I loved the 5c. Much more comfortable in the hand than the straight-edged versions we have now (and had in 4 and 5). I would welcome a larger equivalent with modern internals.Unapologetically plastic.
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iPhone 15 'Ultra' Could Replace Pro Max Model Next Year
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Plastic doesn’t have to feel cheap. It doesn’t have to be pale glossy look of the old. The Chinese now can polish them into feeling like glass or matte.Unapologetically plastic.
But I don’t think Apple would use plastic ever again based on their environmental goal.
I not saying it's necessarily worth it but keep in mind that people who buy a new phone every couple of years are also getting something back for their current phone whether they trade or sell it privately. Someone with an iPhone 12 Pro buying a new 14 Pro isn't paying $999, they may instead be paying $569 (if they trade with Apple) or even less if they sell it on their own. There are also those carrier inflated trade-in deals but they typical come with term, plan, etc. requirements.
That's one side but the other side can be people asking why they should have to pay for "fancy" cameras or other things that they don't want. For those who want a more basic phone, there's the SE or regular iPhone 14. For those who want a more feature rich phone, there's the Pro. Apple gives customers choices.
I think many consumers have come to expect smartphone makers to offer differing phone models with differing specs beyond just size and that's what Apple is providing.
I believe you– the 5C wasn't my phone (not a fan of those colors and plastic in general), but I did admire the honesty of the design. Plastic does have its place in the world. It's just not at Apple anymore. Premium metals are too much a part of their brand identity and differentiation.
It only stops when sales do. Until then, there is zero incentive for Apple to change course.
Enough people would absolutely buy a $1999 iPhone Ultra to justify the R&D.
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I don't care a great deal about names, but if (and only if) the lineup is structurally the same as today, it would be very odd to call the larger model "Ultra".
In the case of CPUs and now the watch (not to mention colloquial use in general), "ultra" means "more extreme" in some very concrete way. For the CPU, it's a professional-grade processing beast that does things a "regular" M1 Pro or Max doesn't. For the Watch, it's chunkier, tougher, and does things the "regular" Watch doesn't.
If you look at the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max specs page, are identical every way, feature, and function except screen size and battery life. Same storage, same CPU, same cameras, same modem, same everything. Just the battery and screen are physically larger. This has been the case for several versions now.
There's nothing "ultra" about a physically bigger phone with otherwise identical specs. "Plus" is a completely reasonable moniker for something that's just bigger, and "Max" isn't as precisely descriptive but again does reasonably imply bigger. If they start using it to just mean "big", it dilutes the "Ultra" branding and gives the entirely wrong impression that Ultra means more rather than just slightly larger.
If on the other hand there is an iPhone Ultra that has a chunky, rugged design and other features that make it more appropriate for active sport use, that makes sense and parallels the Apple Watch branding. If it's got an unreasonably powerful CPU, or better camera, or full satellite connectivity, or can record 4K60 ProRes, or some other specialized professional feature, then that also makes sense and parallels the M1 Ultra branding.
In the case of CPUs and now the watch (not to mention colloquial use in general), "ultra" means "more extreme" in some very concrete way. For the CPU, it's a professional-grade processing beast that does things a "regular" M1 Pro or Max doesn't. For the Watch, it's chunkier, tougher, and does things the "regular" Watch doesn't.
If you look at the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max specs page, are identical every way, feature, and function except screen size and battery life. Same storage, same CPU, same cameras, same modem, same everything. Just the battery and screen are physically larger. This has been the case for several versions now.
There's nothing "ultra" about a physically bigger phone with otherwise identical specs. "Plus" is a completely reasonable moniker for something that's just bigger, and "Max" isn't as precisely descriptive but again does reasonably imply bigger. If they start using it to just mean "big", it dilutes the "Ultra" branding and gives the entirely wrong impression that Ultra means more rather than just slightly larger.
If on the other hand there is an iPhone Ultra that has a chunky, rugged design and other features that make it more appropriate for active sport use, that makes sense and parallels the Apple Watch branding. If it's got an unreasonably powerful CPU, or better camera, or full satellite connectivity, or can record 4K60 ProRes, or some other specialized professional feature, then that also makes sense and parallels the M1 Ultra branding.
nope.
Too expensive, for retail, and for Apple to produce in large 50mil+ quantities.
- less recyclable
the economy right now means this metal is far too expensive. Sure I'd love it too but not at the current prices for this rare metal.
Apple is looking for ways to escape inflation and that means raising prices so you and I will spend more. Just wondering if they don’t see how this might be a double edge sword. I just don’t think upgrading to a new iPhone is at the top of the list for many in Europe.
I suspect it will mirror the Watch Ultra branding— be more rugged, with increased water resistance, mil-spec drop capability perhaps, with 8K video for sure; and it may be the only phone to have the periscope lens, who knows. And you know, it doesn’t have to be made of titanium— we still haven’t seen Apple use LiquidMetal in any of its products to any degree other than those SIM card tools.
With new naming, and hopefully periscope zoom, at least $100 increase can be expected
If they're doing the watch at scale and calling it Ultra, it wouldn't make any sense to make the iPhone Ultra out of anything else– it needs to match the watch. With Apple's economies of scale, I think they'll be able to pull this off. Or, they just won't do an iPhone Ultra at all.
It's more like a yearly thing: saving on costs for software testing and letting the early adopters do it for free.
Estimated time when iOS16 has most of its teething problems go away: Christmas 2022 to Q1 2023 (when the new limited edition color of the iPhones come out).
This isn't just an Apple thing: game developers, Microsoft and other app makers also do a similar thing.
I don't know. Apple have managed to keep the iPhone prices stable for the last 3 years., against all odds. At least in the US.
I disagree.
The old Apple, I can get today's flagship features next year or two years later for less if I cannot afford $1000. Exact same features. I may not need them if I wanted a cheaper iPhone, but they are there as added value.
Today's Apple, I can never get telephoto lens if I cannot afford $1000, no matter how long I wait since Apple never slide down the Pro iPhones into cheaper price points.
You see the difference? You get more with the old Apple since even if I don't want to pay top dollars, I can simply wait a year or two and get that fully featured flagship iPhone for less. With the new Apple, you will always be second class citizen if you cannot afford $1000 as some hardware features are locked only for that price point and up.
People who don't care about "fancy" features won't be affected as the lower priced iPhones are still there regardless.
Ugh I hope we’re not ending up with the Plus era thing of needing to get the biggest model to get all the features.
Was leveraging such a staggering number more to illustrate the shocking heights some will/can climb when it comes to Apple products then a prediction of the price of such an offering. Those we’re closer to that price point than I probably think. 🤪