zlacker

What I find fascinating is that Apple's and [Android manufacturers]'s previous attempts at smaller phones aren't even worth maintaining after they assess sales.

In my mind, these companies are all so massive they can afford a little fragmentation for the obviously small market, with no meaningful impact to their sales numbers or profits.

On the iPhone minis, there's very obviously a market for them, but the market is so small compared to the market for "all iPhones" that it practically vanishes in comparison, which leads Apple to not bother. Is it really that expensive to maintain a more niche line for each generation?

>>raydev+(OP)
> Is it really that expensive to maintain a more niche line for each generation?

Think of just the work that goes into having an assembly line customized for a specific form factor. To keep price, quality, and profit in line with their other phones I think the answer here is clearly yes.

>>Skunkl+Y
Especially if having that line means only 1% more customers and 19% customers that just buy the small model instead of the other model. And unless you are launching the Mini Pro Max Ultra X you are losing money on that 9% of customers that would have bought the higher margin phone but instead bought the mini version which is only available at the more base model.

(Numbers made up to illustrate the point)

>>kevinc+Ve
I fall into that category. My first choice would be an iphone pro mini. My second choice is an iphone pro max. I refuse to explain my preferences.