iPhone Base Models Remain Best-Sellers Despite Pro Max Appeal

[xxFoxtail]

The mini is never coming back, is it? 😞

My iPhone 13 does all I need it to do. I don't feel the need to upgrade yet and when I do it's going to be another base model iPhone.

I went with the 14 Pro coming from a 12 mini. It’s my first Pro phone if we’re not counting the iPhone X. I think I’d be perfectly happy with the base model again.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

Most people that try the Max, won’t want to go back to a smaller screen

Not true. I'm someone who prefers and buys big phones, Pixel Pros 6.7" screens. I've always had my eye out for the Pro Max because of its size. And my first iPhone was the iPhone 13. And a really funny thing happened. I now find the iPhone 13 to be big enough. Funny how humans adjust to things.

 

[Agile55]

Ergonomically not if you have small hands or are weak. But usability & better visual experience goes up with larger screens

Sorta me w/ average size paws but aged eyes so opting for Max‘s since an XR yrs. ago + all USB-C & the cam. button is laginappe for me.

 

[somantyx]

Because even the base model is too expensive and the max is enormous. Bring back the mini. Hell, give me an e-ink phone that only needs charging once a month (which I know exist).

 

[scorpio vega]

Because even the base model is too expensive and the max is enormous.

The base model is expensive? Not at all lmao.

If you want inexpensive by a cheap android and see how that goes lol

 

[thejadedmonkey]

I was honestly a little bit shocked both models got that extra camera button, I thought they would have held it off for the Pro. My friend has one, it doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but he seems to enjoy it. Just thought they would have put more features on one not the other.

The Max here starts at $1749 plus tax, so over $2k, so I'm not surprised the other models sell more.

Usually Apple does this when they are planning on releasing a new API. There's no reason to program for the new API if half of your customers can't use it.

If you assume a 2 year upgrade cycle, that means 50% of the user base will have that button by the time the 17 series comes out. Granted a 2 year cycle is wildly optimistic, but if you use that as a starting point you can see why Apple wants that button everywhere.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

The base model is expensive? Not at all lmao.

If you want inexpensive by a cheap android and see how that goes lol

You do realize you can get name brand phones with pretty decent specs for $100, right?

Apple is hella expensive when it comes to phones. Granted they provide a really good product, but if all you want is the ability to call, surf the web, and use it as an app platform there are products that will do that for 1/5 the price.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Most people that try the Max, won’t want to go back to a smaller screen

I had a Max a few generations ago and couldn't wait to get rid of it, but it all depends on how you use your phone, I guess. I do almost no consent consumption on mine; I don't watch tv/movies/streaming/YouTube, I don't edit photos, I don't use social media, I don't play games or even have any installed, etc., so the larger screen doesn't do much for me other than add weight.

My wife is a Pixel user and upgraded from the Pixel 2 to the Pixel 8 Pro, used it for about a week and returned it for the regular size. She couldn't stand the larger size, either. The sales person laughed and said that was unusual.

 

[jml12286]

Went from 12 mini to 13 mini and one day was hoping that there would be a mini pro....
Then decided to try the other end of the spectrum and got a 15 pro max when they killed the mini. I really only wanted the 5x zoom. I love the cameras and battery, but recently found an old work 12 mini, and fell in love with the size and feel again.
Please bring mini back so I can have a reasonable sized phone again!

-I feel the staggered release dates of the minis during launch really killed its growth, but who knows....

 

[mathiasinthe314]

I always roll with the Pro Max every year for the battery, camera, and screen size. It is hard to use one handed, but I make due. Thinking about downsizing to the Pro next year if there's no major differences between models since I have an iPad Mini now. Even though I roll with the PM, I buy the base model for my kid, she doesn't need as many bells and whistles and it's a better price point since I am the one paying for it. Although I did let her move up to the Plus this year. This year's base models are definitely better than in years past though.

 

[nottorp]

Tbh I think we've reached stagnation. I only just got a standard iphone 16. I was replacing a 5-6 year old XS.

You know what I feel about the new phone? Nothing. And I'm the kind that does get new electronic toys now and then.

This one: I was annoyed i have to get a new belt holder because it's bigger for no good reason. I was annoyed that they changed the buttons for no good reason. Even that only lasted like a couple of hours. Now I just ... don't care. I have to take it out to use it to remember I got a new phone.

 

[scorpio vega]

You do realize you can get name brand phones with pretty decent specs for $100, right?

No....you can't lmfao.

Big name brands like Samsung with it's A series and Moto with their G series start at under $100(in the states you can even get them free).

Crappy Processors, Outdated ANdroid Version (which is the story for most Android phones), terrible cameras, Low Ram, low storage, lacking modern features (like NFC), not water proof(which is common for many phones these days), weaker radios, etc etc

You arent going to get a decent phone for $100. I sold phones for a living for a decade for big box stores and various telecom. Under $100 you are looking for CHEAP not decent specs. It's why they are called Entry level/Budget phones.

Apple is hella expensive when it comes to phones. Granted they provide a really good product, but if all you want is the ability to call, surf the web, and use it as an app platform there are products that will do that for 1/5 the price.

