High-End iPhone 7 Plus With Dual Cameras Could Be Called 'iPhone Pro'

[Jakexb]

If only one model gets the fancy camera, then what will be the headlining feature on the 7? They need something really notable and new that works across the whole lineup.

Names though, I can see the case for taking off the numbers. There's something psychological and "sequel-y" that's happening that makes each new one seem a little less exciting than the last. Doesn't the idea of an iPhone 23 seem completely silly? They're going to have to reset at some point.

 

[TC03]

Apple hasn't done this in the past but that doesn't say anything. It seems more and more likely the market is becoming a bit saturated so Apple will explore growth opportunities they haven't explored before. Apple won't sell cheap phones, so the growth has to come from raising the average sales price (ASP).

For the ASP to rise, you have to have more expensive phones in your portfolio, and phones only can become more expensive when you add in features people are willing to pay for. If the only restriction to new hardware features is price, not technical feasibility, it doesn't really make any sense to not offer it. A dual lens camera system might be such an example. Too expensive (= it would reduce margins) for the normal iPhone 7, but technically feasible, so Apple will offer it in a separate version.

They have done something similar to the iPad Pro, which is almost twice as expensive as the iPad Air, and if you believe the rumors, the the iPad Air 3 will really be a smaller iPad Pro which will be sold alongside the normal iPad Air 2 at a higher price.

Apple is all about raising the ASP these days. They did it with the iPhone 6 Plus, they did it with the iPad Pro, they did it with the Apple Watch Edition, they will do it again. I expect more of this stuff to happen.

 

[X38]

I couldn't care less what they call it, as long as the iPhone Pro (or whatever they name it) comes with a 4" screen option.

 

[samcraig]

I'll just say it. iPad Pro makes sense. But a phone is not pro or amateur to me. It's a phone.

 

[rp2011]

It makes perfect sense.
I think any future smaller iPhone should be ultra compact and be the iPhone air. The mainstream iPhone with the 4.7" screen is just the iPhone, and then the iPhone Pro.

 

[oneMadRssn]

I think Apple should make the naming uniform and get rid of the silly numbers and letters. Also time to retire the "air" moniker because it has outgrown it's usefulness.

4" iPhone
4.7" iPhone
5.5" iPhone Pro
--
7" iPad
10" iPad
13" iPad Pro
--
12" Macbook
14" Macbook
16" Macbook Pro

Between generations, the enthusiasts that care about the nitty gritty can differentiate the same way we do now with Macbooks. I.e., Early 2016, Late 2017, etc.

 

[macduke]

I don't mind paying more for an iPhone Pro. But it better also come in a 4.7" size. Apple is rumored to be doing the same thing for the iPad Pro at the event next month. Two sizes of iPad Pros: 12.9" and 9.7". Two sizes of iPads: 7.9" and 9.7". Two sizes of iPhone Pro: 5.5" and 4.7". Two sizes of iPhone: 4" and 4.7". Done.

 

[a.gomez]

there you go, lets water down the "pro" tag even more.

 

[RC Mike]

Let's just complete the cycle and toss on Platinum, Titanium, maybe regionally add a Mega or Ultra...

Simple is good.

 

[macduke]

12" Macbook
14" Macbook
16" Macbook Pro

I think the Pros should come in two sizes. I'd love a 14" MacBook Pro. A little more compact but the same resolution. Or that 16" could be a reduced bezel version that is about the same size as the current 15".

 

[samcraig]

Just to further my disbelief - I think it also sounds smug. Oh - what phone do you have? An iPhone. Oh - I have the iPhone Pro.

What makes it a Pro - it's the latest and greatest? That doesn't make it Pro. That makes it the newest release.

 

[joueboy]

Typical Tim Cook era dumbing down everything and call it pro while forgetting the need of real pros. What makes this device to be called pro again?

Edit: By the way that mockup photo of iPhone 7 Pro is stupid and ugly. It's getting annoying!

 

[Dave245]

I can see Apple doing that, the rumours of a 256GB version make sense when combined with this. A dual camera system and 256GB and call it the iPhone 7 Pro, I think it's possible that's what Apple will do.

