iPhone XR If the iPhone XR is the “cheaper” iPhone X many customers have wanted, why are sales reportedly slow

[teknikal90]

The price didn't change much between 2016 and 2017 either. But bunch of tech could include the first generation neural engine.

top of line iphone 4s to 5s to 6 to 7... all costed around $700. Those generational updates were huge leaps too. All big leaps like iPhone 7 to iPhone X.
But the leap to iPhone X pushed the cost from $700 to $999.

Instead they pulled a sleight of hand on you by adding a glass back to the iPhone 7 and naming it iPhone 8 and calling that phone the next gen leap with the same pricing.

It's a brilliant marketing strategy really.

First generation neural engine is a leap forward yes. But that's par for the course in tech. That kind of leap is meant to happen so you buy the new version. Like Siri on the 4s, retina display on the 4, touchID on the 5s. But did any of those phones cause the price to jump almost 45%??

 

[Glideslope]

I think the resolution of the display hyped up turning people off and the delayed release next to xs/max also

People who got x last year mostly don’t wanna fork over. People who skipped x and got xs/max definitely don’t wanna fork over. And people who upgraded x to Xs don’t either

By in large

I think $699 psychologically (since apple is really into marketing prices right now with trade in value) would’ve resonated much more than $749 even though its “just“ $50

And they should’ve dropped price on 8plus even more as well or even kept them same price to de incentivize people from getting older models brand new even further

Agree completely. I've stated all along the XR not starting at $699 would have a significant psychological barrier perception problem. Just one of many marketing blunders by Apple in 2018.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

It's not a perception that iphones have gone up in price. I've never debated that point. What the next earnings call will look like is anybody's guess.

I think it’s a perception because I hear a lot of people saying it in conversation and the articles in the UK often suggest iPhones are now more expensive. Whether Apple do well overall is by the by. The latest iPhones do not appear to be dominating the public space like they used to and that’s an observation.

 

[AVonGauss]

Deleted.

 

[Mcmeowmers]

1.) Analaysts also said the 2017 iPhone X would be a failure and yet, Cook stated the X became the best selling iPhone in the first quarter of 2018.

2.) Analaysts also said the Apple Watch would flop, and it’s now one of the top selling smart watches in the world.

Don’t rely on what Analaysts always say. The XR _long_ term, will do very well and easily outsell the XS. Also, just an FYI, there are other threads in progress discussing similar threads to yours.

Devil is in the details."Best selling...iphone...in the first quarter... of 2018"
It simply sold more than OTHER iPhones in a similar time period for THAT year. They could have sold 3 iPhone X's and one other iPhone and that statement is true. While in 2017 they could have sold 2 of the other iPhone. Don't eat up Tim's carefully chosen parameters.

 

[dazz87]

bezels and 820p screen in 2018 for $800.00...........People are not that stupid.

 

[I7guy]

top of line iphone 4s to 5s to 6 to 7... all costed around $700. Those generational updates were huge leaps too. All big leaps like iPhone 7 to iPhone X.
But the leap to iPhone X pushed the cost from $700 to $999.

Instead they pulled a sleight of hand on you by adding a glass back to the iPhone 7 and naming it iPhone 8 and calling that phone the next gen leap with the same pricing.

It's a brilliant marketing strategy really.

First generation neural engine is a leap forward yes. But that's par for the course in tech. That kind of leap is meant to happen so you buy the new version. Like Siri on the 4s, retina display on the 4, touchID on the 5s. But did any of those phones cause the price to jump almost 45%??

I attempted to put together the top of the line iphones since the iphone 5 in 2012. As you can see the iphone 5 in 2012 cost $849. The iphone 8+ 256 cost $949. The iphone X was a $200 bump from the 8+. Xs a $200 bump from the X and the max a $300 dollar bump from the X. So between 2012 and 2018 the price of the top of the line iphone went from $849 to $1449. Unreasonable? Don't know, depending if you believe the cameras, 6.5 inch oled screen, etc are worth the money.

• iphone 5 64 849
• iphone 5s 64 849
• iphone 6 128 849
• iphone 6+ 128 949
• iphone 6s 128 850
• iphone 6s+ 128 950
• iphone 7 256 849
• iphone 7+ 256 969
• iphone 8 256 849
• iphone 8+ 256 949
• iphone x 1149
• iphone xr 899
• iphone xs 1349
• iphone xs max 1449

 

[teknikal90]

I attempted to put together the top of the line iphones since the iphone 5 in 2012. As you can see the iphone 5 in 2012 cost $849. The iphone 8+ 256 cost $949. The iphone X was a $200 bump from the 8+. Xs a $200 bump from the X and the max a $300 dollar bump from the X. So between 2012 and 2018 the price of the top of the line iphone went from $849 to $1449. Unreasonable? Don't know, depending if you believe the cameras, 6.5 inch oled screen, etc are worth the money.

