iPhone 8 Predicted to Start at $850 to $900 for 64GB Model, $950 to $1,000 for 256GB Model

[3568378]

(yawn) whatever, Apple.

Just tell me my iPhone SE 2.0 is going to be $400 or less and I'll be just fine...that is, assuming my SE 1.0 has died. ...if not, you'll have to kill me first and then pry it out of my cold dead hands. Spend $850 to get a phone that does what of value for me over what I have right now? ...big, awkward size and a round screen? No thanks.

 

[Haswell]

Man these smartphone prices are out of control. Near MacBook prices.... Get out of here. Bet they'll still sell like hot cakes.

Agreed I bought a an S7 (non edge) for $400 and I couldn't be happier.

 

[predation]

1K and above is starting to get outside of the range I want to pay for a phone.

That thousand can net you some pretty awesome champagne-room stuffs. Lol

 

[Agent OrangeZ]

I really need to see the specs. Currently upgrading to an S8+ because I feel like the iPhone has been stuck in limbo.

You'll be back. They always come back.

 

[Tycho24]

Is the iPhone still considered a "luxury" when Apple can sell 70 million of them in 3 months?

Apple is the #2 smartphone OEM in the world. At what point are iPhones simply considered "normal" ?

So, to you luxury = scarcity.
I understand, as that is OFTEN the case... but I believe it clouds your judgement on a simple definition.
If you can easily get by using a cheaper (dare I say... less luxurious) option, but you instead opt to spring for the very finest money can buy. By literal definition- you are treating yourself to a "luxury".
If that particular word has diamond encrusted elite connotations for you; feel free to use a different word, but it makes that descriptor no less accurate.

 

[kstotlani]

I understand laptops being expensive. I expect to keep mine for multiple years. But if smartphones are supposed to be upgraded once a year, these prices are too much.

They are not supposed to be upgraded once a year. You would like to do that

 

[pika2000]

Doesn't matter. It WILL be $1000 or more in many markets anyway. News about assuming prices of a global product in a single market (US) is not really helpful.

 

[nottorp]

(yawn) whatever, Apple.

Just tell me my iPhone SE 2.0 is going to be $400 or less and I'll be just fine...that is, assuming my SE 1.0 has died. ...if not, you'll have to kill me first and then pry it out of my cold dead hands. Spend $850 to get a phone that does what of value for me over what I have right now? ...big, awkward size and a round screen? No thanks.

Word. Nothing wrong with the SE if you don't want to fit a tablet in your pocket. It would be nice if Apple refreshed it while keeping the form factor, but even then i wouldn't replace it unless it dies.

 

[Michael Scrip]

So, to you luxury = scarcity.
I understand, as that is OFTEN the case... but I believe it clouds your judgement on a simple definition.
If you can easily get by using a cheaper (dare I say... less luxurious) option, but you instead opt to spring for the very finest money can buy. By literal definition- you are treating yourself to a "luxury".
If that particular word has diamond encrusted elite connotations for you; feel free to use a different word, but it makes that descriptor no less accurate.

So to you... luxury = expensive.

And that's fine.

But my point was... Apple sells a ton of them. Over a billion of them since 2007.

A lot of people can afford this "luxury"

So it's not very special after all.

 

[cuestakid]

Consumers aside (who will balk) if they want to continue their strong enterprise lead, no IT department will adopt these and will stick with their iPhone xxx. I call these prices BS.

 

[Juan007]

This is great news, several hundred dollars less than expected. Can't wait for pre-orders!!!

 

[Tycho24]

So to you... luxury = expensive.

INCORRECT sir!!!!!!!!!!!!

To me, luxury = superlative; the best.... beyond what is necessary, or the minimum (that's actually just what the word means, not "my" definition, btw).
Sooo... to be clear: to me, it doesn't matter if something is free, or expensive, or you are paid a million dollars to use it- if it's "the best", it's a luxury.
800 count Egyptian cotton sheets are a luxury over 200 count sateen sheets from Target, a small batch microbrew gold medallion beer is a luxury over a Pabst, and a flagship iPhone is a luxury over a mid-grade Android phone!
Thems the breaks. Luxury, is something you want rather than need... something you "spoil yourself" w/. It does NOT have to do w/ scarcity or expense.
It is a luxury to skip a Hershey's & instead enjoy a fine dark chocolate bar w/ some crystallized ginger, for example- yet that is a $3 expense @ literally tens of thousands of stores across America.

 

[Cloudkicker]

I understand laptops being expensive. I expect to keep mine for multiple years. But if smartphones are supposed to be upgraded once a year, these prices are too much.

I politely ask: Who says smartphones have to be upgraded every year. It seems more of a competitive -slash- materialistic iPhone owners personality trait. No elevated judgement on that. If that's how you want to live, it's your life & your money.

Those who have Moto phones or even non-top tier Samsung phones don't drool when their current phone (iPhone 7-whatever) is only 3-4 months old. Too me it's jarring... but I'm not in the Apple ecosystem. My Moto X Play (October 2015) does me fine for the foreseeable future.

Is this iPhone hype... this year being on steroids due to anniversary... just tinsel on a Christmas tree & iPhone fans cats who can't resist? Again, no judgement (just a legitimate question).

 

[Michael Scrip]

INCORRECT sir!!!!!!!!!!!!

