iPhone 16 Pro Now Expected to Start at $999 in U.S. Despite Recent $1,099 Rumor

[j_in_tx]

$1,000 for a phone, let's say you keep it for three years, that's $333.33 a year. Some people spend more than that on coffee. Or a new TV that only does one thing.

Obviously the Pro phones are not for everyone and there are less expensive options available.

iPhone SE's cost should be discussion starting point, not $1000. Everyone likes this round number so it becomes an easy target.

 

[onenorth]

Apple could lower the price $500 and the reactions here would be pretty much the same.

Apple could pay people to take their phones and no doubt some would come here to say "not for a million dollars."

 

[turbineseaplane]

It's not just a phone though is it.

It'd be nice if they again made one that was a bit more geared towards being a phone/messenger/tool

Lots of us out here don't want these huge super expensive overkill devices

 

[magicschoolbus]

Consumers are having a hard enough time affording McDonalds. So adjusting pricing in this environment is a no no. Once better trends happen- they will for sure adjust pricing. A price hike right now would be very tone deaf.

 

[dorkimoe]

well it was overpriced 5 years ago, now its the right price. Apple planned ahead and now can spin it as "we are keeping the price the same". Well yeah..youve reaped the benefits for the last 5 years

 

[onenorth]

Consumers are having a hard enough time affording McDonalds. So adjusting pricing in this environment is a no no. Once better trends happen- they will for sure adjust pricing. A price hike right now would be very tone deaf.

I don't believe this one bit. Every major restaurant in town that charges at least $25 a head including tip has been busy all year long.

 

[ryan102]

Maybe they learnt from their little computer glasses they released that the public do have a cut off at where they will just say no. $999 is the sweet spot for both Apple in terms of making profit and for the consumer who sees 3 digits and not 4 making them feel like they're getting a good deal.

 

[MacWorld78]

Who knows if Apple will lower the price of the iPhone due to storage concerns, especially considering that USB-C could disrupt their business model? Many people could use external NVMe storage.

Alternatively, they might run out of ideas for new innovations.

That's my wild speculation.

 

[PsykX]

$1,000 for a phone, let's say you keep it for three years, that's $333.33 a year. Some people spend more than that on coffee.

What I did was to buy a $999 coffee machine so that I can limit my spendings to $333.32/year on coffee, so that I can finally afford my $999 phone.

For reference, my family brews 1,500 coffees/year. ☕️

It could represent $7,500+/year if we went to Starbucks instead because we live in the city and some of our coffees are fancy.

 

[boak]

The base model will stay at 128 GB. $999 is an attractive starting price for marketing.

Starting prices of the lineup will be rejigged next year with the iPhone Air.

 

[GIZBUG]

buy it on a T-Mobile installment plan

Installment plan for a phone 👎

 

[corey407woc]

A thousand bucks for a phone is still nuts to me. Each to their own.

its literally a computer in the palm of your hand, no one talks on their phone anymore.....

 

[brofkand]

It's not just a phone though is it.

the only other device the smartphone has replaced for me besides my cell phone is my iPod. So for ME the value proposition of paying $1k just isn’t there.

 

[satchmo]

Then you would just find something else to complain about lol

True, I would.

I prefer not simply bending over like you.

 

[CloneBB]

A thousand bucks for a phone is still nuts to me. Each to their own.

It is not a phone. It is a camera with multiple communications and apps built in.

 

[gusping]

As a European, i fully expect a price rise again /s

 

[magicschoolbus]

I don't believe this one bit. Every major restaurant in town that charges at least $25 a head including tip has been busy all year long.

That's not what the data has been saying. Maybe a different income bracket.

 

[TechWhisperer]

Yeah it’s basically the same phone as last year. Lol.

 

[dorkimoe]

I don't believe this one bit. Every major restaurant in town that charges at least $25 a head including tip has been busy all year long.

you compared a sit down restaurant to mcdonalds. Google it, mcdonalds has been struggling since their prices are up. People can justify sitting down and getting a meal for 25, they cant justify going thru a drive thru and spending 25

 

[onenorth]

you compared a sit down restaurant to mcdonalds. Google it, mcdonalds has been struggling since their prices are up. People can justify sitting down and getting a meal for 25, they cant justify going thru a drive thru and spending 25

I was responding to a post that said people can't afford McDonald's, not that they could afford it but can't justify it.

Also comparing fast food to Apple products is odd.

 

[Anaxarxes]

iPhine Pro's prices has been 999 USD since the inception of iPhone X in 2017

Based on US inflation, $999 in 2017 is equivalent of $1283 in 2024. It's really good that Apple keeping iPhone base price the same - except in EU of course...

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

A thousand bucks for a phone is still nuts to me. Each to their own.

What's a phone?

 

[golgo1313]

I definitely hope that it starts at $999 this year

I’m going to pick it up at the Salem, New Hampshire, Apple Store sometime in the next two months and buy it on a T-Mobile installment plan

Ahh... sweet, sweet 0% sales tax.

 

[scrapesleon]

256 gig base model ain't starting at that price so its going to be 1099

 

[lazyrighteye]

didn't this same thing happen for the 14 pro… last minute 1099 rumor but keynote said otherwise

The cynic in me wonders if it could be a tactic to A) cover for a soft(er) upgrade cycle and/or B) to get people worked up, and then relieved when the hike doesn't materialize. Maybe not.