iPhone 7/Plus Due an upgrade but my conscious is fighting with me.

[FFR]

Wow, that is quite surprising, $849 for a 64gb 5!

Surprising isn’t it.

Although whilst it is the same storage it is not quite comparing apples with apples (yes, I know 64 v 64 is exactly the same but hear me out!)

I’m sorry but you are incorrect. It is a direct apple to apple comparison.

Because if you look at it objectively you get so much more today with the iPhone Xs 64gb than you did with the iPhone 5 64gb in 2012 all for $150 dollars more.

because at the time of the 5, 64gb was top end so really the price should be compared with the top end xs which is £1,349; 64gb back then got you a lot more than 64gb does now so in effect you should really compare the bottom end of both, ie. iphone 5 $649 v iphone xs $999 which does show a massive increase in the price of the entry level phone of the latest model.

No, that is incorrect, your talking about storage tiers while the op has claimed apple has increased iPhone prices out of greed or profit that statement is factually false and misleading.

What Apple has done is eliminated the lower memory tiers and replaced it with a new model the iPhone xr.

Back in 2012, apple only offered one iPhone. Today they offer 6 different iPhones in a multitude of price tiers.

The iPhone has not increased in price it actually is very comparable to 2012, and your getting so much more for $150 today compared to 2011 with the iPhone 5.

 

[Mac2019]

Surprising isn’t it.



I’m sorry but you are incorrect. It is a direct apple to apple comparison.

Because if you look at it objectively you get so much more today with the iPhone Xs 64gb than you did with the iPhone 5 64gb in 2012 all for $150 dollars more.




No, that is incorrect, your talking about storage tiers while the op has claimed apple has increased iPhone prices out of greed or profit that statement is factually false and misleading.

What Apple has done is eliminated the lower memory tiers and replaced it with a new model the iPhone xr.

Back in 2012, apple only offered one iPhone. Today they offer 6 different iPhones in a multitude of price tiers.

The iPhone has not increased in price it actually is very comparable to 2012, and your getting so much more for $150 today compared to 2011 with the iPhone 5.

Hmm, I disagree. I am not talking about other aspects of the phone, purely memory. It stands to reason that there are going to be more and better features now than there were a few years ago but in terms of memory a really crude example would be to say that what would have used 1gb 5 years ago uses 4gb now therefore the 16 and 64 models are comparable. This could clearly lead to a much larger conversation about technology but my point was to compare the entry level models in terms of capacity, and I stand by that.

 

[bluecoast]

Surprising isn’t it.



I’m sorry but you are incorrect. It is a direct apple to apple comparison.

Because if you look at it objectively you get so much more today with the iPhone Xs 64gb than you did with the iPhone 5 64gb in 2012 all for $150 dollars more.




No, that is incorrect, your talking about pricing tiers while the op has claimed apple has increased iPhone prices out of greed or profit that statement is factually false and misleading.

What Apple has done is eliminated the lower memory tiers and replaced it with a new model the iPhone xr.

Back in 2012, apple only offered one iPhone. Today they offer 6 different iPhones in a multitude of price tiers.

The iPhone has not increased in price it actually is very comparable to 2012, and your getting so much more for $150 today compared to 2011 with the iPhone 5.

I'm not sure that I follow your logic here. It's typical that as the years go by you get more bang for your buck with storage & processor speed etc. at roughly the same price points. That's been the story of consumer electronics since at least the start of this century.

Even if you take the mid-tier iPhone 6 Plus 64GB (UK) launch price which was £699, it's still cheaper than the 7R (which I think is the true successor to Plus phones).

I'd expect the entry level 7R price to still be matching (or near enough) the entry level price of the 6 i.e. to be around £600-650.

Especially given the volume of scale that Apple operates at now regarding the iPhone (i.e. operating at scale usually leads to manufacturing and component discounts).

 

[FFR]

Hmm, I disagree. I am not talking about other aspects of the phone, purely memory. It stands to reason that there are going to be more and better features now than there were a few years ago but in terms of memory a really crude example would be to say that what would have used 1gb 5 years ago uses 4gb now therefore the 16 and 64 models are comparable. This could clearly lead to a much larger conversation about technology but my point was to compare the entry level models in terms of capacity, and I stand by that.

Your confusing pricing tiers and storage tiers.

