All this "cheaper" speculation should call out what they want reduced/eliminated to make them cheaper... because that's the Apple way of getting to cheaper. Some key candidates:
- Lower resolution. Cut this from 4K per eye to- say- a 1080p HD view and price could be towards comparable HD glasses/goggles already in market.
- Fewer cameras, likely reducing functionality
- Weaker SOC, likely resulting in slower responsiveness
- Cheaper build quality
- Less battery life/*battery sold separately
- No audio (bring your own)
Pick 1+ from the list and reduce the price accordingly. Those dreaming of steep price cuts are probably going to have to chop
MOST of those, especially the first 4.
Option 2: wait for first gen to be "OLD" and that usually offers a lower price when next gen or next-next gen is out. See old iDevices still for sale now. Of course, "we" can't seem to want anything less than "latest & greatest" but that is a known Apple path to cheaper.
Option 3: involve OPM (other people's money) to
subsidize it. The cell phone subsidy is about $1000. Put a cellular modem in it, offer a virtual iPhone when using it and offer it at $1000 off with 2-3 year cellular contract? I can't think of many other comparable subsidy channels: some kind of educational offering (like a school providing a "free" laptop/iPad) and Apple gets their money from the "enhanced" tuition at that school? $3,500 direct is insane, but $3500 indirect among $40K/yr tuition is "what a deal!"?
I suspect too many are believing that all features & benefits will be preserved but Apple will just cut their margin. Best I know, that has
NEVER happened... and is unlikely to start here.
Someone will refer back to the original iPhone, quickly getting a fairly steep price cut after fan "will pay anything" enthusiasm thinned out... but that's because Apple adopted the subsidy model- still getting paid in full but by AT&T... who recovered the subsidy and then some from the cell service fees sold to those iPhone buyers.
