Especially when VAT can be 23% compared to 0-12% in US depending on state where purchased.
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Apple Cut Base iPhone 16 Storage Options to Just 128GB
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I remember when I had to pay up bigly for 128 on my SE1.
I no longer insist on toting around my entire iTunes collection in ALAC (I'm fine with down-converting for mobile purposes), so 128GB would probably be fine for me.
That said, my 13 Mini is 512GB as I wanted to "never have to worry about it". Once once experiences how incredibly awful iOS gets when you approach running out of storage, you never want to be in that quandary again.
I no longer insist on toting around my entire iTunes collection in ALAC (I'm fine with down-converting for mobile purposes), so 128GB would probably be fine for me.
That said, my 13 Mini is 512GB as I wanted to "never have to worry about it". Once once experiences how incredibly awful iOS gets when you approach running out of storage, you never want to be in that quandary again.
Well aware, have the US prices after tax calculated here for ten different states. But yes, you are right. Either way, the reason wasn't my primary concern just now, just the end figure that leaves the wallet. In the US sales tax is lower than here, that's probably why the US historically has tended toward consumerism to a higher degree, which probably helped your state economies in large part over the years, but other areas of life in the US feature much higher tax than here.
We in Ireland pay €20 per month home tax on an average home (eight times less than US average, pre-2013 we didn't have a home tax) and our car insurance runs about €550 to €750 (four times less than US average). I prefer how we calculate sales tax here on products, be it online or on the shelf, companies have to list the end price that leaves our wallets.
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For comparison last month I bought a Motorola G with those specs for $129. At the time the cheapest iPhone in the refurb store was $529.
I mean this makes complete sense as a 128GB to 256GB upgrade is $100/£100 which would put the 256GB iPhone 16 at the same price as a 256GB iPhone 17…
This is ok?
People who are now buying the 16 when the 17 is out, probably just want a new-ish iPhone and 128GB is probably more than fine for them.
They’ll install a few third party apps, get an iCloud sub and they’re good.
People who are now buying the 16 when the 17 is out, probably just want a new-ish iPhone and 128GB is probably more than fine for them.
They’ll install a few third party apps, get an iCloud sub and they’re good.
Wow, I can’t believe the day that a regular iPhone starts at 256GB has arrived! This give me hopes that the M5 Macs will finally start at 512GB… ideally at the same price.
Definitely, for those extra 100€ you not only get double the storage, but also:
- Pro Motion display
- Always-on display
- Ceramic Shield 2 glass (supposedly much more durable)
- A much more powerful A19 SoC
- Better cameras, with the ingenious square sensor for landscape selfies in portrait.
- Bigger screen for those that want more screen real state, which apparently is most people (not me).
That's an absolutely terrible comparison. The overall specs aren't close whatsoever, the materials aren't anywhere close, and the Moto G will get security updates for 3 years at best.
I ALWAYS buy the middle storage tier, because I value the peace of mind, but my 256GB iphone 13 is perpetually sitting at 120GB usage. My mom, who installs virtually zero apps and takes almost no pictures/videos is totally fine on 128GB.
I just love how people have to project their opinions or personal needs/wants on others. Not everyone cares about the lack of features (e.g. ProMotion) or needs the extra storage...or the best of this or that "for only $xx more". Some just want a phone to do basic things on and would be more than happy with a cheaper one even though it may not be the best bang for the buck.
I mean, is it really wise for them to spend extra for something they aren't going to make use of? They can use the money saved on something else that matters to them. It's so silly people get upset over this. No one is forcing you to buy this model.
I mean, is it really wise for them to spend extra for something they aren't going to make use of? They can use the money saved on something else that matters to them. It's so silly people get upset over this. No one is forcing you to buy this model.
This is a poorly worded headline. Based on some of the comments here people are reading it as if the base model's storage was cut down to 128GB. A better way to word it would have been, "iPhone 16 Now Available Only in the Lowest Capacity, 128GB," or "128GB Capacity is Now the Only iPhone 16 Storage Option."
The iPhone 16 still being sold is odd. If you are on a budget, the SE is available for cheaper. The iPhone 17 offers so much more feature wise for $100 more, but twice the base storage. If you were planning to buy a 256gb iPhone 16 for $799, why would you not just get the 17 for the same cost, it makes zero sense.
Someone who needs a new phone and cares about the price and not the latest and the greatest.
As others have said, there's a ladder of phones at $100/£100 steps (with one step missing at 899). This gives the sales people good opportunities to upsell/fit the customer niche/budget. I suspect storage is now a non-issue for most users so no longer works well as a lever for upselling. Large size likewise only seems to work well on the top tier - those who want a larger phone are willing to pay for the Pro features as well. It's a complicated lineup, though!
16e - 599
16 - 699
17 (and 16 plus) - 799
air - 999
17 pro - 1099
17 pro max - 1199
IT departments mainly, companies who need 50 or 500 phones knowing full well that the phones get beat up. Even a $100 price delta per unit is $50,000 at 500 units.
Probably parents for their kids or their parents/grandparents.
Markets outside the US with big VAT, etc.
Just because the average tech aficionado doesn’t “get it” doesn’t mean there’s not a market for it. Plus Apple probably has surplus orders/units/parts from contracts and stuff stockpiled during tariff uncertainty.
OP didn’t say “economy”, “cheap”, or “destitute”. Someone may only budget $800 towards a phone and budgets the rest for other, more important things. Please stop equating having a budget with being destitute, it’s usually quite the opposite.
Agreed, i don’t even like to let mine get to 75%. You definitely notice the slowdown as you get closer to it being full. I’m going 1TB this year for the same reason, I don’t want to have to think about it for 3+ years. I’m excited to finally have my photos stored locally again, too
Yep, £200 less maybe an ok deal, but it makes apple's memory upgrade costs even more overpriced.
The iPhone 17 is a confusingly good deal. $200 less than the Air. Only $100 more than a 256GB iPhone 16e.
Expected a $50 price jump for the 17 this year, considering that the Air was likely (and is now confirmed) to cost $999. Instead they raised base storage to 256GB/120 Hz and didn’t raise prices. Air gets all the hype but 17 is such a good value that it’s probably not even worth seeking out a used/refurbished iPhone 16 Pro, which would normally be a better option for people seeking the absolute best value for an iPhone.
Expected a $50 price jump for the 17 this year, considering that the Air was likely (and is now confirmed) to cost $999. Instead they raised base storage to 256GB/120 Hz and didn’t raise prices. Air gets all the hype but 17 is such a good value that it’s probably not even worth seeking out a used/refurbished iPhone 16 Pro, which would normally be a better option for people seeking the absolute best value for an iPhone.