Apple Reportedly 'Seriously' Concerned About iPhone 14 Plus Sales, Looking to Reevaluate iPhone 15 Lineup

[MacRumors]

Apple is reportedly "seriously" concerned over the sales performance of the iPhone 14 Plus, the 6.7-inch non-Pro variant of the iPhone 14 lineup. As a result, it is considering ways to restrategize its iPhone lineup for next year.

The iPhone 14 Plus is the newest addition to the iPhone lineup and replaces the 5.4-inch mini iPhone. The iPhone 14 Plus features the same design, cameras, and performance as the standard iPhone 14 but with a larger display and battery. According to a post by yeux1122 on Naver, who has shared both accurate and inaccurate information in the past, Apple is thinking of ways to reevaluate how it treats pro and non-pro iPhones for the iPhone 15.

The post outlines two possible strategies reportedly under consideration at Apple, with the first being to further differentiate the pro and non-pro iPhones, which was previously rumored by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Secondly, Apple is considering reducing the price of the Plus model of the lineup, which starts at $899, according to the post, which cites supply chain and industry sources. A price reduction of the Plus model means the standard ‌iPhone‌, which starts at $799, could also see a price decrease unless Apple wants to shrink the pricing gap between the two models.

In the last few years, Apple has shifted and reevaluated its iPhone lineup a few times. Starting with the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, Apple began offering small and large-sized iPhones before branching out and offering four models, two standard and two high-end models, with different materials, colors, and camera features. Starting with the iPhone 13 Pro, for example, Apple began to offer the same camera systems on the 6.1-inch Pro and 6.7-inch Pro Max model, unlike in previous years where more advanced camera features were reserved for only the largest iPhone.

With the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro, Apple chose to offer two standard and two high-end models with matching sizes: two 6.1-inch models and two 6.7-inch models. Both the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max feature the same cameras and designs, the only difference being a physically bigger battery in the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

The iPhone 15 is still a year away, so it's too early to know what strategy Apple will use. In one sign, however, that it's looking to unify the entire lineup, Dynamic Island is expected to come to all iPhone 15 models. For a complete rundown of everything we know so far about the iPhone 15, check out our roundup.

Article Link: Apple Reportedly 'Seriously' Concerned About iPhone 14 Plus Sales, Looking to Reevaluate iPhone 15 Lineup

 

[UltimateSyn]

They could probably get away with just 15 / 15 Pro / 15 Ultra. I wonder if the 14 Plus sales are worse than the 13 mini.

 

[BreakingKayfabe]

Even the average consumer who isn’t tech-savvy like us here know better than to purchase a 14 Plus for $899

Edited for spelling error

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Apple should consider bringing back the iPhone Mini with better battery life, camera, and so on. Call it the iPhone Pro Mini.

Also, the non-pro iPhones should strictly be reserved for the Apple event in the Spring.

 

[till]

Come on iPhone 15 Pro Mini, I'd buy one in a heartbeat.

 

[heystu]

Apple needs to stop trying to milk its fanbase - just give us a really decent iPhone 15, not Pro, not Plus, not Mini or anything else - hark back to the days of Steve Jobs - there was just one iPhone (okay already it had differing storage options...)

 

[alpi123]

Good. 4 models are too much and people are getting tired of huge phones.

 

[rorschach]

Too many options (same goes with the iPad).

The first thing Jobs did when he came back in 1997 was simplify the lineup as there were so many different products and models; they need to do that again.

 

[haydn!]

Because a lot of people don’t want/need a bigger phone. A good chunk of the Pro Plus sales will be driven (historically) by exclusive features, not just a desire for a bigger screen. The 14 Plus doesn’t much more than the 14, so for the added ££ folks are likely opting for the 14 Pro instead.

Simple too much choice with insufficient difference now.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

Too much overlap and not enough price variation in Apple’s products these days. Apple went from no choices to too many in the span of like 5 years.

SE/15/15 Pro/15 Ultra should be the lineup.

 

[fwmireault]

It is a great product, but too close to Pro prices.

Maybe Apple should accept that three flagship phones a year is enough, and offer this plus size as a SE replacement

 

[Red Oak]

The Plus is priced too close to the Pro

They should have raised the 14 Pro prices to create more of a difference. Demand for the Pro warrants that anyway

 

[k1121j]

Just make one good phone and a plus model simple

 

[AAPLGeek]

It was extremely dumb of Apple to get rid of the mini from the line-up and replace it with a giant phablet no one wants.

 

[Kkspire]

Then dynamic island on the pro model and the better display is of coarse going to canabilize that area. I doubt they didn’t know that going in.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Too many options (same goes with the iPad).

The first thing Jobs did when he came back in 1997 was simplify the lineup as there were so many different products and models; they need to do that again.

I don't think Tim Cook would allow that. He's all about volume and cannibalizing and will say there's an iPhone or an iPad for everyone. I remember when iPhone X was exclusive... I remember when the iPad was exclusive as well now we have like 8 different models of iPad. It's so confusing!

 

[sehns]

I hope it's selling worse than the Mini so they bring it back. I won't be buying a new iphone until they make the mini again

 

[Red Oak]

Apple needs to stop trying to milk its fanbase - just give us a really decent iPhone 15, not Pro, not Plus, not Mini or anything else - hark back to the days of Steve Jobs - there was just one iPhone (okay already it had differing storage options...)

Ahh, no

 

[TylerL]

Apple is slowly coming to the realization that:

• Some people like top-of-the-line Pro phones
• Some people like cheap phones

A low-end big phone is neither of these.
Make a top-of-the-line Pro phone in a smaller form factor, and I'll be there in a heartbeat.

 

[IMPOSSIBLEMAN]

So people saw big difference between pro and non-pro phones and therefore refused the non-pro yet some geniuses at Apple think: great let’s double down next year 🤣🤣

I am no genius but Apple better reduce the prices of non-pro phones next year.

 

[compwiz1202]

Even the average consumer who isn’t tech-savvy like is here know better than to purchase a 14 Plus for $899

Yea the issue is they aren't made to be bought. They're made as stepping stones to the Pros. People seem to think they are paying less for Pros if the mid tiers exist. It's still a grand or more either way.

 

[ZMacintosh]

too many phone models, too many varying sizes. even the non-Plus is a little large the Plus is just too big of a phone. I still think the iPhone 5 and 5S were the best size and style of iPhone. but the 13 mini is not bad at all, just needs a better camera which can be done.

 

[Dionte]

They put last years processors init and are surprised no one upgraded to the same thing they already had. Lol

 

[AnotherOpinion]

I think they should bring back the mini - have 3 sizes - and have the same cameras and processor in each. People that I know choose their phone based on how they physically hold it, how large or small the screen is. The speed of the processor is not as important to them. They don't see any difference. It's all about the size.

 

[Böhme417]

So, they’re supposed to widen the performance and feature gap between the regular and pro models and also introduce a more advanced ultra model? Are they hiding some secret “ultra” features or going to cripple the regular model?