I don't agree that there aren't multiple premium brands within the phone, computer, and media player spaces, but humoring you, I would say that platform lock-in is a factor. If I sell my Ferrari to buy a Lambo, I don't have to find new gas stations and roads to use.

First of all the media player space is dead. Secondly just because Samsung Andriod phones or Dell XPS laptops are nominally premium doesn't mean they are on par with Apple in terms of how they are perceived by consumers. They are also certainly not status symbols. A Lambo or a Ferrari are pretty much on par in the eyes of the consumer for how premium they are and how much of a status symbol they are. Not so with X premium android vs iPhone or X premium windows laptop vs a Macbook.

I think you're right that platform lock-in is one factor. I think the other factor is that Apple uses their own proprietary operating system. They have control all the way down to the hardware level and that gives them an advantage. When I close a MacBook it goes to sleep. When I close a premium Windows laptop there is a fairly high chance it's going to overheat in my bag. This is of course an issue that can be fixed but its only one of many smaller things that make up the whole product. Because Apple consistently gets enough of them right people look past the smaller flaws and see a polished product in a way that is not often seen in consumer electronics.

>First of all the media player space is dead.

Not quite. In fact, the premium media player space is essentially the only one that still exists. They're mostly Android-based devices with high-quality DACs for the playback of lossless, high-bitrate music files.

>Secondly just because Samsung Andriod phones or Dell XPS laptops are nominally premium doesn't mean they are on par with Apple in terms of how they are perceived by consumers.

I disagree. Microsoft's Surface line is also seen as premium, and Lenovo's Thinkpad line is still considered to offer top performance for business and enterprise customers. In phones, Apple is not unassailable in the US, and outside it, deals with heavy competition from Samsung and Chinese brands.

>I think the other factor is that Apple uses their own proprietary operating system.

You sound like a fanboy.

Niche market for audio enthusiasts is the same as dead next to the old market. I'll admit that the surface line up is closing the gap but they are still not there yet in terms of brand recognition. As for Samsung and the Chinese brand phones my old point still stands, they are not status symbols, the latest iPhone is.

I'm not a fanboy, I have plenty of qualms with Apple. For example they run their new MacBooks so hot that they are constantly throttling. The lack of 32 bit support on Catalina is a pain in the ass and Apple won't let anyone else repair their machines which is BS. I personally use an Android because iPhones are way overpriced but I have a MacBook because I need it for work (React Native). I'm not arguing that Apple is the best I'm arguing that they have a brand image that is well above the competition in a way that you don't see in other markets.