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Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) have unveiled an upset in Apple’s line-up in the final quarter of 2018. It turns out that of the three 2018 iPhone models launched by Apple, the iPhone XR sold the most in the USA during the last three months.
Shock! Horror! Even American Apple fans are becoming budget conscious?! How else do you explain that the XR, the cheapest 2018 iPhone model, was responsible for 39% of all iPhone sales that quarter though it wasn’t released until October? By way of comparison, the iPhone XS and XS Max models together accounted for only 26% of US sales.
Of course, there might be some other explanations. I can be dramatic about these things. But the figures don’t lie. All we have to do now is figure out why this was the hottest 2018 iPhone in the fourth quarter of the year.
Another plausible reason could be the upward jump in the price of the other two 2018 iPhone models. The price of flagships by Apple and other mobile manufacturers have been on the upward swing. This is forcing mobile users to slow down their upgrade cycle, as well as look at more affordable alternatives.
The iPhone XR is certainly a more affordable alternative to the XS and XS Max.
Specs Of The Hottest 2018 iPhone
The iPhone XR is a dual-SIM mobile device with a 6.1-inch LCD display, 12MP main camera, 7MP selfie camera, 3GB RAM, and internal storage options of 64GB, 128GB and 256GB. It has a smallish 2,942 mAh battery.
It is the first dual-SIM iPhone ever. Perhaps this is also a factor in its runaway sales record. We will wait for the researchers to come up with the reasons.
More Upsets
But the XR’s great sales was not the only upset of Q4 2018. The XS Max pulled another one too.
According to CIRP, the iPhone XS Max outsold the XS in the same period, making the latter the poorest performer of the trio. And that is strange. Usually, the smaller flagship iPhone model outsells the bigger variant.
The iPhone XR has the middle-of-the-road display in terms of size. Its 6.1 inches sits between the XS’ 5.8 inches and the XS Max’s 6.5 inches.
Setting Records
The XR was not just the hottest 2018 iPhone model, it also set some new records with regard to sales from years gone by. It ramped up the largest quarterly share of sales by any iPhone model since 2016. For a more comprehensive picture of how well the lowly XR performed last quarter, CIRP says:
The single iPhone XR model almost matched the combined iPhone 8 and 8 Plus in the same quarter last year. iPhone XR also had the largest quarterly share for a single model, at 39%, in the past couple of years, since the then-new iPhone 7 in December 2016, even though it was available only for part of the quarter.
The iPhone XR, the baby of the house, is selling like hot cross buns. I doubt that even Apple saw that coming. But the news is for Q4 2018 only. There is nothing to say that the picture won’t change this quarter. But it is an interesting development all the same.
I am looking forward to seeing how the XR will perform this quarter and all through 2019. Will it sustain last quarter’s trends? Will it be crowned the hottest 2018 iPhone model for the whole year? That would be something, people. That would be something.
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Author:Mister Mobility
Digital Skills and Communication Coach | Mobile Phone Connoisseur since 2001 | Tech Blogging since 2004
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Even if you choose not to buy the Vivo V11 Pro , you will be impressed by it all the same. Some mid-range smartphones are so good that they make many flagships redundant. The v11 Pro, which arrived in September 2018, is one of them.
Looking at the specs sheet of the V11 Pro, I am instantly reminded of my description of the new generation of super mid-range smartphones . As a matter of fact, this Vivo model exceeds that description. This is a good time to see the key specs of this interesting device.
Vivo v11 Pro
Vivo v11 Pro Specs
- Mobile networks : 2G, 3G, 4G
- SIM card : Dual Nano-SIM
- Operating System/Software : Android 8.1 Oreo + FunTouch 4.5
- Build : Glass body + plastic frame
- Dimensions : 157.9 x 75 x 7.9 mm
- Display : 6.41″ 2,340 x 1,080 pixels, 19.5:9 aspect ratio, Super AMOLED screen
- Fingerprint sensor : under-display
- Processor : Octa-core 2.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 chipset, Kryo 260
- GPU : Adreno 512
- RAM : 6GB
- Internal storage : 128GB
- Memory card support : Dedicated microSD slot
- Main Camera : 12MP (f/1.8 lens) + 5MP depth sensing, phase detection autofocus; 1080p @ 30fps video
- Selfie camera : 25MP (f/2.0), 1080p video recording
- Battery capacity : 3,400 mAh
- Battery charging : 18W fast charging
Outstanding Features
A Super AMOLED display is a delight any day. It means you get deeper blacks and great contrast. I dislike the notch on the display, but it is one of the better looking ones. In all, the V11 Pro is a stunning smartphone – one that you will be glad to show off, if that’s the way you roll.
The 6GB RAM that the phone is equipped with is an immediate turn-on for power users who love to jump from app to app without breaking a sweat. The under-display fingerprint sensor is also a novelty in this class of device. This cutting-edge feature has been an exclusive preserve of the highest priced smartphones but here we are seeing one on a mid-range device.
I must not forget to mention the 128GB internal storage. Again, that is massive for a smartphone in this category. There is a 64GB storage version though, if you’d like to spend even less on the phone.
And when it comes to selfies, a 25MP front camera is available. You will be taking some well-detailed selfies with this. At the rear side of the phone is a 12MP + 5MP dual camera with AI support and Bokeh effect.
With the Vivo v11 Pro , you get a near flagship experience at about half the price of a Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus. We are talking about a smartphone in the same class as the highly popular Nokia 7 Plus . And then, it offers a number of features that even the Nokia does not have.
What Do You Miss?
In its class, the V11 is over-qualified. There is no question about that. This is a device that breaks new grounds. But seeing that we are comparing it to flagships, we must ask, What are you missing if you choose to buy this instead of a Galaxy S9+? You will miss the metal frame that flagships are known for, but it is so little metal. The V11 Pro has an all-glass body built around a plastic frame. If you want to nitpick, hey….
You will miss a more powerful processor. But then, most smartphone owners never put their smartphones to use in tasks that demand the full power of their smartphones. Even flagship owners. So, are you really going to miss this?
In everyday use, the Nokia 7 Plus was as snappy as any flagship out there. Most of us never carry out any super-demanding tasks on our $1,000 smartphones. You will miss water and dust resistance. USB Type-C support is missing too. A crying shame, if you ask me.
And lastly, you will miss wider 4G network support. The Vivo V11 Pro supports only eight 4G bands. Bummer, if you travel the world, or if you live in a country whose bands it does not support. That will be a deal-breaker, no doubt.
Wrapping Up
The V11 Pro is simply amazing. And it seems that lots of people agree, as it is proving popular already in the markets where it sells. Its greatest weakness, in my books, is FunTouch OS, the custom skin that Vivo uses on its phones. I really would love to have a phone with these specs and features but running stock Android software.
The Vivo V11 Pro costs just about $400 or NGN140,000. It is a deal that is hard to pass. You get mostly flagship features and performance for so much less. If you have that kind of budget for a smartphone, you should take a look at the Vivo V11 Pro. Even if you choose not to buy it, you will be impressed all the same.
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Author:Mister Mobility
Digital Skills and Communication Coach | Mobile Phone Connoisseur since 2001 | Tech Blogging since 2004
