iPhone 15 Pro Predicted to See First Price Increase Since iPhone X

[GraXXoR]

That's correct. The prices may seem outrageous, but apparently they are not stopping people from buying. So as long as that remains true, the prices will keep going up. Apple doesn't need these margins. It wants them. And we're enabling it.

In Japan. Apple unit sales of the 14 series (pro and vanilla) have dropped 69% since the heady days of the 12 series according to Nikkei, the top financial newspaper.

Sales of iPhone 12 and 13 and 13 mini are ALL ahead of sales of any iphone 14 model. The best seller is apparently their decrepit SE since it still has a thumbprint sensor and Japanese mostly still all wear masks.

Prices are completely INSANE over here with 70% increases in pro model prices since the iPhone 11 Pro only three-odd years ago.

 

[webkit]

There's been plenty of inflation worldwide, but the top of the range iPhone costs 3x as much in many territories as it did 8 years ago. That's massive.

That's in part because the the top end is more top end feature-wise than it used to be. If a restaurant used to only serve sirloin steaks as their "top end steak" and then added filet mignon to the menu, you wouldn't compare the filet mignon price to the sirloin steak price. Similarly, you can't compare today's iPhone Pro Max price to the Plus price from eight years ago.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

If it’s "absolutely irrelevant" than why have you and others commented and complained about where U.S. prices have been compared to overseas prices, suggested that Apple was raising prices overseas to "protect its home market", etc.

My point was simply that Apple had lowered prices in USD in the UK and Europe to try to make up for some of the currency exchange issues including offering phones for LESS than U.S. prices. Apple has NOT been as extra greedy in this situation as you and others have seemed to want to suggest.

Great Apple has lowered its US converted prices to do us a massive favour. The iPhone is still £150 more expensive than it was this time last year and that’s all that I see when I go to buy it or not buy it as I did.

I’ve not claimed Apple is greedy or commented on ‘protecting its home market’ in this thread. I feel they could do more than they have though considering our markets have contributed massively to making them the multi trillion dollar and richest company in the world that they are. I would love to see prices soar in the US this year and sales to plummet worldwide. It’s long overdue.

 

[ZircoBen]

If the price increases, we need a solid SE offering available; not a rehashed iPhone 8.

 

[ric22]

That's in part because the the top end is more top end feature-wise than it used to be. If a restaurant used to only serve sirloin steaks as their "top end steak" and then added filet mignon to the menu, you wouldn't compare the filet mignon price to the sirloin steak price. Similarly, you can't compare today's iPhone Pro Max price to the Plus price from eight years ago.

I disagree. Both phones were the absolute top end of the market in their respective year. The steak analogy isn't right. It kinda feels like Apple's marketing worked well on you, I must say.

 

[ric22]

Didn’t the price of the phones go up with the iPhone X, four years ago?

It's gone up bit by bit. The X was a bigger jump. Some years the leap is greater than others, and there's a lot more to it than the "strong USD" argument some are arguing here.

 

[webkit]

I disagree. Both phones were the absolute top end of the market in their respective year. The steak analogy isn't right. It kinda feels like Apple's marketing worked well on you, I must say.

No, Apple's "marketing" has not worked well on me as I don't feel the need for a Pro Max "filet mignon" phone. I am still quite content with the "regular" sirlion iPhones just as I was years ago. Again, today's high end iPhones are more high end than they were eight years ago so price comparisons between a Pro Max and a Plus are misleading and not "apples" to "apples."

 

[racer1441]

Wait, USA pricing has remained the same for six years? Save the complaints 🥲

They can't raise prices here in the USA...We're all spending our money in Ukraine and bailing out rich people's banks.

 

[I7guy]

It's gone up bit by bit. The X was a bigger jump. Some years the leap is greater than others, and there's a lot more to it than the "strong USD" argument some are arguing here.

In the US the phones haven’t increased (or maybe the top end a little) since the iPhone X. I doubt over the world in general the price since the iPhone X has increased 3x.

 

[sunapple]

They can't raise prices here in the USA...We're all spending our money in Ukraine and bailing out rich people's banks.

Of course in Europe we have plenty of money to spend 🤣

 

[CarAnalogy]

Is this an ad or an announcement? I dont know and I dont care. There is nothing sneaky going on here. There is no predatory behavior. There is no deception.
View attachment 2174675

That is not what I’m talking about. The Today page has always been one big ad and I accept that. You seem to be dodging the other issues I brought up but whatever.

 

[ImAlwaysRight]

Fantastic! I'll just hold on to my iP13 Pro for that much longer. It's not like anything that innovative is coming out from Apple anyway.

 

[ImAlwaysRight]

Apple's first Powerbook, the Powerbook 100, sold for US$2,500 in 1991. That is equivalent to $5,000 in 2021. Today you can get a very good MacBook for $999, 80% less. How come iPhone prices haven't come down? They should be going down in price, not up, when you factor in the cost of components has decreased.

 

[Abazigal]

Nobody is gunna deprive themselves of that latest and greatest iPhone experience just to "send a message to Apple".

The thing is that most people outside of macrumours don’t really have a beef with Apple. That’s why Apple does what it does (and seemingly gets away with it). The consensus here is not representative of general consumer sentiment.