• iphone 5 64 849
• iphone 5s 64 849
• iphone 6 128 849
• iphone 6+ 128 949
• iphone 6s 128 850
• iphone 6s+ 128 950
• iphone 7 256 849
• iphone 7+ 256 969
• iphone 8 256 849
• iphone 8+ 256 949
• iphone x 1149
• iphone xr 899
• iphone xs 1349
• iphone xs max 1449

do the same list but all of them with top of the line memory and you can see it better. this list makes no sense as you're using top of the line memory for 7 but then used entry level memory for X.

64gb memory in 2014 =/= 64gb memory in 2018. Just like how RAM increases year over year. Again, that's expected growth, not one that warrants the +45% price premium.

And stick with using the normal size phones, not the plus or max. I agree those two are 'premium' options. Which is fine. What I'm not fine with is introducing a 'super premium' option like the X, then taking out the 'normal' option, making the 'super premium' option now the default. Which is what they did with the X->Xs. That's just a price bump.

 

[AlexJoda]

The XR offers no real improvement over a three year old iPhone 6S Plus when texting, calling, playing games, listening to music, and watching videos.

When it comes to taking pictures, the iPhone XR’s zoom, both digital and optical, is inferior to the 2 year old 7 Plus model and is $180 more expensive.

Other than cosmetics, the average person has no real reason to abandon their older 6S to 8 iPhone for a XR. If they have a 6 or older, there is no compelling reason no to get an iPhone 7 or 8 for cheaper.

The XR offers no real improvement over a three year old iPhone 6S Plus when texting, calling, playing games, listening to music, and watching videos.

When it comes to taking pictures, the iPhone XR’s zoom, both digital and optical, is inferior to the 2 year old 7 Plus model and is $180 more expensive.

Other than cosmetics, the average person has no real reason to abandon their older 6S to 8 iPhone for a XR. If they have a 6 or older, there is no compelling reason no to get an iPhone 7 or 8 for cheaper.

If you want to replace a 4 year old phone because you bought it new 4 years ago you don’t want to replace it with a two year old phone. That doesn’t make sense....

 

[CTHarrryH]

For me the XR is too big - I'd like a phone smaller than the X not bigger.
Also a significant number of people don't buy a phone every year anyway. Buying a new phone every year makes it even more "expensive".

 

[Totally]

I'm another vote for it's too big. I don't want to spend $1000 on a phone not including tax. And I don't want to buy the iPhone XR because they made it too big. So I'm not buying either. In fact, thus far I'm still holding my SE. If they made the iPhone XR in the same form factor as the X/XS, I bet it would sell better. But then it would cannibalize XS sales more probably.

 

[I7guy]

do the same list but all of them with top of the line memory and you can see it better. this list makes no sense as you're using top of the line memory for 7 but then used entry level memory for X.

That is the list, top of the line memory.

64gb memory in 2014 =/= 64gb memory in 2018. Just like how RAM increases year over year. Again, that's expected growth, not one that warrants the +45% price premium.

The bump prior to 2018 was $100 for the next memory size.

And stick with using the normal size phones, not the plus or max. I agree those two are 'premium' options. Which is fine. What I'm not fine with is introducing a 'super premium' option like the X, then taking out the 'normal' option, making the 'super premium' option now the default. Which is what they did with the X->Xs. That's just a price bump.

Maybe it should be said, the apple really didn't increase prices dramatically over the years until 2017. The price was proportionally higher due to OLED, imo. You are welcome to put together your list showing your own narrative.

 

[eyeseeyou]

Marketed incorrectly and too many overlapping features with the “premium” models.

If they stuffed all of the xr features into a iPhone 5 body style with more aggressive pricing I think they would’ve sold like hot cakes

 

[magicschoolbus]

It’s called fatigue. Nobody (outside of phone supernerds) is excited by this stuff anymore. It’s a phone. It opens apps. Woopty doo.

Switch to a 2-year cycle, Apple.

This.

Every commercial break is a phone being shoved down your throat... people just stopped caring about smartphones in general. Unless you are a tech nerd and don’t keep up with what’s out there, you are unlikely to even know what new iPhone features are on the new one.

The market is over saturated and over marketed

When the new iPhone comes out it’s just another phone to the general public

 

[Phone Junky]

Marketed incorrectly and too many overlapping features with the “premium” models.

If they stuffed all of the xr features into a iPhone 5 body style with more aggressive pricing I think they would’ve sold like hot cakes

You do realize that making things smaller costs more. Cramming all the XR features into a smaller form factor would increase the price.