To me, luxury = superlative; the best.... beyond what is necessary, or the minimum (that's actually just what the word means, not "my" definition, btw).
Sooo... to be clear: to me, it doesn't matter if something is free, or expensive, or you are paid a million dollars to use it- if it's "the best", it's a luxury.
800 count Egyptian cotton sheets are a luxury over 200 count sateen from Target, a small batch microbrew gold medallion beer is a luxury over a Pabst, and a flagship iPhone is a luxury over a mid-grade Android phone!
Themes the breaks. Luxury, is something you want rather than need... something you "spoil yourself" w/. It does NOT have to do w/ scarcity or expense.
It is a luxury to skip a Hershey's & instead enjoy a fine dark chocolate bar w/ some crystallized ginger, for example- yet that is a $3 expense @ literally tens of thousands of stores across America.

So if someone skips the $99 Android phone and gets a Galaxy S8+ at $850 instead... is that a luxury?

Sounds like it would be.

 

[Cloudkicker]

The iPhone is not a phone. It is a highly miniaturized general purpose computer where one of the many applications happens to be a phone application.

That describes practically any smartphone.

 

[bunnicula]

So to you... luxury = expensive.

And that's fine.

But my point was... Apple sells a ton of them. Over a billion of them since 2007.

A lot of people can afford this "luxury"

So it's not very special after all.

The iPhone quit being a "luxury" item before Jobs died, really.

Most people have smart phones in developed countries now.

When iPhone launched in 2007, very few people had devices like them. If you didn't have something similar to a Blackberry for work, you just had a regular dumb phone. Things have really changed and people are used to walking around with computers in their pockets now.

 

[44267547]

I understand laptops being expensive. I expect to keep mine for multiple years. But if smartphones are supposed to be upgraded once a year, these prices are too much.

Why would smartphones "Supposed" to be upgraded? Your correlation between a laptop and iPhone isn't the same thing at all. There are many iPhone users who do not upgrade there iPhone for years and retain their laptops for just as long. And there are those who upgrade annually, but no one is expected to "Supposed" upgrade . It comes down to what the consumer chooses to do.

 

[Tycho24]

So if someone skips the $99 Android phone and gets a Galaxy S8+ at $850 instead... is that a luxury?

Sounds like it would be.

NOW you're getting it!!!!!
Yes, buying a top on the line phone, w/ all the features one could crave & a gorgeous design is absolutely a luxury.
Even *gasp*, if it does not have an Apple logo on it.

 

[Ladybug]

My 6s should do me at least 2 more years barring nothing happening to it. I see a SE on the horizon after that, that is if they are still making them. Phones don't need to be upgraded so often. The next one will do the same things my current phone does anyway. It's refreshing once you realize you don't have to have something. Kudos to those who can afford them.

 

[Michael Scrip]

NOW you're getting it!!!!!
Yes, buying a top on the line phone, w/ all the features one could crave & a gorgeous design is absolutely a luxury.
Even *gasp*, if it does not have an Apple logo on it.

But you said anything above the "bare minimum" would be considered a luxury.

A $99 Android phone can make calls, send/receive texts, surf the web, and run apps.

So there are literally hundreds of phones that would be considered a luxury.

Does that sound right?

You're quick to call the iPhone a luxury... but it seems like there are tons of smartphones that are a luxury.

So like I said earlier... when does the iPhone stop being a luxury... and simply becomes one the crowd?

 

[dantroline]

I hope it resembles a Galaxy 8 by bringing back the headphone jack...

It might someday not feature a screen too, and customers will dutifully buy a wireless screen to go with it, for a small extra charge of anything beyond $500.

 

[Lazy]

That was cause people thought the ipad was going to run unix certified mac osx, full desktop. Instead we got a blown up iphone.

No, absolutely no one thought that. Probably not even you. The very definition of the anticipated product that ended up being called the iPad was a large screen iOS device. Or as some said "it's just a big iPhone".

 

[dannyyankou]

That's not too outrageous when you look at the 256gb iPhone 7 plus. Although I still had a contract when I upgraded to it and paid $400 less, not sure if I'd pay $1000 now...

 

[Michael Scrip]

That's not too outrageous when you look at the 256gb iPhone 7 plus. Although I still had a contract when I upgraded to it and paid $400 less, not sure if I'd pay $1000 now...

I agree $1,000 sounds high.

But could you pay $42 a month of top of the cost of your cell phone plan?

I'm not sure where you're from... but all the US carriers offer payment plans now.

My iPhone 6S Plus had a retail price of $850... but it's only $35 a month with the rest of my monthly bill.

That's much more manageable

 

[lostngone]

Then, of the MANY options you'll have when Apple brings out 3 new phones, each in at least 2 memory configurations- just don't choose the very most expensive model w/ the very highest memory configuration.
There you go. I did all that really tough thinking for you... your welcome.

No one has to explain you pay a premium for Apple products, my first Mac was a Macintosh II and I have been loyal since then. Hell, I even have a Apple logo tattooed on my head!

Also no one has to explain these devices don't pop out of thin Air, there is hefty R&D costs but research shows Apple is making about a ~$400 profit on each iPhone 7. That should be more than enough profit to recoup the R&D costs in a short time. I don't feel giving them $100 more on the top of that is acceptable.