 

[lagwagon]

Incoming all the people taking the "Pro" tag way too literally and expecting Professional things.

Apple and many companies use "Pro" as a higher spec model, and nothing more.

 

[powerbook911]

I honestly believe this could happen, a special dual lens model above the regular 7 Plus.

The thing is, if they can produce enough, the Plus should have the dual lens standard. That is the point of an iPhone, it's suppose to be the very best from Apple.

However, I can almost understand if the yield for the dual lens can't produce enough, but I'm telling you, most people are going to want the dual lens even if it's another $100 on top of the regular 7 Plus so the waits on the device would be massive.

I just think it's a shame though as we all know during some of Apple's worst years, they started this fragmentation and small differences between models.

The simplicity of before was nice, but perhaps the business isn't sustainable that way. I don't know.

 

[TC03]

I don't mind paying more for an iPhone Pro. But it better also come in a 4.7" size. Apple is rumored to be doing the same thing for the iPad Pro at the event next month. Two sizes of iPad Pros: 12.9" and 9.7". Two sizes of iPads: 7.9" and 9.7". Two sizes of iPhone Pro: 5.5" and 4.7". Two sizes of iPhone: 4" and 4.7". Done.

There probably isn't enough space in a 4.7" model.

Bigger devices have for more space which allow for more advanced stuff, stuff a 4.7" will never get. That's the reality and you better get used to it.

 

[uid15]

Yes, yes it could. It could also be called crumbly horse sheep, but won't be. Seriously, who makes up this rubbish?!

 

[LordQ]

I thought fragmentation was an Android-exclusive feature,

 

[sevimli]

My iphone6s plus has already 2 cameras? why no pro?

 

[justin216]

Apple hasn't done this in the past but that doesn't say anything. It seems more and more likely the market is becoming a bit saturated so Apple will explore growth opportunities they haven't explored before. Apple won't sell cheap phones, so the growth has to come from raising the average sales price (ASP).

For the ASP to rise, you have to have more expensive phones in your portfolio, and phones only can become more expensive when you add in features people are willing to pay for. If the only restriction to new hardware features is price, not technical feasibility, it doesn't really make any sense to not offer it. A dual lens camera system might be such an example. Too expensive (= it would reduce margins) for the normal iPhone 7, but technically feasible, so Apple will offer it in a separate version.

They have done something similar to the iPad Pro, which is almost twice as expensive as the iPad Air, and if you believe the rumors, the the iPad Air 3 will really be a smaller iPad Pro which will be sold alongside the normal iPad Air 2 at a higher price.

Apple is all about raising the ASP these days. They did it with the iPhone 6 Plus, they did it with the iPad Pro, they did it with the Apple Watch Edition, they will do it again. I expect more of this stuff to happen.

Not that I wanted to +1 on Apple raising the ASP, but this is spot on IMO.

It's probably the leading reason why we haven't seen 32GB baseline iPhones (to push people to pay more for 64GB and increase that ASP), just as a relevant example for iPhones.

 

[DTphonehome]

For all the professional cell-phone photographers out there.

 

[TC03]

The simplicity of before was nice, but perhaps the business isn't sustainable that way. I don't know.

The addressable market for Apple has perhaps increased a hundred fold. Addressing niche markets, like expensive phones with special cameras, used to be unsustainable for Apple, because the market was too small. However, if your market is >1 billion customers, even a fraction of that market can be very profitable if you cater them with niche products.

 

[ghost187]

This guy has a great source, but I feel like he adds his 2 cents to it to spice it up and totally ruins his track record.

Or his source adds a few false tidbits to keep himself anonymous.

 

[samcraig]

I thought fragmentation was an Android-exclusive feature,

It's something Apple likes to talk about while ignoring that they've been fragmented for quite some time now...

 

[justin216]

My iphone6s plus has already 2 cameras? why no pro?

I think they're referring to 2 cameras just on the rear of the device, which can be used for post-processing things, 3D shots, depth of field, etc. So 3 cameras total on the handset, if you include the front-facing shooter.