 

[teknikal90]

That is the list, top of the line memory.


The bump prior to 2018 was $100 for the next memory size.


Maybe it should be said, the apple really didn't increase prices dramatically over the years until 2017. The price was proportionally higher due to OLED, imo. You are welcome to put together your list showing your own narrative.

I googled and found this:https://venturebeat.com/2017/09/12/iphone-prices-from-the-original-to-iphone-x/

This one uses base storage but is consistent so this compares apples to apples. I didn't include the original iPhone as if you remember back then, they had many price adjustments, with various AT&T pricing, which made it difficult to actually compare. Simpler to leave out.

• iPhone 3G (8GB): $599
• iPhone 3GS (16GB): $599 - 2x faster
• iPhone 4 (16GB): $599 - retina display, stainless steel construction, first Apple chip A4
• iPhone 4S (16GB): $649 (8% increase) - Siri, new antenna, first dual core Apple Chip A5.
• iPhone 5 (16GB): $649 - new design construction, new retina display with 100% color gamut
• iPhone 5s (16GB): $649 - touch ID, 64 bit Apple Chip A7
• iPhone 6 (16GB): $649 - new design, larger screen, Apple Pay
• iPhone 6s (16GB): $649 - new 7000 series aluminium construction, 3D touch
• iPhone 7 (32GB): $649 - Waterproof, P3 retina display, new design, Fusion Apple Chip A10
• iPhone X (64GB): $999 (53% increase) - new stainless steel design construction, faceID, OLED, dual camera

That's what I'm complaining about.

 

[agente46]

bezels and 820p screen in 2018 for $800.00...........People are not that stupid.

Call me stupid then lol

 

[I7guy]

I googled and found this:https://venturebeat.com/2017/09/12/iphone-prices-from-the-original-to-iphone-x/

This one uses base storage but is consistent so this compares apples to apples. I didn't include the original iPhone as if you remember back then, they had many price adjustments, with various AT&T pricing, which made it difficult to actually compare. Simpler to leave out.

• iPhone 3G (8GB): $599
• iPhone 3GS (16GB): $599 - 2x faster
• iPhone 4 (16GB): $599 - retina display, stainless steel construction, first Apple chip A4
• iPhone 4S (16GB): $649 (8% increase) - Siri, new antenna, first dual core Apple Chip A5.
• iPhone 5 (16GB): $649 - new design construction, new retina display with 100% color gamut
• iPhone 5s (16GB): $649 - touch ID, 64 bit Apple Chip A7
• iPhone 6 (16GB): $649 - new design, larger screen, Apple Pay
• iPhone 6s (16GB): $649 - new 7000 series aluminium construction, 3D touch
• iPhone 7 (32GB): $649 - Waterproof, P3 retina display, new design, Fusion Apple Chip A10
• iPhone X (64GB): $999 (53% increase) - new stainless steel design construction, faceID, OLED, dual camera

That's what I'm complaining about.

Right, except you left out the screen size on the X is the same as the plus, with oled and face id plus a bump in memory. The top of the line 7+(256) was $969. So going from a 7+ to the same sized "X" (64gb) was a 3% hike. It's all in how you want frame it. And even you went to the top of the "X" the percentage is 18% for equivalent screen size, oled, face id, dual cameras, smart hdr, AR etc.

 

[mpavilion]

I googled and found this:https://venturebeat.com/2017/09/12/iphone-prices-from-the-original-to-iphone-x/

This one uses base storage but is consistent so this compares apples to apples. I didn't include the original iPhone as if you remember back then, they had many price adjustments, with various AT&T pricing, which made it difficult to actually compare. Simpler to leave out.

• iPhone 3G (8GB): $599
• iPhone 3GS (16GB): $599 - 2x faster
• iPhone 4 (16GB): $599 - retina display, stainless steel construction, first Apple chip A4
• iPhone 4S (16GB): $649 (8% increase) - Siri, new antenna, first dual core Apple Chip A5.
• iPhone 5 (16GB): $649 - new design construction, new retina display with 100% color gamut
• iPhone 5s (16GB): $649 - touch ID, 64 bit Apple Chip A7
• iPhone 6 (16GB): $649 - new design, larger screen, Apple Pay
• iPhone 6s (16GB): $649 - new 7000 series aluminium construction, 3D touch
• iPhone 7 (32GB): $649 - Waterproof, P3 retina display, new design, Fusion Apple Chip A10
• iPhone X (64GB): $999 (53% increase) - new stainless steel design construction, faceID, OLED, dual camera

That's what I'm complaining about.

You left out the 8(?)

