iPhone "8" Pricing

[nviz22]

Like with the iPhone 6 when it was released, I assume that the goal for the iPhone 8 would be to expand Apple's user base with a phone and design that is cutting-edge. The only direct competition for the iPhone 8 would be the Galaxy S8, but price-wise, they wouldn't match up at all if the rumors are true. Galaxy S8 with 64GB released for $725 US.

If Apple sells the iPhone 8 for $1000 or more, would that cater to new customers who can get nearly the same experience from an S8?

And you also have to worry about how it makes the iPhone 7s look. It will clearly appear to be an "inferior" product to the iPhone 8, but priced the same as an Galaxy S8 anyway.

For our sakes, I hope there is no 7S. Just an iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus at the same price points we have now. I know that's incredibly unrealistic because of the lack of OLED displays. But if the iPhone 8 has everything the iPhone 8 Plus has minus the OLED display, dual cameras, and wireless charging, that's fine by me.

That's how I would do it to create continuity and consistency. It's time the iPhone 7 style devices get moved up into bleeding edge tech since a phone should offer quick charge USB Type C a flagship, even if Apple merges it with lightning adapters. The 7 has water resistance, dual speakers, an incredible processor, sufficient RAM, 3D Touch, a Taptic feedback engine. All it needs is USB Type C/Lightning Quick charge, a bump into a resolution beyond 1080p to match Apple's need for its device, and maybe that gigabit LTE capabilities. In other words, 750p doesn't cut it.
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Let's not underestimate apples history for insane prices.. people expecting it to be less than £1000 will be in for a surprise.

Their last MacBook release is a great example of this - they bumped up prices on those things to eye watering levels that shocked everyone.

They probably leaked the prices themselves to prepare everyone. Whilst also releasing a 7S to have an 'affordable' option.

No doubt next years '8S' will bring back Touch ID, possibly have a second size option and bring prices back down slightly. I'm very tempted to wait out this year as I feel like a beta tester.

It can very well be £1000 for all we know, but as long as I have an aggressive promotion to take advantage of (namely trading in my SE for a huge bill credit concession), then I would be fine if the price is $1000 before I pay a dime. I am anticipating owing $650 USD w/ my carrier after trading in my SE because I expect it to be $1070 after tax. $650 is within my wheel house and I will pay a sizable amount of $ to lower my monthly average to $10-$15.

Though I am beginning to expect it to be about $899-$969 now rather than £1000 equivalent in the states. Idk about Europe's price aggressiveness, but the States have tons of promos to cut down on costs because people may not throw $ down so quick. Pricing installment plans are super popular nowadays.

 

[mctrials23]

People can be simple minded as well, so they would see the 7S as a shiny object and be content. Apple will still sell plenty of 7S devices.

Yeah, they will see it as the same shiny device they bought 3 years ago and wonder why they are being charged $600 for tired, re-used design while apple shows them their overpriced 8 as an example of what they can make. Oh and Samsung will be sitting there saying "come to android, we can sell you a phone thats very similar to the iPhone 8 for $600.

 

[nviz22]

Yeah, they will see it as the same shiny device they bought 3 years ago and wonder why they are being charged $600 for tired, re-used design while apple shows them their overpriced 8 as an example of what they can make. Oh and Samsung will be sitting there saying "come to android, we can sell you a phone thats very similar to the iPhone 8 for $600.

I hear you, but at the same time, people will still pay up for iOS products. If you're expecting ergonomic overhauls and device aesthetic changes, iPhone isn't the one to do that.

Noticed how the Galaxy S5 looked like a crappy bandage and became a glass/metal construct in one year? And with the S8/S8+ becoming this glass masterpiece with minimal bezels and no home button and an 18:9 aspect ratio now? That's because Samsung needed to make those changes and wanted to be aggressive with building off the changes. The same rectangular big bezel design still worked with the iPhone 7/7+ and Apple captured would be Note 7 owners.

People will gladly pay up for the iPhone 8's overpriced sticker because it's bleeding edge tech with an iOS twist on it.

 

[bslow1]

It can very well be £1000 for all we know, but as long as I have an aggressive promotion to take advantage of (namely trading in my SE for a huge bill credit concession), then I would be fine if the price is $1000 before I pay a dime. I am anticipating owing $650 USD w/ my carrier after trading in my SE because I expect it to be $1070 after tax. $650 is within my wheel house and I will pay a sizable amount of $ to lower my monthly average to $10-$15.

Wait... you can get a $350 trade-in credit on a phone that costs $400 retail??

Yeah, they will see it as the same shiny device they bought 3 years ago and wonder why they are being charged $600 for tired, re-used design while apple shows them their overpriced 8 as an example of what they can make. Oh and Samsung will be sitting there saying "come to android, we can sell you a phone thats very similar to the iPhone 8 for $600.

