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A Full Apple Ecosystem Now Costs Less Than a MacBook Pro
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the8thark
macrumors 601
We can argue over the topic content all day long and miss the point.
The point in my opinion is, entry level Apple products are not that expensive. Apple is making entering the ecosystem much more accessible.
Even at overseas prices which can be 2x what is listed my MR in the first post, it’s still a lower cost barrier to entry.
The other issue is the entry level Apple products are very capable. They can do a surprisingly large amount of tasks relatively well.
The “Apple Tax” argument is no longer a thing. Well possibly for BTO options and higher end but not at all for entry level.
The comparison to the MBP price is not really needed. Probably better to advertise the fact the lot is less than $2500 USD.
The point in my opinion is, entry level Apple products are not that expensive. Apple is making entering the ecosystem much more accessible.
Even at overseas prices which can be 2x what is listed my MR in the first post, it’s still a lower cost barrier to entry.
The other issue is the entry level Apple products are very capable. They can do a surprisingly large amount of tasks relatively well.
The “Apple Tax” argument is no longer a thing. Well possibly for BTO options and higher end but not at all for entry level.
The comparison to the MBP price is not really needed. Probably better to advertise the fact the lot is less than $2500 USD.
Compote
macrumors 6502
Let me save you 934 dollars. Then you can look to upgrade the computer, the iPhone, the Airpods, the Watch and maybe get to use your AirTags since the iPhone 17e cannot use AirTags.
iPhone 17e: $599
MacBook Neo: $599
// OK, these are useful purchases.
AirPods 4: $129
Apple Watch SE 3: $249
AirTag: $29
// Mixed bag They're nice to have, and serve a purpose.
The Airpods don't have noise-cancelling, so they're missing a key feature.
The Apple Watch SE3 is missing 5G, which I feel is optional but nice to have.
The AirTags are ABSOLUTELY USELESS WITH AN IPHONE 17e THEY SIMPLY WON'T WORK, WHICH IS WHY THE 17e IS STILL A TRASH PRODUCT I WILL NEVER WANT. Would have upgraded form iPhone 11 otherwise.
iPad (11th generation): $349
Magic Keyboard Folio: $249
Apple Pencil (USB-C): $79
Apple TV 4K: $129
HomePod mini: $99
// Since the iPad is a worthless platform and the accessories are predicated on the main machine, none of those are essential.
The Apple TV offers little value besides aggressively making the HDMI/USBC/casting experience worse from Mac and iPad so you'll be incentivized to buy it, so I personally despise this product. I'd rather use Chrome and a Chromecast (much cheaper).
The HomePod is worthless as a base product, does something the Apple TV should do, and as a personal assistant or home hub, Siri is utter trash.
iPhone 17e: $599
MacBook Neo: $599
// OK, these are useful purchases.
AirPods 4: $129
Apple Watch SE 3: $249
AirTag: $29
// Mixed bag They're nice to have, and serve a purpose.
The Airpods don't have noise-cancelling, so they're missing a key feature.
The Apple Watch SE3 is missing 5G, which I feel is optional but nice to have.
The AirTags are ABSOLUTELY USELESS WITH AN IPHONE 17e THEY SIMPLY WON'T WORK, WHICH IS WHY THE 17e IS STILL A TRASH PRODUCT I WILL NEVER WANT. Would have upgraded form iPhone 11 otherwise.
iPad (11th generation): $349
Magic Keyboard Folio: $249
Apple Pencil (USB-C): $79
Apple TV 4K: $129
HomePod mini: $99
// Since the iPad is a worthless platform and the accessories are predicated on the main machine, none of those are essential.
The Apple TV offers little value besides aggressively making the HDMI/USBC/casting experience worse from Mac and iPad so you'll be incentivized to buy it, so I personally despise this product. I'd rather use Chrome and a Chromecast (much cheaper).
The HomePod is worthless as a base product, does something the Apple TV should do, and as a personal assistant or home hub, Siri is utter trash.
Compote
macrumors 6502
The AirTags aren't unnecessary.
Tiles were a great invention and I still use them weekly when I need to find my keys in a hurry.
They're a better option than the overpriced AirTags with the iPhone 17, as they won't work properly without a UWB chip on the phone.
I'm the type of guy who forgets where his car is parked, and AirTags would be great for that (my model Tiles can't do UWB).
JohannesO
macrumors 6502
Compote
macrumors 6502
The Macbook Neo proves the 17e isn't worth its asking price... Or ANY iPhone for that matter.
