It used to be that when new models of phones are coming, punters can't sleep until they have one in their hands and are even willing to pay hundreds more to scalpers. Long lines are outside of shops with some in them willing to spend days just to be the first to get their hands on the prized gadgets.
As said, some of these brave souls are scalpers or paid bodies. With some here in Hong Kong sending their foreign domestic helpers to queue and buy for them while they continue to work.
In buses and trains, people elongate their necks to take a peek and whisper to their peer "iPhone x", or "Galaxy Sx". Owners feel proud too to be the owner of the object of others' interest.
These things are past. Sure, people still would like to get the best and the latest but not at the same degree of desire as before. After all, these smartphones are starting to be "the same". They make and receive calls, messages, and videos. They take photographs, play games, connect to the internet, and stuff. Users are going to get over the hype of new smartphones. Yes, smartphones have been commodified.
What does that say then about the makers of these gadgets? For sure, they're going to try their best to squeeze as much profit as they can from each iteration of their products, but just like other gadgets that have been commodified, like the Mp3 player, DVD player, etc, prices are bound to come down and so will the margins. They need to continue to innovate and bring new products out.
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