Two weeks ago, my phone subscription, which lasted for quite some time, had finally come to an end. As a loyal iPhone user I was very excited to get an iPhone 6S immediately. The plan was to go to the city center to do some ‘market research’ and to buy the best deal I could find (combination of phone + unlimited calling). In every phone store I got the same question over and over again: ‘Why don’t you wait for the iPhone 7 release?’
Although it was disappointing to go home without a new iPhone, the question made me wonder. I have had at least six different iPhones in the last ten years and although the difference between the oldest iPhone and the newest one (iPhone 6S) seems tremendous, the transition to the next one never felt very exciting. Will the iPhone 7 finally make people think: ‘Wow!’?
While Apple has released thirteen different iPhones since its start in 2007 (smartfaqt.com), there have only been four redesigns throughout the years. iPhone users know that they do not have to expect a new design when there is an upcoming release. This also applies for the iPhone 7. Besides some slight changes, the iPhone 7 is hard to distinguish from the iPhone 6/6S.
The function that is being talked about the most, is that the iPhone 7 does not have a headphone jack anymore, which is quite disruptive for many users as the headphone jack is used for many technological gadgets worldwide. However, it is not impossible to ever use headphones on the iPhone 7 again. As a replacement, Apple provides the iPhone 7 buyers with a headphone adapter, which still makes it possible to plug your headphones into your phone. The senior vice president of Apple, Phil Schiller says the headphone jack is outdated, and that removing it is about ‘courage’. What Apple is introducing instead are the so-called AirPods, wireless headphones. As these AirPods have a price of £159, they do not have the price you probably have in mind when buying suitable headphones for your phone, resulting in a technology that is quite hard to access. This raises one big question for me: Was the removal of the headphone jack by Apple a scream for disruption?
Sources:
http://www.smartfaqt.com/ViewQA.php?qaID=46
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2016/09/16/iphone-7-and-7-plus-review-an-upgrade-but-not-a-revolution/
Considering the following definition of disruption by Christensen et al. (2015), a process whereby a smaller company with fewer resources is able to successfully challenge established incumbent businesses, makes me questioning whether Apple’s newest iPhone version(s) are disruptive. Personally, I view this new function where no earphones are necessary a limitation to its customers. I understand that some user might find it innovative and new, creating the wow-factor. However, if you consider the practicalities related to the this change, it brings many costs along (either buying the adaptor or the AirPods) as well as dependency to the Apple brand. Is Apple trying to be innovative or just trying to make money of its loyal customers?
https://hbr.org/2015/12/what-is-disruptive-innovation
Considering the following definition of disruption by Christensen et al. (2015), a process whereby a smaller company with fewer resources is able to successfully challenge established incumbent businesses, makes me questioning whether Apple’s newest iPhone version(s) are disruptive. Personally, I view this new function where no earphones are necessary a limitation to its customers. I understand that some user might find it innovative and new, creating the wow-factor. However, if you consider the practicalities related to the this change, it brings many costs along (either buying the adaptor or the AirPods) as well as dependency to the Apple brand. Is Apple trying to be innovative or just trying to make money of its loyal customers?
https://hbr.org/2015/12/what-is-disruptive-innovation