They are not interchangeable

 

[Menel]

I’m due an upgrade now on my iPhone 7. I can afford the XS / R but alarm bells are going off in my head and that little voice is telling me not to do it.

It’s about the damn cost, wasting that money on a phone, no phone is worth £1000+ but that’s just my opinion. Add to that I get the feeling Apple has turned to greed, it’s all about money and profits now.

So I have this battle going on in my head, did anyone else suffer this? I’m also on a great plan which I’ll lose if I upgrade, unlimited calls and sms, 6gb data for £21 pm

It's more than a 'phone'. Full fledged pocket computer. For many, it's a primary method of communication and accessing information. Email, websites, banking, on and on. Photos, videos, capturing memories.

It has way more capacity than a $1,000 BestBuy special shelf computer in the photography realm alone, let alone the persistent connectivity.

 

[Shanghaichica]

I don’t think there’s any point in trying to sugar coat things. The pricing for the X/Xs/Xs Max has increased dramatically in comparison to older iPhones. The X is now an ultra premium flagship phone. Apple can get away with their pricing because people are quite clearly willing to pay for it.

 

[FFR]

I'm not sure that I follow your logic here. It's typical that as the years go by you get more bang for your buck with storage & processor speed etc. at roughly the same price points. That's been the story of consumer electronics since at least the start of this century.

Even if you take the mid-tier iPhone 6 Plus 64GB (UK) launch price which was £699, it's still cheaper than the 7R (which I think is the true successor to Plus phones).

I'd expect the entry level 7R price to still be matching (or near enough) the entry level price of the 6 i.e. to be around £600-650.

Especially given the volume of scale that Apple operates at now regarding the iPhone (i.e. operating at scale usually leads to manufacturing and component discounts).

The logic is sound.

Storage tiers
An iPhone 5 64gb cost $849 in 2012
An iPhone Xs 64gb costs $999 in 2018.

An appropriate comparison.

This is what is being argued by the other poster

Lowest Pricing tiers:
An iPhone 5 16gb cost $649 in 2012
An iPhone Xs 64gb costs $999 in 2018.

But that is not a appropriate comparaison, because pricing tiers:
2012 iPhone 5
2018 iPhone xr, iPhone X’s, iPhone max

There are 3 different pricing tiers that apple offers in 2018 vs 1 in 2012.

If he wanted to compare the lowest pricing tier:
An iPhone 5 16gb cost $649 in 2012
An iPhone Xr 64gb costs $749 in 2018

Does that explain it?

 

[blwade]

I was in a similar situation to you.. had an iPhone 7+.. it was still working well, but I’m a techie and loved the improvements with the X and couldn’t wait to upgrade this year. I do wish the prices came down this year.. I was hoping the rumors were true! I cringed seeing the $1250 price tag for 256gb Max. In the end, I can afford it, I knew I’d enjoy it, and I knew my MiL needed a new phone. So, she was going to get my 7+ when I upgraded.. until i found out about Verizon’s offer of buy one, get one.. now she’s getting a free 8+ and I’m selling my 7+ to another family member.

In the end, it’s just a phone. But my perspective is if you can afford it and you will enjoy it, go for it! The XR does seem like a really good option for getting most of the perks of the XS in a cheaper body!

 

[jdsmitty10]

Cost never seems to be an issue for me upgrading every two years. Back when you got base models for $200 I always was able to even that out selling my used one on ebay for that or more. Last upgrade I did before the XS was for the 7 and verizon offered that trade in deal that paid for the 7 over two years so my overall cell phone payment went down by 20-30 bucks per month trading in two IP6 for two IP7 and switching to the "new plan" they had.. no brainer. This time I switched carriers to Xfinity mobile so same thing my overall cell payment is about the same for the latest and greatest tech.. No brainer.. Yes I could have switched to Xfinity and kept my 7 and literally only paid for the $12/gig plan(we only us 2 per month and had a $24 cell bill) but I like upgrading every 2 and my payment stays about the same usually. or goes down..

 

[Mac2019]

The logic is sound.

Storage tiers
An iPhone 5 64gb cost $849 in 2012
An iPhone Xs 64gb costs $999 in 2018.

An appropriate comparison.

This is what is being argued by the other poster

Lowest Pricing tiers:
An iPhone 5 16gb cost $649 in 2012
An iPhone Xs 64gb costs $999 in 2018.

