IPhone 14, Pixel 7, PlayStation VR2, Meta Quest Pro. Is there a difference between predictions and reality?

As forecast, "the difference in product content between the top and bottom will be substantial" and "Pro will be more expensive than usual."

The difference in performance between the iPhone 14 and Pro was surprisingly large, and I think it was easy to decide which one to buy. You might say that the second half was a loser. Apple kept its base prices unchanged in dollar terms. Even so, it seems that Nevertheless, it was at a time "when all currencies except the dollar were weak", and it was not higher.

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iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Plus

What was more surprising than that was that the iPhone 14 and Pro were "very different in design." The 14 has a different joining method between the main body and the glass panel, making it easier to repair glass cracks. Replacing the battery is also somewhat simplified (although there is a major premise that it will be done by a trained person). On the other hand, the design of the iPhone 14 Pro series has not changed much from the past.

The production of the entire iPhone 14 has been contracted by Apple to Hon Hai as before, but the production base has expanded not only to China but also to India. Apparently, most of the Pro is made in China, and the 14 seems to be made in India as well. As a result, the model was redesigned assuming the production base would be transferred, and, as a consequence, the extreme performance enhancement (the adventure) was not performed.

China is continuing its zero-corona policy. It is said that the factory in Zhengzhou, China, has considerably reduced production capacity due to the effects of Corona. This factory produces the iPhone 14 Pro / Pro Max, and Apple has released a release saying that shipments will decrease due to the impact. This is rather unusual.

As for sales, the Pro series is said to be doing better than the 14 (perhaps because it is differentiated), which I think is quite painful for Apple.

The Pixel 7 is a well-made device. There is an internal conflict with "6a" that is causing the problem.

Google's Pixel 7 series came out exactly as expected in terms of hardware. Performance is not top class, but Tensor G2, which is a machine learning core, has been utilized to enhance the voice and camera system.

Tensor G2

I expected it to be a solution that was combined with software, so it was difficult to read until it was announced, but this was also correct. I don't think anyone would have predicted that it would be equipped with "bokeh correction" which corrects the blurring of photos taken in the past.

It has a lot of functions and is one of my favorite smartphones.

Still, the cost performance of the "Pixel 6a" that came out in the first half of this year is too good, so if you're not so particular about the camera, that's fine... It's a bit difficult. The difference is smaller than the "SE and main model" problem on the iPhone.

However, in the case of Google, there are also issues such as shipment volume and availability, so it may be difficult for the problem of lower-end models to eat up higher-end models, and Google may think that it is okay in the first place.

What will happen to the relationship between Amazon's hardware and subscriptions?

Amazon's hardware has no surprises, in a good way. That company is like that. The focus is on providing what is needed on the spot at a low price.

Kindle Scribe, a handwriting-reading device, will soon be available to users.

However, it is also a characteristic of Amazon to occasionally release hardware that asks, "Why are you attacking that?" Last year it offered the home robot Astro, but this year it wasn't that surprising.

In this area, Amazon's hardware business is about to need "profitability measures".

Dave Limp, head of Amazon's hardware business in the United States, said in an exclusive interview with the author, "We will continue to take a route that does not secure profits with hardware." Therefore, the direction will not change significantly, but Amazon is also tightening its profit structure amid concerns about the US recession. In that case, I predict that there is a high possibility that patterns such as "hardware is in the red, but additional subscriptions are required from the second year onwards to use additional functions".

A growing portion of the company's hardware is related to "home security" and "health care," and it appears to be compatible with the subscription-like business model.

This can also be said for Apple, Google, etc., and the trend of “hardware + subscription” will likely go in the direction of strengthening in the future.

However, if a recession tightens consumer purse strings, subscriptions could face strong headwinds. My guess is that the pattern of discounting several services as a set will become mainstream. In other words, if you enter Amazon Prime, you can get a discount on home security, or you can add home security to Apple One.

PS5 supply stabilized, but PS VR2 needs are still unclear

Due to the PS VR2's popularity, it's become a pattern to remove Game-related releases that are usually released during the holiday season, however, given the production volume, it would be better to put more resources into the PS5 itself instead of the VR2. In that case, the release date will be a little after the beginning of the year when the big demand for PS5 settles down, that is, in February.

PlayStation VR2

Regarding the PS5, it seems that the shipment volume has increased considerably, and we are starting to see inventory in stores. However, there are various conditions, such as being required to use a credit card to purchase through a mass retailer group. Shipments toward the end of the year are expected to increase further, and they will become easier to obtain.

Of course, the problem is how many people will buy the PS5, which has become more expensive.

Some people say that they don't have their own software, but I think that's true. However, not everyone has a gaming PC, and it wouldn't be too much of a problem if it was released on PC. Rather, it is much more difficult to appeal to its value in Asia, when the number of "people who pay for game consoles" is thinning. This doesn't change even if PS5 is replaced with Xbox Series X.

On top of that, I think it would be quite difficult to sell PS VR2 as a peripheral. And it was expensive. Sony seems to be a bit bullish on its production numbers. It may be better than a lack of goods, but will it really be able to appeal to our needs?

The PS VR2 itself is very good hardware, but that's where the problem lies on the "software" side. I still can't see a way to appeal that there is a better experience or interesting game than a standalone VR device.