Smartphones today are essentially mini-computers. They are MP3 players. They are Media consumption devices. They are digital cameras. They are home security tools. They are teaching aids. They are more than just phones so the $699.99 for a phone with computer like specs and superb cameras alone is well worth it and inexpensive.

If you want a phone to call, surf the web and use it for apps...then you can buy a cheap android if you dont really care because they can do that. You can even buy an older iphone if you dont care. But of course with Android, you are going to get subpar performance and lower quality apps and with an older iphone you wont get proper support and some apps are not supported for older platforms.

But to call Apple's iPhone expensive or overpirced is ridiculous.

 

[jntdroid]

I wonder why the SE was left out. Are the sales for that line that non-existent? Also be curious to see the "base model" breakdown.

 

[Ctrlos]

Ergonomically not if you have small hands or are weak. But usability & better visual experience goes up with larger screens

I'd argue that useability goes down the larger you go, mainly as half the operating system moves outside the reach of your thumbs. If I can't use 90% of my phone one-handed whats the point?

 

[switz]

My wife's iPhone 13 Pro Max 1TB (was mine originally and handed down) and my iPhone 14 Pro Max 1TB were just replaced with iPhone 16 Pro Max 1TB models. The two older iPhones were handed down and were upgrades for two daughters. My military discount takes some of the sting out of the acquisition costs.

We accelerated our plan for a major purchase of new laptops and other gear to be delivered before 20 January just in case prices change then.

 

[and 1989 others]

Why would you spend one months worth of Mortgage on a top of the range phone, of which half the features you don't care about, and the other half are incremental improvements only?

I won't be. Still got an iphone 12 and its doing just fine.

 

[nburwell]

I always purchase the base model iPhone when I upgrade. I also utilize iCloud a lot, so I have never run into storage issues on my phone. My wife on the other hand, does not utilize iCloud as much as I do, so she always goes with the middle tier iPhone (256gb). Though she likes the Plus/Max phone’s for the bigger screen and keyboard.

 

[JTK Awesome]

Not a surprise really. Most non tech people I know just have the base phone.

Not a surprise with any product. The cheapest versions sell the most. E.g. automakers typically sell more of the base and low-end spec of a given model vs. well-equipped or top trim levels.

The “other 98%” can’t afford Pro-Max-Plus-XL-whatever’s .

 

[nli10@mac.com]

I have an iPad, why would I need my phone to be bigger?

 

[roncron]

The base models are really good. The 16's especially represent a great update over the 15's.

The pro models offer a lot of meaningful upgrades relative to the non-pro models. But for me, the only one that is a must-have is the 5x zoom. It's getting harder and harder for me to justify buying a pro max when the Plus models would give me most of what I want at a much more palatable price.

 

[Skimac]

I believe another reason they are not that popular is because most of the upgrades are under the hood, so most of the time the phone seems the same to people. These phones have good hardware, but iOS is still lacking the functionality and features people actually want and need. A lot of people have no use for Apple intelligence. Most people are going to download a 3rd party app like a browser to use AI, but it’s still pretty cool to have it native to the os. Also, home screen customization is still way behind the competition. The Dynamic Island was an okay touch. I feel like they would have been better adding split screen back. The iPhone would actually add way more functionality to it. Another thing is they keep releasing these phones back to back. They should actually spend a year or more working out bugs in the software before releasing another phone. These phones have a lot of power these days and are still lacking in functionality and multitasking. Developers are limited by Apple. It’s a lot of apps that still you have to stay inside of the app unless you risk data transfers being paused or restarted due to you leaving the app. I mean, spending $100 a year to still be limited is crazy.

 

[ThirteenXIII]

I've always liked and had the smallest screen phones SE, mini's, etc. I love the iPhone 4, 4S, 5, and 5S form factor, style and size. I will get one if again if they make a model like that that isn't completely sparse of the good tech. However I went for the 16 Pro Max this time around and its easy to hold one handed in most situations, I just like the screen real estate and that it makes it easier doing photography with the larger display and is a good ancillary screen for messages or notifications as I shut those off on my Macs.

 

[Cervisia]

Please dont forget, that the 12 Mini sales were cannibalized by the SE 2 that was released 6 months before.

After 4 years without a "smaller phone" a lot of people jumped on the SE 2 and therefore did not buy the Mini six months later.

The 12 Mini sales were hurt most by the pandemic. I've skipped it because I had no need for a small, portable phone during lockdown. I had my ipad at home.

 

[Avenged110]

Bring back the mini. I'm not upgrading until there's an appropriately-sized option.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

No....you can't lmfao.

Big name brands like Samsung with it's A series and Moto with their G series start at under $100(in the states you can even get them free).

Crappy Processors, Outdated ANdroid Version (which is the story for most Android phones), terrible cameras, Low Ram, low storage, lacking modern features (like NFC), not water proof(which is common for many phones these days), weaker radios, etc etc

Yes, the A15 has a similar processors to the Xs, it shipped with Android 14 and now Android 15 is out. As much storage as an iPhone 16, and its 4gb of RAM is... exactly as much as my iPhone 13 has. You need to stop drinking the cool-aid and realize that not everyone requires a high-dpi screen @ 120hz and an M4 CPU to run facebook or instagram.