But that is not a appropriate comparaison, because pricing tiers:
2012 iPhone 5
2018 iPhone xr, iPhone X’s, iPhone max

There are 3 different pricing tiers that apple offers in 2018 vs 1 in 2012.

If he wanted to compare the lowest pricing tier:
An iPhone 5 16gb cost $649 in 2012
An iPhone Xr 64gb costs $749 in 2018

Does that explain it?

I get that but the discussion was around the xs, not the xr. Hence the comparison between xs and 5. Regardless, I think we can all agree that they are massively overpriced but this is irrelevant as enough people will pay. I moan about the price but I imagine I will cave in at some point.

 

[Michael Scrip]

I'm grappling with the same dilemma. Currently using a 6 and want an upgrade but 1k is just absurd. I can afford it and it won't make a difference to any other part of my financial life but justifying is so difficult. The way I am convincing myself is that I will likely have it for 3 years so writing that cost off over that period is £333 per year which is much more palatable. It is that aspect that is convincing me to go for the xs rather than the x (£50/year saving).

You've got the right idea. And here's another way to think about it:

If you've used an iPhone 6 for a few years with its A8 processor and only 1GB of RAM...

...the iPhone XS with its A12 processor and 4GB of RAM will definitely last for the next few years or longer.

I understand £1,000 is a lot of money... but you are getting a hell of a phone for that money. It'll be an incredible upgrade from the iPhone 6.

Or if you're still worried about spending £1,000... the iPhone XR has the same processor, same main camera and 3GB of RAM for only £750.

So the XR would still be a worthwhile upgrade from the iPhone 6.

Either way... if you keep a phone for 2-3 years... the cost isn't that much over time. So you might as well get a phone you enjoy to hold in your hand all-day every-day.

 

[Mac2019]

I was in a similar situation to you.. had an iPhone 7+.. it was still working well, but I’m a techie and loved the improvements with the X and couldn’t wait to upgrade this year. I do wish the prices came down this year.. I was hoping the rumors were true! I cringed seeing the $1250 price tag for 256gb Max. In the end, I can afford it, I knew I’d enjoy it, and I knew my MiL needed a new phone. So, she was going to get my 7+ when I upgraded.. until i found out about Verizon’s offer of buy one, get one.. now she’s getting a free 8+ and I’m selling my 7+ to another family member.

In the end, it’s just a phone. But my perspective is if you can afford it and you will enjoy it, go for it! The XR does seem like a really good option for getting most of the perks of the XS in a cheaper body!

Whilst I am trying to resist, this is the mindset I have. I will end up asking myself the following questions to see whether I should:
1. Can I afford it? Yes.
2. Will it be to the detriment of something more important (mortgage, bills, food, holiday etc.)? No
3. Will it be the detriment of my financial health at retirement? Yes, but only the value of the difference between the iphone and whatever cheaper android alternative I opt for (adjusted for inflation), so not major.

 

[EugW]

I was in a similar situation to you.. had an iPhone 7+.. it was still working well, but I’m a techie and loved the improvements with the X and couldn’t wait to upgrade this year. I do wish the prices came down this year.. I was hoping the rumors were true! I cringed seeing the $1250 price tag for 256gb Max. In the end, I can afford it, I knew I’d enjoy it, and I knew my MiL needed a new phone. So, she was going to get my 7+ when I upgraded.. until i found out about Verizon’s offer of buy one, get one.. now she’s getting a free 8+ and I’m selling my 7+ to another family member.

In the end, it’s just a phone. But my perspective is if you can afford it and you will enjoy it, go for it! The XR does seem like a really good option for getting most of the perks of the XS in a cheaper body!

I won’t enjoy it if I know I’m being ripped off. So I didn’t buy anything to replace my 7 Plus. I’m a techie too.

 

[Mac2019]

You've got the right idea. And here's another way to think about it:

If you've used an iPhone 6 for a few years with its A8 processor and only 1GB of RAM...

...the iPhone XS with its A12 processor and 4GB of RAM will definitely last for the next few years or longer.

I understand £1,000 is a lot of money... but you are getting a hell of a phone for that money. It'll be an incredible upgrade from the iPhone 6.

Or if you're still worried about spending £1,000... the iPhone XR has the same processor, same main camera and 3GB of RAM for only £750.

So the XR would still be a worthwhile upgrade from the iPhone 6.

Either way... if you keep a phone for 2-3 years... the cost isn't that much over time. So you might as well get a phone you enjoy to hold in your hand all-day every-day.