 

[I7guy]

Apple's first Powerbook, the Powerbook 100, sold for US$2,500 in 1991. That is equivalent to $5,000 in 2021. Today you can get a very good MacBook for $999, 80% less. How come iPhone prices haven't come down? They should be going down in price, not up, when you factor in the cost of components has decreased.

The price of economy of scale of mass produced old tech causes the price to go down. New tech doesn’t go down until it becomes old tech. Even though autos cost more year to year the trickle down affect of tech can be seen over the years as tech that was exclusive to high end autos are now on many vehicles.

 

[Luis Ortega]

If many of them "one persons" would flex their power of "NO" as a group, we'd soon be seeing price DECREASES. Companies want the money more than any of us should want most non-essential products & services. If we could say no as a group, we would re-learn the great(er) power in the other end of the capitalism bargain. Instead, we gripe/whine and then just roll over and pay up, rewarding price increases which tells those who choose to implement them they are doing a great job.

Indeeed. And the real sad part is that no one needs a new phone every year, especially one that is only marginally better than their old one.
The boycott is the most powerful capitalist tool consumers have, and the only one that will make companies listen.

 

[jimonqa]

At some point I'll need to upgrade my iPhone 7... price increase or not.

 

[Abazigal]

If you increase the price substantially you risk consumers not upgrading later down the road

I think your statement is conflating cause with effect. It's not that people are upgrading less often because iPhones cost more (the implication is that even if iPhones cost less, people would still not upgrade as often). Instead, because people are upgrading less often (in part due to slowing innovation across the board), Apple is comfortable charging more for them. It's also a better deal when you hold on to your phone for a longer period of time, especially when coupled with carrier deals, instalment plans and trade-in offers.

Meanwhile, Apple is still able to continue earning from their users by way of accessories, services and app revenue. So Apple doesn't need you to keep buying iPhones, it just needs you to keep using one.

It's actually a pretty good business move when you think about it.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

Because of FOMO or status symbol. Most people I have observed that upgrades yearly (outside YouTubers or those on the iPhone upgrade program), are not even using most of the features of their phones. As such, their upgrade motives are due to emotion, not logic.

Y'all need to think a little, because "not even using most of the features" is not any kind of reason not to own a specific device. Nor does it mean "their upgrade motives are due to emotion, not logic."

All it takes is one new or sufficiently stronger feature for an upgrade to be potentially justified. E.g. WiFi for some; or voice clarity for others; or camera competence for me; or any combination that fits any given buyer, with each buyer different. That involves logic, not emotion.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

The first iPhone was top notch technology. There was nothing comparable at that time and it costed 500€. Now apple is telling me they have to raise the price even higher? Ok, then I’m staying with my iPhone X another year, no problem.

Folks that do not value the annual improvements should indeed simply not upgrade.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

I disagree. Both phones were the absolute top end of the market in their respective year. The steak analogy isn't right. It kinda feels like Apple's marketing worked well on you, I must say.

Not "Apple's marketing," simple reality. E.g. simply picking just one of the many upgraded features, the camera, we see that one would pay more than the cost of an iPhone Pro just for a standalone 45 MP sensor camera.

 

[Rodney Williams]

I will only upgrade that I see fits. No point in upgrading if it doesn't serve or fit the needs, when it still does the same thing as the previous models. The only thing 14 Pro lineup have is four things: Camera upgrade, Dynamic Island, Satellite Connection and Crash Detection. That's it. I went to the Apple Store and play around with it. I didn't see the need to upgrade. Not only that, but I have a 13 Pro. It does everything the 14 Pro does except the things mentioned. Otherwise, I'm keeping my 13 Pro, which is the best iPhone I've owned since the 5S.

 

[webkit]

Apple's first Powerbook, the Powerbook 100, sold for US$2,500 in 1991. That is equivalent to $5,000 in 2021. Today you can get a very good MacBook for $999, 80% less. How come iPhone prices haven't come down? They should be going down in price, not up, when you factor in the cost of components has decreased.

Prices have come down. Apple's first iPhone launched in 2007 with a starting price of $499 (4GB) and that required a 2 year AT&T contract. Without the contract requirement, it likely would've been $649. Adjusting for inflation, $649 would be around $940 today. You can get a new larger, more capable 64GB iPhone SE starting at $429 or 54% less. The 128GB iPhone 14 and 14 Plus also have lower starting prices than $940.

Looking at the even higher level Pro models, the first iPhone 11 Pro launched in 2019 for $999 (64GB). Adjusting for inflation, $999 would be around $1,172 today. The 128GB iPhone 14 Pro is priced at $999 so, again, prices have cone down.

 

[Legendts]

At some point I'll need to upgrade my iPhone 7... price increase or not.

I’ll go one better as I am still using an iPhone 6 🥴🥲😂

When I upgrade to the 15 the cost spread over those years will sit OK with me.

 

[Abazigal]

Because of FOMO or status symbol. Most people I have observed that upgrades yearly (outside YouTubers or those on the iPhone upgrade program), are not even using most of the features of their phones. As such, their upgrade motives are due to emotion, not logic.

When has a purchase ever been 100% rational, without a shred of emotion involved?

People are irrational by nature. But I think that at the heart of the matter, the factors that drive people to purchase an iPhone (or any other product for that matter) need to go beyond specs that can be quantified on a spreadsheet, because that's not the only thing which matters to the consumer.

Personally, I don't see buying based on emotion as a bad thing inherently.