Exactly. This is what I was getting at. For what Apple may be charging for the iPhone 8, it won't be competitive with a phone that is very similar for maybe half the price. It might be a phone targeted only to people dedicated to the Apple ecosystem, rather than a phone that expands the user base, which is a mistake imo.

 

[nviz22]

Wait... you can get a $350 trade-in credit on a phone that costs $400 retail??



Exactly. This is what I was getting at. For what Apple may be charging for the iPhone 8, it won't be competitive with a phone that is very similar for maybe half the price. It might be a phone targeted only to people dedicated to the Apple ecosystem, rather than a phone that expands the user base, which is a mistake imo.

Happened last year:

http://www.tmonews.com/2016/09/t-mobile-free-iphone-7-offer-end/

But they had a $420 savings attached to this deal instead. Put it this way though, there are only 4 major carriers in the US with constant turnover. To build "2 year guaranteed customers," they get them locked into an equipment installment plan that will be provided with zero interest. So they're either making $ on a phone MSRP (manufacturer suggested retail price) markup or nothing at all. I use 2 year guaranteed customer loosely because a person can opt out of the agreement, but they would owe what's left of the device immediately or would have to make special arrangements with a carrier on a case by case basis.

Sometimes, they sucker people into a 2 year agreement with a "free" tablet or lower end device, like a free iPhone SE. In order to get the SE "free," they need to wait at least like 2-3 billing cycles to be given a pre-paid debit card worth the value of the phone as a "reimbursement" and possible bill credits to clear out any old balances.

A carrier always makes its $ back or finds an advantage in every transaction. For instance, my carrier T-Mobile US, is extremely aggressive with its ideas. It caused Verizon and AT&T to change its policies. T-Mobile offered low cost plans and tons of perks to under cut Verizon and AT&T. Both those companies were forced to offer unlimited plans again and some reward perks for customers. However, now that T-Mobile has bigger traction, they raise prices from "limited time only rates for new customers and those looking for new plans as current subscribers." T-Mobile could still manage to make $ if they could sell private data to third party companies and be aggressive with bloatware and ads on their own devices. US plans are stupid expensive at times. Europe has much more cheaper plans, but pay up for the phones because of a variety of things like VAT, import fees, currency differences, inflation, etc.

 

[mctrials23]

I hear you, but at the same time, people will still pay up for iOS products. If you're expecting ergonomic overhauls and device aesthetic changes, iPhone isn't the one to do that.

People don't expect to have a new iphone design every year but 3g/4/5/6 all had design changes and yet apple have kept the same design for 2 complete 2 year cycles if they rehash the 6 design to make the 7S/+. I love the iphone 6 design but given what samsung are churning out and the technology available the iphone 8 is the minimum we should deman/expect from the normal iphone. If apple sold the 8 for a sensible price they could take a massive swing at samsung and their market. Instead of insulting their customers and taking the piss they could actually surprise and wow us again for the first time in ages.

Noticed how the Galaxy S5 looked like a crappy bandage and became a glass/metal construct in one year? And with the S8/S8+ becoming this glass masterpiece with minimal bezels and no home button and an 18:9 aspect ratio now? That's because Samsung needed to make those changes and wanted to be aggressive with building off the changes. The same rectangular big bezel design still worked with the iPhone 7/7+ and Apple captured would be Note 7 owners.

People will gladly pay up for the iPhone 8's overpriced sticker because it's bleeding edge tech with an iOS twist on it.

I agree that some people will but I think apple will find that their sales numbers are nothing like what they would like if they price the base 8 model above $900.

Exactly. This is what I was getting at. For what Apple may be charging for the iPhone 8, it won't be competitive with a phone that is very similar for maybe half the price. It might be a phone targeted only to people dedicated to the Apple ecosystem, rather than a phone that expands the user base, which is a mistake imo.

Its a huge mistake. Samsung are growing and putting out great devices. I love iOS but I will genuinely consider an S8 if apple prices the 8 too high. There is no way I am spending serious money on the 7S. My brand loyalty is pretty strong but there comes a point where I feel like I am being insulted by apple and trying to flog me a 3 year old phone with upgraded components that simply keep my phone running at the speed my old 6 did when it was new.

If you give someone an iphone 6 running the (then) latest version of iOS and then gave them a 7S running iOS11 I don't think they would be impressed with what apple have done in 3 years. Do the same but give them and 8 and they definitely would.

