Research firm IDC boldly predicts that Apple’s newly launched iPhone 7 will not be a huge hit in China, at least for now.
The company believes that removing the headphone jack and introducing wireless earphones called the Airpods could be a setback for Apple. While consumers still have the option to use their traditional earphones through a lightning adapter, IDC said it could be a turnoff for Chinese consumers since the Airpod wireless earbuds, which carry a hefty price of $159, will only last for five hours without charging.
IDC said this is a short time given many consumers in China take long train rides to travel to the different parts of the country.
“Chinese consumers are often seen charging their phones with a portable battery charger on the buses or trains so the phone’s longer battery life is useful. But wireless charging would have been the innovative step-up consumers are looking for. Perhaps this is something consumers can look forward to in the next iteration of the iPhone,” IDC added.
Second, IDC said it is getting harder for Apple and other smartphone vendors, in general, to be innovative and to stand out in a niche market like China. Since the key design difference between the new iPhone and the older generations is the introduction of the Jet Black and Black colors, IDC believes it may not be sufficient to warrant a change for most consumers.
“What we saw in iPhone 7 were small incremental updates, not extraordinary ones that stand out compared to the rest,” IDC said.
Lastly, because the changes are rather minimal, there will be a good number who will choose to wait for the iPhone planned for release next year when Apple celebrates the 10th anniversary of the launch of its iPhone.
IDC noted, however, that loyal Apple fans in the country, especially those who are already locked into the iOS ecosystem, will still upgrade to the iPhone 7 if they are due for replacement.
IDC also mentioned that the iPhone is finally IP67 certified and water resistant, has a better dual camera with a lower aperture, and longer battery life. “These are upgraded features that consumers will appreciate,” the company said.