Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPhone 14 Plus Facing No Delay Nearly a Week After Pre-Orders Opened Amid Reports of Low Demand
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
The thing is, everybody seems to believe that bringing down the price (and components) of the mini to a lower price will help the mini sell, but it'll turn off the other end of the phone market. I bought a 13 mini because it was the best reasonably sized phone I could get, and I wouldn't ever consider a 5.4" or 5.6" SE.
small != cheap
If Apple wants to capture as much of the phone market as possible, they need to equalize the sizes of the mainstream/flagship range. Stop segregating the newest/best hardware to large models and price the mainstream lineup equally. I think others have proposed similar lineups, but this is how Apple could cover that spread. Aside from the SE, all of these would have the same features and start at the same price:
- iPhone SE at 5.8" using iPhone 8 frame (mid-size budget) - $429
- iPhone at 5.4" or 5.6" (small size flagship) - $999
- iPhone Plus at 6.1" (medium size flagship) - $999
- iPhone Max at 6.7" (large size flagship) - $999
Once we get into the iPhone 14 sales cycle later this year and into next year, I suspect the average customer will be more interested in the Plus than they would a Mini, still. It’s already been said before though— the enthusiasts preordering are also the type that know the 14 is really mostly a rebadged 13 and not terribly exciting. I haven’t seen many talk about preordering the regular 14 even.
I’ve got several lines on my family plan, most of them standard iPhones (not Pro or Pro Max), and I wouldn’t be surprised to see at least a few of them go Plus where none of them were interested in the mini, but this is just supposition on my part. I guess we’ll see what things look like in a year
I also wonder if Apple could kinda satisfy both groups by alternating. 14 Plus, 15 Mini, 16 Plus…. Since they’re still selling / making the 12/13 Mini right now. 🤷🏻♂️
I’ve got several lines on my family plan, most of them standard iPhones (not Pro or Pro Max), and I wouldn’t be surprised to see at least a few of them go Plus where none of them were interested in the mini, but this is just supposition on my part. I guess we’ll see what things look like in a year
I also wonder if Apple could kinda satisfy both groups by alternating. 14 Plus, 15 Mini, 16 Plus…. Since they’re still selling / making the 12/13 Mini right now. 🤷🏻♂️
I did not even consider the base models for iPhone 14 when upgrading for the first time in 4 years.
It's the iPhone 14 ProMax that has everything I want and willing to pay for.
And just received confirmation that my new Gold iPhone 14 ProMax has shipped and delivers tomorrow!
It's the iPhone 14 ProMax that has everything I want and willing to pay for.
And just received confirmation that my new Gold iPhone 14 ProMax has shipped and delivers tomorrow!
All of this.
I don’t want a second-class small phone, I want the latest and greatest with all the bells and whistles in a smaller form factor. For the 12 and the 13, Apple made us choose between features and size. The mini would have done so much better if they’d offered it as a Pro model.
As it is, they’re leaving all that upgrade money on the table.
Ahh s***, here we go again.
But really, I wonder why Apple cannot read what the market actually wants. The mini failed due to pricing and the fact that the people wanted a mini "pro" and not a mini "regular" iPhone. They saw the 12 mini bomb and they said "You know what? Let's do that again for the 13 mini!!!" and lo and behold the same thing happened. Then they got the bright idea to try the same formula again only with the Pro Max form factor.
Is anyone really surprised the Plus is not blowing sales numbers through the roof? If trends are anything to go by, the Plus is on its way to following in the mini's path until it has one foot in the grave and the other on the banana peel.
Perhaps Apple should just make a singular normal iPhone and then two Pro models or maybe just drop the regular line altogether and focus on a new SE and then bring the iPhone upmarket by making only Pro and Pro Max but then dropping the Pro names. That way the iPhone can be rid of all the adjectives and just be the premium phone on its own merit like it used to be.
But really, I wonder why Apple cannot read what the market actually wants. The mini failed due to pricing and the fact that the people wanted a mini "pro" and not a mini "regular" iPhone. They saw the 12 mini bomb and they said "You know what? Let's do that again for the 13 mini!!!" and lo and behold the same thing happened. Then they got the bright idea to try the same formula again only with the Pro Max form factor.