 

[akash.nu]

Like with the iPhone 6 when it was released, I assume that the goal for the iPhone 8 would be to expand Apple's user base with a phone and design that is cutting-edge. The only direct competition for the iPhone 8 would be the Galaxy S8, but price-wise, they wouldn't match up at all if the rumors are true. Galaxy S8 with 64GB released for $725 US.

If Apple sells the iPhone 8 for $1000 or more, would that cater to new customers who can get nearly the same experience from an S8?

And you also have to worry about how it makes the iPhone 7s look. It will clearly appear to be an "inferior" product to the iPhone 8, but priced the same as an Galaxy S8 anyway.

would that cater to new customers who can get nearly the same experience from an S8?

This statement is simply not true. The experience between iOS and Android is very different. They will never have the same experience.

 

[akash.nu]

No doubt next years '8S' will bring back Touch ID, possibly have a second size option and bring prices back down slightly. I'm very tempted to wait out this year as I feel like a beta tester.

Not sure how you are that certain about Touch ID returning next year. There hasn't been a history of Apple bringing back removed hardware components in any of their lines.

 

[Riffz60]

Not sure how you are that certain about Touch ID returning next year. There hasn't been a history of Apple bringing back removed hardware components in any of their lines.

Because of the fact they wanted it in this year but couldn't get it ready in time - it's far from a redundant feature.

It's very easy for them to sell it as a brand new feature if they build it into the screen for next year.

 

[michael9891]

Without going into lots of detail, I'm expecting the 256gb OLED model to be approx $1100/£1100. That's already a fairly significant increase on the 7+. And if sales are good (which no doubt they will be), I can see a further increase next year. Even more so if they release a bigger OLED model.

And I'm not buying the 'I feel like a beta tester, so I'll wait for Touch ID under the screen next year' nonsense.

 

[akash.nu]

Because of the fact they wanted it in this year but couldn't get it ready in time - it's far from a redundant feature.

It's very easy for them to sell it as a brand new feature if they build it into the screen for next year.

That will not be traditional Touch ID though, would it?

 

[ApfelKuchen]

Regardless of price (don't want to speculate on that), I don't see the "iPhone 8" (which I doubt will have that number at all, for many reasons, including avoiding the implied equivalence with the Galaxy 8) being in competition with Samsung. I see "iPhone Deluxe" as a model targeted at existing Apple fans, not platform-switchers. The "competition" for the iPhone Deluxe will be the 7s and 7s Plus. Those who want it and can justify the cost will get it. Those who want to pay the customary price will still have a pair of great phones to choose from.

 

[michael9891]

So Apple won't call it iPhone 8 because of the Galaxy S8? You mean how Apple didn't call it the iPhone 7 because of the Galaxy S7? Oh wait.....

And iPhone Deluxe? Never. Makes iPhone Pro sound appealing.

 

[willmtaylor]

So Apple won't call it iPhone 8 because of the Galaxy S8? You mean how Apple didn't call it the iPhone 7 because of the Galaxy S7? Oh wait.....

And iPhone Deluxe? Never. Makes iPhone Pro sound appealing.

Deluxe with cheese, please!

 

[burntomaro]

A base 7Plus is $769. I've seen lots of $1000 starting price points for the anniversary iPhone. Is OLED really costing apple $231. People will say, well I paid $969 for a 7 Plus w/256gb. Great but that's with the maximum storage, and unless the OLED phone starts with 128gb, it shouldn't start at $1000.

If they release 3 phones, they should all start w/ 64 GB because 32gb is a joke in 2017 and the price should be:

iPhone $650
iPhone Plus $750
iPhone OLED $850

Memory increase should be $50 for 128 and $100 for $256.

If they follow that pricing, they would hit a walk off grand slam.

 

[nviz22]

A base 7Plus is $769. I've seen lots of $1000 starting price points for the anniversary iPhone. Is OLED really costing apple $231. People will say, well I paid $969 for a 7 Plus w/256gb. Great but that's with the maximum storage, and unless the OLED phone starts with 128gb, it shouldn't start at $1000.

If they release 3 phones, they should all start w/ 64 GB because 32gb is a joke in 2017 and the price should be:

iPhone $650
iPhone Plus $750
iPhone OLED $850

Memory increase should be $50 for 128 and $100 for $256.

If they follow that pricing, they would hit a walk off grand slam.

I would love having an $850 OLED model with 64gb storage base. Works for me. That way I can pay $489.50 out of pocket if I can trade my iPhone SE towards it with T-Mobile using last year's promo!

 

[michael9891]

Deluxe with cheese, please!

That's next years' model. You can supersize your meal, I mean phone with the bigger OLED model.

 

[burntomaro]

I would love having an $850 OLED model with 64gb storage base. Works for me. That way I can pay $489.50 out of pocket if I can trade my iPhone SE towards it with T-Mobile using last year's promo!

