[notafraudster]

I agree with the results in the video (and the inference the author made that most of what's going on here is software processing being over-tuned rather than hardware), but I don't really think this is dispositive to the overall conversation, which is basically:

Side A: Apple makes ludicrously expensive ultra-luxe products that only the conspicuously rich buy, like Rolex or Bentley.

Side B: Apple is definitely on the premium end of the market, but generally justify their presence there due to elements of product quality, and their price positioning isn't anything like Rolex or Bentley.

I think pointing out individual instances where products exist that beat Apple products in some respect and are cheaper doesn't really weigh in on the debate. In broad terms, Apple's high end phones are at or near price comparability with other high end phones, and at or near performance/specs/value with other high end phones. Maybe a smidge above or below in some respects at different times, but basically that's where they are.

To me, Apple is closer to Volvo, or maybe in a pinch BMW, in terms of their market positioning than it is to Bentley. That's not to say you can't prefer a Kia (better value / cheaper price) or a Genesis (premium brand spun off from a traditionally cheaper competitor) or a Lexus or an Audi (in the same price tier), but more or less it makes very little sense to pretend BMW and Bentley are the same thing.

[dzikimarian]

Personally I think Apple is exactly like volvo. Nothing really special, but appealing to some part of the audience. For some unknown reason they think that they can be overpriced, when they really are pretty mediocre overall. Saying that as a volvo owner :-)

[midoridensha]

I think it's hard to compare smartphones to cars. Buying a Volvo isn't that different from buying a BMW or a Toyota or a Ford: they all work on the same roads. Buying a Volvo doesn't lock you into only driving on Volvo roads, buying Volvo gasoline, and listening to Volvo music, and only getting the best experience if you have a Volvo house.