 

[teknikal90]

Right, except you left out the screen size on the X is the same as the plus, with oled and face id plus a bump in memory. The top of the line 7+(256) was $969. So going from a 7+ to the same sized "X" (64gb) was a 3% hike. It's all in how you want frame it. And even you went to the top of the "X" the percentage is 18% for equivalent screen size, oled, face id, dual cameras, smart hdr, AR etc.

But it's not a 'plus' phone. That's Xs Max.

The X is the natural successor the 6 line, which was a natural progression of the 5 line, which was a natural progression of the 4 line... each line having bigger displays than the previous....

So why would you compare a top of the line 'plus' model (256gb Plus) to the base 'default' model (64gb X)?
[doublepost=1545692680][/doublepost]

You left out the 8(?)

Not a flagship model.

You left out the 8(?)

 

[I7guy]

But it's not a 'plus' phone. That's Xs Max.

The X is the natural successor the 6 line, which was a natural progression of the 5 line, which was a natural progression of the 4 line... each line having bigger displays than the previous....

So why would you compare a top of the line 'plus' model (256gb Plus) to the base 'default' model (64gb X)?
[doublepost=1545692680][/doublepost]
Not a flagship model.

No the Xs max is a completely separate beast as the screen size is not comparable. So we basically disagree on how the price increases are calculated and based on how it's framed the price hikes are inconsequential or huge.

the X is the successor to the plus models. The max is the new benchmark in screen sizes, but even so, plus to max, as I stated is a minimal amount.

I don't understand how one compares an iphone 6,7,8 to the Max, the screen size is not comparable.

 

[AppleHaterLover]

Right, except you left out the screen size on the X is the same as the plus, with oled and face id plus a bump in memory. The top of the line 7+(256) was $969. So going from a 7+ to the same sized "X" (64gb) was a 3% hike. It's all in how you want frame it. And even you went to the top of the "X" the percentage is 18% for equivalent screen size, oled, face id, dual cameras, smart hdr, AR etc.

Screen size is not equivalent. It’s much smaller.

Comparing the most expensive version of something with the cheapest version is a very dishonest way of putting things.

You may be OK with the increase in price but as these things go we should have improved technology for the same price.

 

[I7guy]

Screen size is not equivalent. It’s much smaller.

Comparing the most expensive version of something with the cheapest version is a very dishonest way of putting things.

You may be OK with the increase in price but as these things go we should have improved technology for the same price.

On the other hand comparing an iphone 8 (or 7) to the max is dishonest also.

Car manufacturers raise the price when they incorporate new/improved tech in their cars. And, there are a number of phones at the $1,000 mark and over. New tech does not cost less than old tech.

Whether I'm okay with the way Apple has increased prices with each new generation is not relevant. I bought the Max which means the value I place on the functionality merits the price of the phone.

 

[lyceumHQ]

I think people are just generally sick of the price of 'flagship' phones.

Average Joe, and I mean average Joe, not people who post here who've spent a decade drinking apple kool-aid. Just every day people who upgrade their phones every two years etc. They're looking at the price of the Xr and saying nah mate you're okay, I can get a Samsung S9 for £25 a month, I'm not paying £60 for an iPhone that isn't even the flagship. Yes I know Samsungs flagships sell for roughly the same RRP but they're discounted soon after release in various places. you often see them discounted on contract etc etc. If you're in the UK you only need to spend the day on HUKD to see this. That doesn't really happen with iPhones.

People who like iPhones will buy a 7/8, whichever is cheaper, because at this point they all do the same thing, my friend has an iPhone 7, my cousin an iPhone 8, me an Xr, they all do exactly the same thing, run the same iOS etc.

So that leaves apple fans, nobody with an X will 'down grade' to and Xr, lose the LCD screen etc.

Which leaves those apple fans, like myself who just fell in love with the colour, had the cash so moved to the Xr from the 8. I don't know anyone else with an 8 who saw this years line up and thought, yeah, need one of those.

The prices on contract, in the UK at least, are alienating people. The prices to buy outright are eye watering, the Xr is cheaper than the Xs but it's still not a cheap phone, far from it in fact.

Basically Apple have alienated average joe with their greed. And when you do that, sales will drop.

How much apple are bothered by this will become clear next September.

 

[mpavilion]

But it's not a 'plus' phone. That's Xs Max.

The X is the natural successor the 6 line, which was a natural progression of the 5 line, which was a natural progression of the 4 line... each line having bigger displays than the previous....

So why would you compare a top of the line 'plus' model (256gb Plus) to the base 'default' model (64gb X)?
[doublepost=1545692680][/doublepost]
Not a flagship model.

I see what you’re saying. I think Apple would respond that the 8 was the evolution of the 7, and the X was a new category altogether.... So you should include prices for both the 8 and X, and both the XR and XS for this year (which still supports your arguments that the “base” price of a new iPhone has increased).