Totally agree. I like the price of the xr but the size is offputting.

Absolutely agree about the time I'll have it; the 6 is still ok and have had it 3years 3 months, so 3 years for an xs has to be a minimum.

I do sometimes think that my ipad air 2 was £449 which is so much better value than a phone and I could get a MacBook for the price of an xs, but I then think "I use my phone so, so, so much more" so it really isn't a worthwhile comparison.

 

[Menel]

I don’t think there’s any point in trying to sugar coat things. The pricing for the X/Xs/Xs Max has increased dramatically in comparison to older iPhones. The X is now an ultra premium flagship phone. Apple can get away with their pricing because people are quite clearly willing to pay for it.

Apple always sold ultra premium flagships.
Adjusted for inflation, iPhone 3g base model would be more than the cost of base model iPhone XR.
IPhones have gotten cheaper, and far more capable with so much more tech baked in.
IPhone XS has more premium materials and tech and the 250 premium over the base isnt that hard ro justify.

 

[blwade]

I won’t enjoy it if I know I’m being ripped off. So I didn’t buy anything to replace my 7 Plus. I’m a techie too.

Fair enough.

My thinking is that I don’t see apples phones decreasing in price. I’d be more than happy to be wrong though... so, not buying in purely because of price seems to just push off the same problem until next year. Eventually, you give in or find an alternative to buying the flagship model the year it’s released (i.e. buying an XR or a used/new previously released device). I suppose you may also catch a good deal during the year at some other retailer.

 

[Mac2019]

Fair enough.

My thinking is that I don’t see apples phones decreasing in price. I’d be more than happy to be wrong though... so, not buying in purely because of price seems to just push off the same problem until next year. Eventually, you give in or find an alternative to buying the flagship model the year it’s released (i.e. buying an XR or a used/new previously released device). I suppose you may also catch a good deal during the year at some other retailer.

Agreed and there is no reason for them to decrease in price; a company only does this when decreasing sales results in lower profits and I don't think many of Apple's shareholders are too concerned about this at the current time! After all, they're a company who have managed to brainwash the world's population, not a charity!

 

[apolloa]

I’m not really bothered about the length of my contracts because I always pay them off well before they end. My new monthly payments are less than I was paying for the X. When I want to upgrade I just pay off the phone and then upgrade to want I want. I just paid off my X and upgraded to the Max.

Cool, however I was quoting another poster and replying to them plus in the U.K. it’s different to the US, you can’t just pay off your contract when you like. If you do you are charged at minimum the full remaining cost of the contract and a bit more.

 

[Farrgazer]

If budget were a bigger issue, and if my mother-in-law didn’t need my wife’s hand-me-down phone, then maybe it’d make sense keeping that 6s another year too. Performance of iOS 12 is very decent on the 6s too.

It’s funny you should mention this - I’m looking at an inadvertent upgrade myself because my mother is having trouble with Touch ID on her 8+. Maybe it’s because she’s approaching sixty, but she told me she had issues whenever she spends a lot of time with her hands wet or doing a lot of cooking or dishes.

I’m waiting for the XR to go on sale so I can get that for her and take her 8+, thereby upgrading from a 6S.

 

[bluecoast]

The logic is sound.

Storage tiers
An iPhone 5 64gb cost $849 in 2012
An iPhone Xs 64gb costs $999 in 2018.

An appropriate comparison.

This is what is being argued by the other poster

Lowest Pricing tiers:
An iPhone 5 16gb cost $649 in 2012
An iPhone Xs 64gb costs $999 in 2018.

But that is not a appropriate comparaison, because pricing tiers:
2012 iPhone 5
2018 iPhone xr, iPhone X’s, iPhone max

There are 3 different pricing tiers that apple offers in 2018 vs 1 in 2012.

If he wanted to compare the lowest pricing tier:
An iPhone 5 16gb cost $649 in 2012
An iPhone Xr 64gb costs $749 in 2018

Does that explain it?

Yes, sure, that explains it.

My issue is that I think that the 5 is the wrong phone to compare it with and something like the 6 is a better comparison.

Why?