It doesn't make sense in 2017 to offer a phone, without upgradable storage, at 32 GB. Memory is cheap. Cheap cheap cheap. Then to charge $200 extra for max storage is straight up greed and wish people wouldn't buy those phones to send a message to apple.

I really hope the OLED comes in at $850 but I'm definitely not holding my breath.

 

[akash.nu]

Regardless of price (don't want to speculate on that), I don't see the "iPhone 8" (which I doubt will have that number at all, for many reasons, including avoiding the implied equivalence with the Galaxy 8) being in competition with Samsung. I see "iPhone Deluxe" as a model targeted at existing Apple fans, not platform-switchers. The "competition" for the iPhone Deluxe will be the 7s and 7s Plus. Those who want it and can justify the cost will get it. Those who want to pay the customary price will still have a pair of great phones to choose from.

I don't think people switch much on their smartphone choices anymore. The market is pretty much saturated to be honest.

 

[bslow1]

would that cater to new customers who can get nearly the same experience from an S8?

This statement is simply not true. The experience between iOS and Android is very different. They will never have the same experience.

It's very similar. The phones have the same build quality, similar specs, same camera, same apps, same edge to edge OLED screen. In terms of broad usability, they are similar. The differences are overstated to appeal to their respective audiences.
And even if you wanted to only focus on the minute differences, it doesn't warrant the perceived price markup.

 

[apolloa]

128GB will most certainly not be the minimum.

And how do you know that then? Because you've presented your opinion as a fact.

 

[nviz22]

It doesn't make sense in 2017 to offer a phone, without upgradable storage, at 32 GB. Memory is cheap. Cheap cheap cheap. Then to charge $200 extra for max storage is straight up greed and wish people wouldn't buy those phones to send a message to apple.

I really hope the OLED comes in at $850 but I'm definitely not holding my breath.

To be fair, I applaud Apple for increasing the SE storage from 16gb to 32gb several months ago. Is it enough, no. 64gb w/o expandable storage is the bare minimum. But Apple can get away with "memory upgrades."
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And how do you know that then? Because you've presented your opinion as a fact.

Leak from Foxconn showed 64gb/128gb for that hideous new "Copper Gold" color. But then again, 256gb should be the max for this upcoming OLED model.

 

[akash.nu]

And how do you know that then? Because you've presented your opinion as a fact.

Historic data.

 

[michael9891]

The jet black iPhones were probably the most sought after and they were only available in 128gb & 256gb. So for the premium OLED model, it wouldn't be a surprise to only offer the same storage options.

 

[macduke]

People can be simple minded as well, so they would see the 7S as a shiny object and be content. Apple will still sell plenty of 7S devices.

Yeah, one of my best friends is like this. He always gets the cheapest current iPhone the summer before the new models come out every two years. I always tell him the new ones are coming, but he just wants to save some money and you can get deals ahead of the new device launch. So that's what he does. He has the current iPhone for 1-2 months and doesn't really care. There are a lot of people like this. We aren't regular people because we're on MacRumors so we don't understand.

I think the iPhone Pro will be priced at least $200 more than the iPhone Plus, but not more than $400 more. If I had to guess, $999 for 64GB, $1099 for 256GB, and $1299 for 512GB. Although they may not offer a 512GB model yet, BUT that model could justify some of these rumors about a price north of $1200. If that comes true, I'll be paying $51.16/mo for the 256GB model on the iPhone Upgrade Program. This will cost me an extra $175/yr over my 128GB 7s to have a high end OLED 3X retina device with wireless charging, dual-cameras, new design, better water proofing, 3-4GB RAM, improved camera with 4K60 front and back, Face ID and longer battery life in a smaller package. I'd pay that no problem.

I haven't seen any rumors but I bet the speakers are also better, and things like the flash might be brighter, and the laser module might make auto focus lightning quick with the potential of better depth recognition for more accurate portrait mode. And from what I understand, Sony is the camera manufacturer of the iPhone 7, and they have a new 19MP sensor that can shoot 1080p video up to 960fps. What I'm not sure about is how good that sensor works in low-light situations and therefore suitable for use in the iPhone. But we might see some crazy advancements like that on the horizon. I see devices like the iPhone destroying the low-end dSLR and low-end mirrorless markets within five years. It's why companies like Sony are investing more in higher end APS-C such as the $1400 a6500 and the $4500 full-frame a9 and haven't updated their low-end APS-C a5100 or low-end full-frame A7II in years. Apple wants to produce a device that has a camera that can do really crazy stuff and appeal to these "prosumer" users and I think the iPhone Pro will be THE platform for all kinds of crazy smartphone camera development in the coming years.