Apple seems to have a pretty serious brand loyalty problem all of a sudden caused primarily by the lack of a foldable iPhone 17 model.
The biggest product launch event of the fall (possibly, even of the whole year) is finally upon us, and I can’t help but feel. rather indifferent towards the iPhone 17, 17 Air, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max.
Yes, Apple’s next big family of ultra-high-end handsets will include an all-new ultra-thin model (that nobody really asked for) while lacking the first-of-a-kind device people are actually craving. Don’t believe me? Then maybe you’ll believe that recent survey where 3.3 percent of respondents said they were holding out for a foldable iPhone, with 20.1 percent and 10.2 percent willing to consider Samsung and Google foldables respectively if Apple doesn’t enter the market soon.
Now, 3.3 percent is clearly not what I’d call a worrying number for the world’s second-largest smartphone vendor, but 20.1 percent and 30.3 percent should definitely cause some concern among the higher-ups in the Cupertino-based organization.
I don’t think so. At least not to a degree completely representative of those two numbers found in Sellcell’s iPhone 17 pre-launch survey. The fact that one in five iPhone owners right now are considering a switch to a Samsung device obviously doesn’t mean that millions and millions of Apple fans will suddenly flock to buy the Galaxy Z Fold 7 or Z Flip 7.
But many of these are likely to be left bitterly disappointed by their favorite brand’s September 9 event, which is unlikely to include even the shortest and vaguest of teasers regarding the company’s eventual foldable market entry.
That disappointment will only grow larger if Apple doesn’t unveil its highly anticipated and long overdue first-gen iPhone Fold in the early stages of next year, and if Samsung manages to beat its arch-rival to the punch once again with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8, that could prove to be the tipping point for a lot of potential switchers.
