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

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Exactly. And those stimulus checks were paid for by printing money, and we're paying for it right now.

And forever after. When a government shows that it values its own currency so little it will give it away, raging inflation can only follow. SOMEBODY has to demonstrate that money has value. GOV should be first to do so or everyone on down that line will lose value perception too. Any "free money" deal always sounds good to those who would get it... but then everyone pays for it later when that money can no longer buy as much as it used to. That's inflation by DEFLATING the value of the currency.

 

[ian87w]

When you compare the iPhone 14 pro to similar competitors, the price isn't too bad. The S23 ultra that was just announced starts at $1200.

Exactly. It’s not like the other guys are any cheaper on their upper flagships.
The only times Android feels like a better value in hardware is when we go down to the regular iPhone price range, where Apple still refuses to give non Pro iPhones telephoto lens, while regular Galaxy S and the FE have flagship chips and cameras for less.

 

[ksec]

$800 for the standard iPhone 15 is not going to work.

Except that is the current price of iPhone 14.

 

[ian87w]

I don't think it is necessarily true.
It was reported on this website as well that people choose to keep their phones for longer period of time, because of how small updates are between generations and pricing as well. So, the voting with our wallets is definitely not working. I also have iPhone XS bought in Feb 2019, so it is 4 years old and I plan to buy 15 Pro when it comes out. So almost after 5 years. In the past, I used to switch every 2 years. I don't really understand people who say “I guess I will keep my iPhone 13 a year longer and not buy iPhone 15”. Well, duh it will be only 2 year old phone, why would you wanna change it? Or my friend, after iPhone 14 was released he wanted to switch from 13. No idea why.

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.

 

[Abazigal]

Fine by me, they will just price themselves more and more out of the market. Tim Cook will start to see the company tank, innovating is not pointlessly increasing prices across all your products, including the one you make the most money from.

Apple's user base has proven to be fairly price-inelastic. We will see how it goes, but I still firmly believe that one bets against Apple to their own detriment.

 

[svish]

Have been expecting to see a price hike for the last two years. Pro Max will likely start at $1199 this year.

 

[Reason077]

I've been using my son's old XR since I handed down my 2 year old 12 Pro to him. In past years I've upgraded to the latest and greatest evert 2 years but, honestly, other than the camera (that I barely use) the XR has been fine in comparison to the 12 Pro. I think I'll eventually get a 13 mini before the stop selling them and I can see myself just upgrading every 4 or 5 years now. I'll just buy my son a 2 year old phone when he's due for another of my hand me downs. A new phone shouldn't cost the same as a laptop.

I’ve just bought a refurb iPhone 13 (got a great deal!) to replace my 5+ year old iPhone X. Was planning to wait for the USB-C update but my X had a cracked screen, and would no longer receive calls properly without a headset (volume in earpiece extremely low?).

The battery life and camera upgrades are very substantial, but everything else I could have waited for, had my X not been damaged.

One feature I didn’t realise I’d miss so much is the 3D Touch. I’m always struggling to press the camera and flashlight buttons now because they work differently/slower. Guess I’ll have to get used to it.

 

[Mimiron]

First since X??? The price difference between 13 Pro and 14 Pro was 120 EUR and between 13 Pro Max and 14 Pro Max 150 EUR, so I don't know what you're talking about.

 

[Ralfi]

Saw this on Twitter, & was staggered at the number of ‘likes’. Are people proud to pay more for iPhones?…. 🤦🏻‍♂️

 

[ian87w]

Saw this on Twitter, & was staggered at the number of ‘likes’. Are people proud to pay more for iPhones?…. 🤦🏻‍♂️

Believe it or not, yes. Many people feel that when they can buy something that most others couldn’t, they will feel superior. And as a brand, Apple is the genius in taking advantage of that. Take my country, Indonesia. We are considered developing country, no official Apple presence (only authorized distributor), not all Apple services are available locally, and Apple prices are highly marked up (our iPhone 14 non pro starts at almost $1000). Yet every iPhone pre orders are sold out and people are lining up to buy them. Amazing, isn’t it.

 

[Reason077]

First since X??? The price difference between 13 Pro and 14 Pro was 120 EUR and between 13 Pro Max and 14 Pro Max 150 EUR, so I don't know what you're talking about.

This is due to the Euro weakening a lot in value compared to the US Dollar during that time period.

It dropped from around $1.18 dollars per Euro in Sept 2021 to as low as $0.97 dollars per Euro in Sept 2022.

The Euro has since recovered somewhat, so hopefully this year there won’t be any price increases in Europe?

 

[dandyryan]

How is the Plus a bigger flop than the mini? Despite lower mini prices, Plus sales have been a much greater portion of overall iPhone sales than mini sales had been.

Do you have the numbers?

 

[1291030]

The problem with your statement is that iPhone 14 Pro sold incredibly well. Better than expected. So whether your claims are true or not, iPhone 14 Pro sold really well.

Apple bases its decision to raise prices on that, not on anecdotal comments about the current state of the economy, true or not.

Stating that tech companies are firing workers despite of record profits, and apple holding back bonuses are no more anecdotal than you saying apple bases its pricing decision on previous sales, if anything, its less anecdotal as its well documented in the press via. press statements and such from said companies regarding redundancies.

The only slightly anecdotal about the comment you replied to, was the aspect about the cost of living crisis. With that said though, to an impartial reader, it feels a fair amount of evidence exists in the public space to support the hypothesis that many countries face a cost of living crisis, and some might even argue this is more factual than just assuming the main factor apple considerings in its pricing strategy is volume sold of the past generation. I seen less evidence to suppose that statement in the public space, than any of the stuff you wrote off as anecdotal.

