Both Apple And Samsung Deal With ‘Low Sales’ Rumors Concerning iPhone 6s And Galaxy Note 5

2015 isn’t considered a great year for smartphone innovation, but did the latest smartphones from Apple and Samsung really flop? Many websites seem to indicate that this is the case.

Yibada is one of the website that considers the iPhone 6s a possible flop.

“Not everyone is happy with the latest ad from Apple encouraging users to upgrade to the new iPhone 6S. This is more likely a sign that the current smartphone is suffering from low sales.”

The article adds that it is quite ironic that Apple introduced ad-blocking capabilities in iOS 9. Many on Twitter have criticized the new ads.

Apple shoves annoyingly aggressive popup ads for iPhone 6s into iOS App Store app https://t.co/9bhEvqqcaJ by @the_pc_doc

— ZDNET (@ZDNET) December 12, 2015

The iPhone 6s and 6s Plus have received pretty good reviews, but not as good as Apple is used to. The Wall Street Journal was one of many sources that criticized the battery life of the new iPhone 6s in particular.

“Let’s get this out of the way first. The No. 1 thing people want in a smartphone is better battery life. And the iPhone 6s doesn’t deliver that,” says reviewer Joanna Stern.

Seeking Alpha indicates that Apple’s iPhone 6s (along with the 6s Plus) sales are not as expected. They note that Foxconn data revenue for November indicates continued sales growth, but at a more moderate rate than expected. Apple is most certainly selling enough iPhone 6s and 6s Plus units in order to break even. But is Samsung doing the same thing with the Galaxy Note 5?

According to InformationWeek, sales are so bad for Samsung that the Mobile CEO, J.K. Shin, is out.

“While Samsung is still the worldwide leader, the company has lost market share over the last year due to poor sales of its flagship smartphones. That’s why today J.K. Shin is out and Dongjin Koh is in as the company’s new chief of mobile.”

The article adds that flagship phones such as the Galaxy S6, the Galaxy S6 Edge, and the Note 5 have done nothing to revive Samsung’s declining fortunes. Hopefully, a new CEO can help Samsung’s marketing department. Samsung’s Galaxy Note 5 has received fantastic reviews. CNET gave the device four-and-a-half stars.

CNET praises the device for having an eye-catching design, high-end hardware, and the great outdoor photos the smartphone takes. They love the upgraded stylus and the terrific battery life. However, the review doesn’t like the fact the Note 5 doesn’t have a removable battery and that there are no external storage options.

The Galaxy Note 5 is a robust device that is almost like a small computer. While the Android operating system isn’t as simple and consumer-friendly as iOS, one can do a lot more with the Note 5 than they can with any Apple device. Perhaps Galaxy Note fans stayed away from the latest Note since Samsung seems to be turning into Apple by not offering signature options that Samsung Note lovers have come to expect, such as a removable battery and a microSD memory slot.

2016 will be a make-it-or-break-it year for Samsung. However, Apple still isn’t guaranteed a successful year, especially given the extremely high expectations people have for the next iPhone. Let’s hope that both Apple and Samsung can reinvigorate the smartphone industry and deliver killer devices in the new year.

[Photo via Daryl Deino]