Apple Inc. launched the new version of the world’s most popular smart phone a couple of months ago. Dubbed as the iPhone 5, the new device comes with a larger display, faster processor and couple of more changes than the previous iterations of iPhone devices. Just like any other iPhone device, it was sold to millions of customers within a few days; however, there is a large number of users who are complaining about this device. The common theme among these complaints is that the majority of features and options are just like the previously released iPhone 4 and, aside from the size and processor, there is no change between these two devices.

These complaints have grown so much that recently it is rumored that Apple hired the services of reputation management consultants to find and highlight the reasons behind these complaints. In my opinion, the reasons for this issue are as follows:

1. Absence of groundbreaking feature:

The reputation of the iPhone is built around the new and groundbreaking feature of each version, like multi-touch gestures first introduced by iPhone, and personal digital assistant SIRI in iPhone 4. The only new thing that was introduced in this new version was Apple’s own Map software; however, this software and its bugs became a joke in the market, especially when Google’s astonishing Google Map is dominating the market.

2. Incompatibility with older iPhone devices:

Right from the first time the iPhone was introduced to the time the second-to-last version of iPhone was released (iPhone 4), the connector on all devices were the same; even if you upgrade your device, all of your accessories would be usable with the new version. However, in iPhone 5, Apple decided to include a new type of connector; as a result, all the existing iPhone accessories which clients owned became useless, unless they apply some Made-in-China converter in order to reuse them with their new iPhone. This non-compatibility detered many iPhone users from opting for the new device.

3. Death of Steve Jobs:

We all missed Jobs at the launching ceremony of the new iPhone. This was the first time that Jobs was not on stage to demonstrate the new and improved iPhone, and we all missed the magical touch he used to bring to the iPhone devices. I believe that his absence resulted in a less than desirable iPhone. Even though Steve Jobs was a high-level executive of Apple and the level of his personal involvement with iPhone development cannot be ascertained, we all witnessed the result. In my humble opinion, it will be a while before Apple finds a suitable replacement for Jobs.

The above stated reasons are some of the many ones which make current consumers of the latest version of iPhone ask, “Why on earth did they buy this new device?”  And unless Apple seriously keeps in mind these issues, then it will certainly have a hard time promoting the iPhone 6 and subsequent devices.

About the author:

Matthew Anton, the founder of a reputation management consulting firm, the author of this post is an expert in latest technology and trends. Feel free to contact him in the comment section found below.