Is anyone really surprised the Plus is not blowing sales numbers through the roof? If trends are anything to go by, the Plus is on its way to following in the mini's path until it has one foot in the grave and the other on the banana peel.
Perhaps Apple should just make a singular normal iPhone and then two Pro models or maybe just drop the regular line altogether and focus on a new SE and then bring the iPhone upmarket by making only Pro and Pro Max but then dropping the Pro names. That way the iPhone can be rid of all the adjectives and just be the premium phone on its own merit like it used to be.
Big phones aren't as popular as many think. Most co aider the 6.1 big enough of not too big. I won't be surprised if the biggest seller is the 14 Pro from the new lineup.
The Pro is expensive enough but the 14 in a lot of markets is just too much for what it offers. So people will see the newness of the Pro and opt for that especially as the starting price point for the new iPhone range is so high.
The Pro is expensive enough but the 14 in a lot of markets is just too much for what it offers. So people will see the newness of the Pro and opt for that especially as the starting price point for the new iPhone range is so high.
No, this is not right. Customers want all the high end features of the Pro but at the lower price point.
Apple ripping off customers by not upgrading the CPU this year is also why it’s not selling.
We just need people to wake up and stop buying the Pro range now as well.
Once sales fall across all the lineup then things will change and prices will fall.
Hopefully then they will revert back to only having one iPhone model i.e. iPhone 15 and that’s it no iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 pro etc etc. The only difference would be storage and screen size. Everything else should be identical.
Last edited:
Imo they should get back to their old sale style.
2 flagship iPhones with different sizes and one cheap SE iPhone with normal iPhone 11-14 style but with LCD etc. I understood the Mini line for people who like me love small phones but this year it is getting crazy! It was ok for one generation, for people who wanted a simpler but still nice iPhone for a cheaper price. But those people have had enough choices the last 2-3 years. And imo many people owning a 12/13 would also buy a Pro if the normal line up wouldn't exist.
Maybe make the normal 13 lineup an SE line up in future: SE (= 5.4) and SE+ (=6.1) with more modern chip then and maybe LCD to save money. And only bring out two flagship Pro sizes each year. It is too confusing. iPad lineup is even worse.
The only advantage of the 14 Plus, but a big one for me even so I am not a fan of big sizes, is weight. It is 40g lighter compared to the Pro Max, a MASSIVE difference for many. But that is it. And imo people who want a Max want the best because many of those choose at as their main device and maybe also do work with this phone. Why would those people choose a device the same size but with much less features. The normal 12 made sense for one generation, the Mini for one generation or two too esp as there is no other small flagship like the Mini. But the Plus doesn't make sense. Most huge device customers want the best.
I like the iPhone lineup till the iPhone 7. Even more till the 5s with only one flagship each year. But I guess too many people would buy android then, not everyone wants 6.1 OR 6.7 device. But in general it was a better time. And people bought the 4, 5 etc. even though it was just one size.
2 flagship iPhones with different sizes and one cheap SE iPhone with normal iPhone 11-14 style but with LCD etc. I understood the Mini line for people who like me love small phones but this year it is getting crazy! It was ok for one generation, for people who wanted a simpler but still nice iPhone for a cheaper price. But those people have had enough choices the last 2-3 years. And imo many people owning a 12/13 would also buy a Pro if the normal line up wouldn't exist.
Maybe make the normal 13 lineup an SE line up in future: SE (= 5.4) and SE+ (=6.1) with more modern chip then and maybe LCD to save money. And only bring out two flagship Pro sizes each year. It is too confusing. iPad lineup is even worse.
The only advantage of the 14 Plus, but a big one for me even so I am not a fan of big sizes, is weight. It is 40g lighter compared to the Pro Max, a MASSIVE difference for many. But that is it. And imo people who want a Max want the best because many of those choose at as their main device and maybe also do work with this phone. Why would those people choose a device the same size but with much less features. The normal 12 made sense for one generation, the Mini for one generation or two too esp as there is no other small flagship like the Mini. But the Plus doesn't make sense. Most huge device customers want the best.