 

[menist]

I'm still rocking a iPhone 13 Pro with applecare+ until the end of 2024, actually downgrade from the 13 Pro max. Looks like I'm just going to wait for the new iOS update again.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Outside of the U.S., Apple has increased the prices of iPhones multiple times in recent years, largely due to foreign currency fluctuations. In the U.K., for example, the iPhone 14 Pro starts at £1,099, compared to £949 for the iPhone 13 Pro.

A price increase in the U.S. is plausible given above-average inflation rates. Apple has managed to keep starting prices unchanged for six straight generations of Pro models, but prices will likely have to increase eventually for the company to maintain its profit margins. It's unclear if the standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus would also see a price increase over the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, which start at $799 and $899, respectively.

The increases have already turned a lot of people off in the UK and any further increases this year just get it to the point where it makes little sense to pay way over £1k for a smartphone. You just don’t need to spend that sort of money these days. The £150 hike from the 13 Pro to 14 Pro was huge and made me change my buying habits going forward.

It will be interesting to see how many Americans here handle a hike this year as there has been zero sympathy for Europeans in the last months who have seen prices soar due to 11% inflation. Let’s see the reaction to a 15 Pro starting at $1320 or a 15 Pro Max starting at $1440 like we suddenly had here back in September .

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

$800 for the standard iPhone 15 is not going to work.

Americans would just have to suck it up. In the UK a standard iPhone 14 is £849 ($1022) so $800 for a standard 15 might well be fantasy this year. I’m certainly going to enjoy the outcry if US prices increase this year considering how smug some have been about us getting gouged in Europe.

 

[danakin]

Not surprised by this report at all. I just hope Apple is able to deliver some hard-breaking innovative features with the iPhone 15. We are due for a design change now!

What qualifies as “hard-breaking” on a mobile device? Sounds like something you do going into turn 6 at Monaco.

 

[danakin]

Sure it is. Every year Apple makes improvements to iPhone and offers them to us. We can choose to buy, or not. What is not to like? ...except of course those that insist on whining about price of a luxury item.

iPhones are not “luxury” items.
if it’s available at Wal-Mart it isn’t luxury.

 

[NARadyk]

But no one is saying no with their wallets. Only with their keyboards.

Precisely.

September will come around and we will all be itching to pre-order the “latest and greatest” iPhone. Apple know this too.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Precisely.

September will come around and we will all be itching to pre-order the “latest and greatest” iPhone. Apple know this too.

Not everybody will be though and there are millions who could but won’t as the prices soar. If Apple makes enough, then good for them but that’s of little relevance to the average consumer. Apples problem is their overpriced mid tier that are feature-weak against phones from different manufacturers at a similar price point. Hence why the 14 and 14 Plus have been disappointing.

Having the ‘latest and greatest’ iPhone is something I’ve long grown out of in all honesty. Phones don’t change enough annually to receive the benefit for many which is why smartphone sales are generally declining.

 

[webkit]

Do you have the numbers?

According to Consumer Intelligence Research Partners, the iPhone 14 Plus accounted for approximately 11% of total iPhone sales in December 2022 while the iPhone 13 mini had only accounted for approximately 1% of total iPhone sales in December 2021 (12 mini was 2%). I believe this was specifically U.S. data but the percentage difference is significant. Perhaps you have other data to suggest the Plus is a bigger flop than the mini was?

 

[webkit]

First since X??? The price difference between 13 Pro and 14 Pro was 120 EUR and between 13 Pro Max and 14 Pro Max 150 EUR, so I don't know what you're talking about.

Part of the article was clearly talking about U.S. prices. As far as Euro prices, those increases were much more due to the exchange rate (stronger USD) than Apple. For example, the pre-VAT launch price of a 128GB iPhone 13 Pro in Germany was the equivalent of $1,123 USD at the time. The pre-VAT launch price of a 128GB iPhone 14 a year later was around $1,043 at the time. Despite the increase in local currency (Euro), the price in USD dropped from launch to launch. Yes, in USD Apple actually lowered the price in Germany.

 

[webkit]

Americans would just have to suck it up. In the UK a standard iPhone 14 is £849 ($1022) so $800 for a standard 15 might well be fantasy this year. I’m certainly going to enjoy the outcry if US prices increase this year considering how smug some have been about us getting gouged in Europe.

I think Europeans need to stop entirely blaming Apple for high(er) prices and recognize that the price increases were largely due to the exchange rate (stronger USD). VAT is also not under Apple's control but it seems some Europeans want Apple to somehow cover that for them too.

Despite the increase in local currency (GBP), the pre-VAT price of a 128GB iPhone 14 at launch in England was actually LOWER in USD than the price for same phone in the U.S. Brits were offered the phone for less than the U.S. price yet some still tried to argue that Apple was greedily overcharging Europeans. SMH.

 

[hovscorpion12]

If you looked at the S23 Ultra’s price strategy, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is $19 more expensive for the 512GB and the 23 Ultra is $21 more expensive for the 1TB model.

If Apple does decide to increase price, those who are not as loyal will pay attention to the competition price.

Let’s hope that Apple adjusts Trade-in Values

 

[hovscorpion12]

Also. Just a reminder. This is the same company that is also “rumored” to price the Mac Pro close to $100K full spec.