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

[JoshNori]

Great idea. For me, the s-updates were always the ones to get, because they kind of had the bugs ironed out.

Also, kill the SE and make it a dedicated new design like the 5C instead if reusing the iphone 6 design for the 7th time (or, even worse, reusing the XR-design as a base for the SE4). It feels like one purpose of using the old design - besides from keeping old assembly lines - is to upsell the more expensive designs to customers. (Which probably nobody at apple will deny, but as we can see with the 14plus, just updating a few internals and upoing the price is going to fly less and less - and increasingly bad for apple's public image)

Or kill it all and release two versions:

😱

iPhone (Smaller)
iPhone (Bigger)

… and then every Android manufacturer can bother with filling in the unnecessary gaps with phony superlatives attempting to differentiate themselves.

Any other product configuration outside of this is not only obnoxious and self-cannibalizing, it wastes engineering resources that could be dedicated to new features (things that actually matter). Further, it feeds the beast of an extremely environmentally toxic and reckless, annual “I need a new phone FOMO”. The lineup becomes plain confusing and nearly impossible to differentiate, especially when these 🤡 people are selling 4 prior versions alongside one another. “This is absolutely still the latest except not the latest.” Yeah, OK dude.

That place needs a straight up intervention at this point. It’s now being run by the type of Tony Blevins-style douche👛 who is attempting to stratify the market into 85 segments when there are only actually two:

1. smaller
2. bigger.

Oh, you want a different color?
Get a case.
(Because you’re going to cover the dang thing up anyway and probably not even with a clear one.)

This has been a message sponsored by:
Common F. Sense. 🎤⬇️

 

[compwiz1202]

I really dislike the pro models heaviness. I’m surprised people don’t talk about this more.

I never noticed the weight. But even though I like large screens, I could live with them dialing back a fifth of an inch. That size I liked.

 

[nt5672]

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.

No not everyone. There is no small size for us that have and regularly use a tablet and a Mac.

 

[panther quest]

lightning.

 

[williamkey123]

I think there should be 4 to 5 models:
iPhone Ultra - the absolute newest tech in a large screen device

iPhone Pro Max - previous year's Ultra tech with this year's A series processor
iPhone Pro - same, but with a mid-size screen
iPhone Pro Mini - same, but with a small screen if possible

iPhone - previous year's processor and whatever previous year Ultra tech they can mass produce

 

[one more]

I will happily consider any fresh iPhone with 5.4”-5.8” screen, but would not really like to go any bigger, unless I have absolutely no choice.

 

[nt5672]

I feel like just adding the “pro” moniker to it will probably lead to better sales 😂


… I’m only half joking, too.

Apple should just make a sticker for that. Then you can have the Pro at a lower price point.

 

[vertsix]

 

[ghanwani]

Is the iPhone 15 delayed? If not, it’s 9 months away not 1 year as the article states.

Also, if they lower prices, expect them to also cut corners with quality which means a frustrating user experience. I hope they don’t go there.

 

[Eric_WVGG]

I wanted to get a biggie iPhone for my father for Christmas, and the iPhone 14+ was the obvious choice, but $900 is a bit extravagant for an xmas gift… then I saw that I could get a refurb 12 Pro Max for $600, so that became an easy decision.

(of course, the first thing my father asks is if it has that new satellite rescue system, "did you hear about that family? 400 feet off a cliff! I grew up out there, etc!!"… sigh)

Anyway, that's just my roundabout way of saying basic non-Pro iPhones are so expensive now that it makes a lot of sense to either bump up to this year's Pro, or bump down to something affordable. I get "umbrella pricing" but right now what should be the best-selling phone looks like the worst value.

 

[krspkbl]

as long as they don't bring back the mini...

they should just do SE / 15 / Pro / Ultra

if you want a small phone get the SE. the SE shouldn't be a yearly release. maybe every 2 years.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

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

That'll annoy people. Most people want a big screen and a good camera. My Mother-in-law being a perfect example.

If iPhone SE Plus costs $500, and the next Plus size phone is a $600 upgrade, that'll annoy people. She doesn't need a great screen, or even know how to use apps. She just wants a large screen so that she can see it, and a good camera to take photos with.

 

[Unami]

Go with the wine options in a restaurant - Cheap, medium and expensive

Great idea. At the moment it's "expensive for what you get", expensive and even more expensive.

 

[Realityck]

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.

Is the demand slipping away because consumers can’t have a good smaller iPhone? The iPhone 14 plus was a interesting marketing attempt, but people liked the iPhone 12/13 choices better with the Mini.

 

[ray6088]

Give me iPhone 15 pro mini with aluminum.
iPhone 15
iPhone 15 pro mini
iPhone 15 pro
iPhone 15 pro max

 

[fel10]

I think there should be 4 to 5 models:
iPhone Ultra - the absolute newest tech in a large screen device

iPhone Pro Max - previous year's Ultra tech with this year's A series processor
iPhone Pro - same, but with a mid-size screen
iPhone Pro Mini - same, but with a small screen if possible

iPhone - previous year's processor and whatever previous year Ultra tech they can mass produce

Well, it’s a good thing you are not running Apple. Less is more.

 

[turbineseaplane]

But I'm literally just waiting for you to add USB-C at this point, seems silly to upgrade until you do that now with knowing it's coming soon and EU laws changing.

Maybe you are in the EU, I’m not sure?

