering better options to stay connected, when paired with smartphones. New trends in fashion and activewear are about to revolutionize the tech industry. The practical applications are endless, at which point the need to actually take a smartphone out of our pocket in public will lessen over time.
Much like server computers, smartphones may even begin a push for performance over looks, becoming the central beacon for all our portable electronics. Another upside of this trend is a drop in accidental damage to our phones, as we would rely on peripheral devices, strapped on our body, to take pictures, make calls, text, or listen to music.