Compote
macrumors 6502
That's not a worthy remark.
iPhones and Watches also have crash detection. How often do you need a life-saving 911 autocall?
You only lose your wallet once, then it's lost.
It's about managing risk.
And if you must know, I lost my iPhone twice, and twice, my Watch told me to double back and I was able to find it.
Once was at a stationary store. Once was at the library.
The Watch or Airpods are especially useful because you're less likely to miss that notification vs. the notification coming to your phone in your bag or outer pocket.
the8thark
macrumors 601
The weirdness of these articles...
Aside from the smartphone, which is pretty much necessary nowadays, if I were forced to choose between that "ecosystem" and the M5 pro, I would take the latter every day.
After years of sitting on the fence (decades actually) the first Apple device I bought was a MacBook, of course. What else. The fact that Apple computers are now considered somewhat a secondary product in their line-up is a bit sad really.
Aside from the smartphone, which is pretty much necessary nowadays, if I were forced to choose between that "ecosystem" and the M5 pro, I would take the latter every day.
After years of sitting on the fence (decades actually) the first Apple device I bought was a MacBook, of course. What else. The fact that Apple computers are now considered somewhat a secondary product in their line-up is a bit sad really.
cicalinarrot
macrumors 65816
Why can't people take the unscientific premise of this article for what it is?
"Isn't a $300K mint condition Apple I autographed by both Steves part of Apple ecosystem?"
I don't know, dude... the title just means entry level Apple ecosystem is very cheap right now, cheaper than some Pro solution Apple used to be all about.
"Isn't a $300K mint condition Apple I autographed by both Steves part of Apple ecosystem?"
I don't know, dude... the title just means entry level Apple ecosystem is very cheap right now, cheaper than some Pro solution Apple used to be all about.
The premise is silly.
The idea that someone might think: I want to buy an Apple "ecosystem", just for the sake of it, instead of 1 or 2 accurately chosen devices. The idea that owning a basic "Apple ecosystem" is desirable, is typical Apple cult mentality, I get it, and very silly.
So this "ecosystem" is composed mostly of accessories (the pencil, the keyboard, the homepod, the airtag, the watch etc), each of them one could happily live without, or replace with valid alternatives at a better price (hello iPhone 17e).
There are no Pro items listed in the "ten products that now define Apple's lowest-cost tier". Nor is there a Desktop Mac nor Apple Display listed because consumers looking to buy into the Apple Ecosystem don't need professional products. If you want to buy all the Pro products maxed out and include the AVP, be prepared to spend around $33k. I enjoy the professional experience with Apple products, including the AVP, which gives me a massive display and saves me the $2300 for an Apple Studio Display. Your mileage apparently varies.
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Actually, it does make sense to buy into an ecosystem that works. This is especially true if you are buying for a whole family of people that can take advantage of Family Sharing. Not everyone is a geek who gets entertainment value out of spending way too much spare time getting products from disparate manufacturers to work together the way Apple's do out of the box.
My conclusion is that iPhones are way overpriced. Basically the MacBook neo is an oversized iPhone and it costs way less.
snipr125
macrumors 68030
The 17e which is an iPhone is more powerful and useful than the Neo which is a computer.
The article is supposedly about how:
...that's the headline. They then invent something arbitrary called "Apple's lowest-cost tier". Then, instead of comparing with the base MacBook Pro ($1699) they pick a more expensive 16" MBP just so that it fits their narrative.
Personally, I don't make allowances for articles that make a claim in the headline and then move the goalposts.
So it's the lowest-cost tier of the AVP and still part of the "full Apple ecosystem".
More problems:
They missed out the cost of an Apple One (the services - not AppleCare) subscription ($240/year) - because how can you have a "Full Apple Ecosystem" without Music, TV, iCloud etc? That alone breaks the claim.
...and before anybody says "but Apple One would cost the same for the MBP" - why would the MBP buyer not want an iPhone, iPad, Homepod, Watch, AirTag... ?
The point is it's all a silly bit of meaningless numerology.
If they'd just wanted to say "Hey, you can now get a Mac, iPhone and Watch for $howevermuch" that would have been fine.
...but, of course, you could add an AVP to the list and it would still cost less than a Studio Ultra + Studio Display XDR combo ...or a swimming pool full of melted Dubai chocolate, 8 sets of Mac Pro wheels, a solid gold effigy of Tim Cook, a small Pacific island... 🙂
throAU
macrumors G4
For times when you want to carry a smaller device and still be able to type without the onscreen keyboard covering half your display.