I am not yet fully convinced that it’s coming for sure to the US models
Apple’s desire for nickel and diming (mFI license revenue) and being petty are always surprising to me.

 

[rjtyork]

Pro mini is all I want. please please PLEASE

 

[Asbow]

Whole Apple line up too complex.

Should be easier to find what you need.

iPhone
iPhone Pro
iPhone Pro Max

MacBook (which is the current Air)
MacBook Pro 14
MacBook Pro 16

Mac (replaces Mac mini but in a keyboard form factor like Apple II)
iMac
Mac Studio
Mac Pro

iPad (which is the current iPad Air)
iPad mini
iPad Pro 11
iPad Pro 12

Done.

I got rid of the iPhone Plus and I renamed the two Air products, got rid of MacBook Pro 13, and got rid of the out of date tapered iPad design.

Phones
iPhone SE (11/12/13/14/15)
iPhone (Pro and Pro Max)

Tablets
iPad SE (iPad)
iPad (Air)
iPad Studio (Pro)

SE has history and makes sense. Pro Max sounds like a brand of trainer or a protein bar.

 

[SkippyThorson]

• iPhone Mini - Aluminum, 5.4”, $499
• iPhone Pro - Steel, 6.1” $799
• iPhone Ultra - Titanium, 6.7”, $1,099

The iPhone product range is due for a cleanup and reintroduction of differentiating model names.

Storage and battery life would be tiered appropriately in three $100 increments.

Natural upsell happens at the crossover point between the highest storage tier and the lowest cost of the next model. iPhone SE and home button is eliminated.

Mini is marketed in its place and also becomes the core carrier subsidy model. Pro Max is dropped as a name entirely. Each new model size has its own name.

—

Apple needs to simplify things. The iPhone lineup (and its pricing structure) is becoming as convoluted and idiotic as the iPad(s). Apple has proven for years that multiple entry-level iPhones are just redundant.

Jobs did marketing right. Cook’s strategy of product ranges is unnecessarily messy.

 

[lJoSquaredl]

Maybe you are in the EU, I’m not sure?

I am not yet fully convinced that it’s coming for sure to the US models
Apple’s desire for nickel and diming (mFI license revenue) and being petty are always surprising to me.

I don't live in EU, but I may move to EU, wouldn't mind USB-C since everything else I use has it, and if I resale to anyone other than Apple it'll be like selling a TV that isn't smart. Just makes it easier if I wait, it's no sweat for me to wait since phones have basically been the same for almost a decade now anyways. (for my use case anyways)

And if they only add USB-C on EU models I feel like I'm gonna see this same headline next year as well.

 

[vertsix]

 

[d5aqoëp]

I’m sure the uncertainty of 2023 (psst recession) has absolutely nothing to do with people skipping this generation. /s

There is no recession or uncertainty. A$$***e companies need to reduce their product prices and CEOs need to smoke less cigars and take a salary cut. Nothing more to it.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I don't live in EU, but I may move to EU, wouldn't mind USB-C since everything else I use has it

Oh, don’t get me wrong I would totally prefer USB-C on all of their devices at this point.

I’m just skeptical they are going to do it and they can be so petty when it comes to regulations

In reality, most of the regulation coming down on them is because they didn’t do something themselves sooner.

We shouldn’t have any Apple devices with slow USB and Lightning still.
They are just being cheap

 

[RSB96]

I think there are too many choices for the consumer. It's true that the consumer has changed since the iPhone was launched, and I don't think one iPhone a year (or two if I dare) will meet the different needs of potential customers.

The issue is price and what you get for it. The iPhone 14 is an iPhone 13 and people buy the 13 because it is the same and cheaper, because the few new features are irrelevant to a " average" user. The 14 Plus is still a big iPhone 13. At least in Europe, the 13 Pro/Pro Max have been liquidating at very attractive prices, so people have been opting for these models outside the Apple Store.

The 14 Pro/Pro Max will be selling well, but I still think that focusing exclusively on the "Pro" range is a mistake, since it is true that the average price will go up, but over time it will suffer, since if you do not cover the "normal" range if users for whatever reason do not revamp their "Pro" as much as Apple would like, there are not going to be high prices to justify the product and compensate for the lack of "entry-level" or "standard" products.

An iPhone SE is needed, an iPhone Xr with A15, 5G an improved camera and the latest software. For 489/529 euros it would be a success, and would open market especially to the teenage audience. But not only teenagers, but older people who want an iPhone to have an Apple Watch, or people who want iOS but do not want to pay what the more expensive models cost.

As for the "standard" iPhone, why not make a 6.4" iPhone with smaller bezels that more or less keeps the current size of the 6.1" model? It would be sized more or less in line with the competition, neither small nor large, with a good battery and that more or less everyone would like. 700/750 euros.

Finally the Pro/Ultra range, with the well-known 6.1" (with reduced bezels, it could have a slightly smaller size and attract fans of the iPhone X/Xs) and the 6.7" iPhone, which would be the "best iPhone ever". 1000/1100 the small one and 1300 the big one.

4 models, a cheap one, a standard one and the Pro/Ultra.

I don't think that having mini and plus sizes, and being all in such close prices is good for the consumer, and in the end neither the mini nor the plus sell well because in the end "for little more" you have the Pro and in relation to the 14 "for little less" you have the iPhone 13, which is "the same".