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Cape Town - South African Fin24 users with Samsung smartphones have generally declined to accept an iStore iPhone offer.
The iStore on Friday announced that it would pay up R3 500 for a Samsung smartphone being traded in for a new iPhone 6.
But people who read the story had their own views on the value of their Samsung phones.
"Hands off my Samsung S4... very clever phone," wrote Fin24 user George Sejaphala.
The iStore said it would offer up to R3 500 for the Galaxy S5 down to R1 000 for the SIII if owners bought an iPhone 6 on the same day that Samsung released the S6 in SA and other countries.
Intense competition
"I'm still buying the S6 thank you. Apple can keep their junk," said Nkosi.
But despite the intense competition between the two manufacturers, some South Africans take a more nuanced approach to their favourite smartphones brands.
"I've just got rid of my Samsung S4 piece of rubbish. I got the Sony Z4 - the best phone I've ever had. I wouldn't touch Apple - I want a phone, not a cult symbol," wrote Bruce Gatland, perhaps in reference to the Xperia M4 Aqua.
Graham Knott added: "I will never go back to iPhone. Their batteries never last more than half a day, and of course you can't Bluetooth to anyone apart from to Apple products, been there, done that, nee dankie [no thank you], I have now got a Huawei S7. The battery lasts more than a day, it is good for business, what a good phone."
Samsung has released its new smartphones in SA. (Bebeto Matthews, AP, File)
On the iStore website, the new iPhone starts at R9 999 for the 16GB version up to R14 499 for an iPhone 6 Plus with 128GB of memory.
But the price immediately put off a user called Deon Dixon.
"'A fool and his money is soon parted.' This is Apple's entire marketing strategy. Why on Earth would anyone in his right mind pay more for an item if they can get better quality and functionality for less? Even in the good old USA, Android, and in particular Samsung, is making huge inroads in the iPhone user base," he wrote.
Apple ecosystem
"I don't mind the fact that iPhone applications are expensive, I can afford at least 2GB of data per month... However though, I hate that I can't transfer files to another device using Bluetooth, and that the battery life span is way too shorter than that of a Sony/Samsung phone. iPhone is a good phone, but no thanks. I'll stick with the S5," wrote Paballo.
Fin24 also received emails where users explained what it would take for them to switch to Apple's ecosystem.
"1. It will have to allow me to download all types of music and videos from the web. 2: It must allow me to back up all my music, videos and photos on my computer. Then only will I consider an iPhone, it's a good phone but a very greedy phone," wrote Fin24 user Jai, via email.
Even some iPhone users wrote to complain about the limitations that they experienced.
"I'm currently using iPhone 6+ but m not happy at all. I am a business person and I'm using web mail but iPhone 6+ is not compatible with web mail. I'm very disappointed because I have to switch phones every time I need to access my email it's useless for me to have it," wrote Portia Nkosi.
However, iPhone remains hugely popular even if people cannot always afford the devices featured in multiple realty TV shows.
According to the 2015 Student Tech Survey by World Wide Worx and Student Brands, with the support of Standard Bank, around 50% of students said they would buy an iPhone if cost was not an issue, followed by Samsung (29%) and Sony (9%).
Ernest Tobeni made that point clear with his contribution.
"iPhone is the best phone ever made my number one brand. One day is one day I will own it."