I like the iPhone lineup till the iPhone 7. Even more till the 5s with only one flagship each year. But I guess too many people would buy android then, not everyone wants 6.1 OR 6.7 device. But in general it was a better time. And people bought the 4, 5 etc. even though it was just one size.
It's the lack of funds plus the insane price increases Apple has put on the new models. And last years models and even the iPhone 12 are all still available for much cheaper prices.
And lots probably had no patience so they jumped to Max. I would have liked to see how they would have fared if they were both available right away.
But the 14 plus is 203 grams vs the 13 pro max’s 240 grams in the same form factor. People might like a bigger, lighter phone over the heavy stainless steel one. There are also some other updates like qualcomms x65 modem, Bluetooth 5.3, camera improvements, satellite, crash detection, action mode in video, etc etc. The 14 plus isn’t a dumpster fire. And I think only nerds will appreciate the higher refresh rate of the pro max. People are fine with 60hz. There are valid arguments for the 14 plus
If I am apple, I would be happy that people are buying the more expensive phone from me 😂
I think Apple's big market for the 14 range will be people who are coming from an X, Xs, 11 or 12, but the 14 needed to bring more than the marginal improvements it offered to tempt a lot of those users.
I think it was time for a bigger change:
2007 - iPhone launches
2010 - we get the iPhone 4 with a retina display, front camera and boxy metal design
2014 - we got a major redesign with the 6 and its larger and slimmer form factor
2018 - the x makes the big switch to FaceID and full screen display
2022 - we get... a somewhat better camera and dynamic island?
I think it was time for a bigger change:
2007 - iPhone launches
2010 - we get the iPhone 4 with a retina display, front camera and boxy metal design
2014 - we got a major redesign with the 6 and its larger and slimmer form factor
2018 - the x makes the big switch to FaceID and full screen display
2022 - we get... a somewhat better camera and dynamic island?
Yea why do they keep announcing stuff that never comes. I don't remember them doing it until Airpower and now SE+
Well, I just ordered mine and PURELY for the weight difference. The Max Pro size combined with the weight is awful. However that extra 35 grammes lighter actually makes a huge difference. Gonna love mine
Exactly I'm sure that people are going to Max because they don't want to wait. And I bet if Max slips more, people will start canceling and getting Plus
Apple's convoluted product lineups never really work out well and yet they just don't learn.
Mini (5.4")
iPhone (6.1")
iPhone Max (6.7")
Make all of these phones effectively the same, maybe $100 price differences as you go up the ladder to account for larger size.
Then you can have a Pro Max, essentially the Mac Pro of your iPhone lineup, that is supercharged and looks a little different and costs at least triple what the others do for the people with unlimited money/burning desire to have the latest and greatest.
There you go Tim. I fixed your ****. You can send me a gold-plated iPhone 15 Pro Max with that 30hr battery, 2TB storage, headphone jack, unreleased heretofore unknown Beatles reunion album from 1973, and -- here's the biggest perk -- functional Siri as a thank you.
Mini (5.4")
iPhone (6.1")
iPhone Max (6.7")
Make all of these phones effectively the same, maybe $100 price differences as you go up the ladder to account for larger size.
Then you can have a Pro Max, essentially the Mac Pro of your iPhone lineup, that is supercharged and looks a little different and costs at least triple what the others do for the people with unlimited money/burning desire to have the latest and greatest.
There you go Tim. I fixed your ****. You can send me a gold-plated iPhone 15 Pro Max with that 30hr battery, 2TB storage, headphone jack, unreleased heretofore unknown Beatles reunion album from 1973, and -- here's the biggest perk -- functional Siri as a thank you.
After all the negative press the mini got, I think it's hilarious that the 14 Plus is doing even worse than the one year old 13 mini. It doesn't take a genius to realize that when you have 8 different models, sales of some will be much lower than others. Apple either needs to pare down the lineup or accept that some models will inevitably make up a only single digit percentages of their total iPhone sales. Now bring back the mini and get rid of the non-Pro 6.7" monstrosity that even fewer people seem to want.
I have the 13 Mini now but I always thought that the 11 Pro at 5.85 inches was the perfect size.