• The amount of iPhone 5 units shipped per year is going to be vastly lower than the iPhone units per year, in the last few years.
• I'd say that the 6 Plus is a better model to compare it with as you have (roughly) the same sort of components as the 7R - minus of course the FaceID component (but you could argue that this is the successor to Touch ID which of course was present in the 6 but is replaced by FaceID in the 7R)
• As I argued in my last post, usually the more units that you are shipping, economy of scale kicks in and thus you can pass the cost (EDIT: savings) back to the consumer...
• ...Yet Apple doesn't seem to be doing this

Basically I would contend that this year's pricing is more about Apple buffering/increasing their share price and increasing their profit margin as they anticipate a levelling off growth of the smartphone market, than anything else.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Cool, however I was quoting another poster and replying to them plus in the U.K. it’s different to the US, you can’t just pay off your contract when you like. If you do you are charged at minimum the full remaining cost of the contract and a bit more.

I’m on the refresh plan with o2 so your phone is on a plan and your service is on another plan. If you want to pay off the phone you only have to pay off the phone part. There are no added charges and the service part of the contract is waived once you pay off the phone.

 

[EugW]

Fair enough.

My thinking is that I don’t see apples phones decreasing in price. I’d be more than happy to be wrong though... so, not buying in purely because of price seems to just push off the same problem until next year. Eventually, you give in or find an alternative to buying the flagship model the year it’s released (i.e. buying an XR or a used/new previously released device). I suppose you may also catch a good deal during the year at some other retailer.

I prefer the Apple ecosystem but I’m not completely locked in. If Apple’s product vs price offerings don’t impress me next year, either I’ll hold off longer or else buy an Android phone.

Prior to last year I would not have considered switching. However pricing now is just ridiculous.

 

[bluecoast]

I prefer the Apple ecosystem but I’m not completely locked in. If Apple’s product vs price offerings don’t impress me next year, either I’ll hold off longer or else buy an Android phone.

Prior to last year I would not considered switching. However pricing now is just ridiculous.

Agreed.

I'm hoping that next March sees a hybrid 4.7 inch 7/8 iPhone (i.e. similar to the SE being a hybrid 5S & 6S), at least (and with just haptic touch, no doubt).

Not that I'd probably buy this, but at least it would be a sign that Apple intends to still occupy the low to mid range priced smartphone market with new models. And I'd imagine that if Apple did produce such a device, it would basically be as a 7/8 replacement that was easier/cheaper to produce (i.e. with no 3D Touch layer on the LCD).

Then I'd hope for a smaller R series phone i.e. more the size between the SE & the current 4.7 inch phones in either Sept 19 or March 2020 <<< what I really want.

Until then, I just can't see myself upgrading - for me, it's just a smartphone and not my primary computing device, so I wouldn't be looking at paying primary computing device level prices for my phone.

 

[EugW]

Agreed.

I'm hoping that next March sees a hybrid 4.7 inch 7/8 iPhone (i.e. similar to the SE being a hybrid 5S & 6S), at least (and with just haptic touch, no doubt).

Not that I'd probably buy this, but at least it would be a sign that Apple intends to still occupy the low to mid range priced smartphone market with new models. And I'd imagine that if Apple did produce such a device, it would basically be as a 7/8 replacement that was easier/cheaper to produce (i.e. with no 3D Touch layer on the LCD).

Then I'd hope for a smaller R series phone i.e. more the size between the SE & the current 4.7 inch phones in either Sept 19 or March 2020 <<< what I really want.

Until then, I just can't see myself upgrading - for me, it's just a smartphone and not my primary computing device, so I wouldn't be looking at paying primary computing device level prices for my phone.

My prediction is a 2019 5.5” LCD little brother to the XS, priced $100 less than the XR (which is the 6.1” LCD little brother to the Max).

That doesn’t help me though. Apple needs to either throw us a bone and make the entry level OLED 128 GB or else lower the OLED iPhones $100 across the board.

 

[Falhófnir]

Because if you look at it objectively you get so much more today with the iPhone Xs 64gb than you did with the iPhone 5 64gb in 2012 all for $150 dollars more.

Ah but then that isn’t an exact like for like comparison is it? You’re comparing the base model X to the highest tier 5 - while the capacity is the same, 64 GB on the X is more like 16GB on the 5 once you take 4K60 video, Live Photo’s and larger app sizes into account. Mental contortion shouldn’t be necessary to justify something, if you want it, get it and just accept the value proposition has tanked but it’s your money and you’re treating yourself... or don’t get it because you realise actually the phone you have is just fine and you’ve got better things to spend £1,000 on.