iPhone 6: Bigger but less classy

Early this morning, Apple held its annual new product launch at the Flint Center for the Performing Arts in the United States. In order to witness the launch event firsthand, countless Chinese Apple enthusiasts "stayed vigil" by their computers, and China's online media also showed great enthusiasm. All major portals broadcast the event live, assisted by simultaneous interpretation.

In the Steve Jobs era, Apple's press conferences often brought surprises to users. In addition to the products, a big factor was good confidentiality. But after Jobs, Apple's new product confidentiality has been getting worse and worse. The rise of social media and the expansion of production lines have made it almost impossible for Apple's new products to not be leaked before the press conference. Facts have proved that the two mobile phones released by Apple this time are consistent with the spy photos that circulated in advance.

This was another Apple product launch conference that lacked surprises, but the "leaker" obviously should not bear the main responsibility. The key is that several Apple products once again left me with a "mediocre" impression. This launch mainly featured two mobile phones, iPhone6 ​​and iPhone6 ​​Plus, and the smart wearable device Apple Watch. As for mobile phones, iPhone6 ​​has no more innovations except for its larger screen, thinner body and faster speed. On the contrary, the appearance and curves of iPhone6 ​​are very similar to Android phones such as Samsung when viewed from the front, back and side. Coupled with the protruding camera, Apple's compromise with Android phones is very obvious. Apple is no longer the high-ranking and independent Apple in the Jobs era. As for Apple Pay, whether it can really trigger a change in mobile payment remains to be seen.

Cook has released another mediocre Apple, but from a commercial point of view, it is expected to be a success. For example, as a user who abandoned Apple since the iPhone 4S era, I am likely to return this time, not for anything else, but simply because of the large screen of the iPhone 6. Although the innovation is weak, the basic quality of Apple is still there. Even if it is regarded as a "better Samsung", it is worth buying. After all, it is difficult for the decadent Samsung to produce a "better Samsung". From this perspective, the large-screen Apple will have the possibility to bite off a piece of the Android market and achieve commercial success.

Will this success from large screens embarrass Apple? Why didn't Apple anticipate this user demand earlier and leave Samsung and other companies with a chance to rise? Or has Apple given up on its principle of one-handed operation and user experience first? Will Apple admit in the future that it made a mistake in the large screen market?

Even Apple phones are beginning to embrace large screens, which will be a fatal blow to the tablet market that Jobs opened up. In the future, the tablet market will further merge with large-screen phones. No one likes to carry two smart devices with them. If the experience of the phone is suitable, a large number of users will abandon small and medium-sized tablets, and the limit may be 6.5 inches. Thinking of this possible outcome, I even suspect that the reason why Apple has been slow to launch large screens is not because of user experience, but just to protect its pad market.

Judging from the new product launch, Apple still has the best mobile phone in the industry, and Apple is still the best mobile phone manufacturer. But at the same time, Apple is no longer the Apple of Steve Jobs in people's impression. It is just an excellent mobile phone manufacturer. It will still be successful in the market, but because the mythical blessing is gradually fading, it is more likely to fail in the future.

The problem Apple is facing now is actually a common problem in the entire mobile phone industry, namely lack of innovation and product homogeneity. The mobile phone industry may be facing a bottleneck that follows natural laws. Restricted by technology, materials and human cognition, this bottleneck is the limit of ordinary people and perhaps only time and geniuses who transcend the times can break it. The mobile phone needs to be reinvented again, but the question is, will such a genius like Steve Jobs appear twice in a row in the same company?

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.