Other iPhones Aren't Worth More Than $600 (To Me)

[Thai]

So “no” at first.
Lots of people will live that reality forever, no matter what they do or job they have.

Like the sentiment of only buy it if you can pay cash, I just wish that were a reality for a lot more people in the US. Really tough world for a lot of people nowadays, sadly.

The jobs are there. Unemployment is all time low. The world is NOT tough. It is that people have ****** mindset to spend more than what they make.

 

[turbineseaplane]

The jobs are there. Unemployment is all time low. The world is NOT tough. It is that people have ****** mindset to spend more than what they make.

There is so much to respond to and disagree with there, but that would be totally off topic and I will stop now.
Cheers

 

[bpeeps]

Yes, the hypothetical is exaggerated, but that's the point. I realize you don't see a commonality, I don't expect anyone so immersed in the lifestyle presented them to do so. I'm sure you can argue many points from numerous books and case studies, yet the base constructs will always be the same, and they cannot be found in any book that thinks inside the current box.

It's not exaggerated. It's just wrong, no matter how you phrase "thinking outside the box".

 

[rui no onna]

I'm sure everyone is going to start spewing the old adage that something is worth as much as someone is willing to pay for it. I wonder how those people would justify a doctor coming up with a cure for cancer (for example) but only performing it for those that can pay $1 million for it, even though the procedure costs him $100. I'm sure there would be people willing to pay it so why should the doctor lower their price? When is too much simply too much and you do it just because you can.

R&D's expensive so you want to sell enough to at least recoup those costs and quickly before the patent expires.

Apple products have relatively inelastic demand. There are plenty of manufacturers for Android smartphones and Windows PCs but the only choice is Apple if one wants iOS and MacOS (yeah, I know Hackint0sh exists but let's ignore that one since I doubt majority of MacOS users actually resort to that).

The market as a whole is gonna decide what it's willing to bear. I think Apple knows at what price demand becomes more elastic otherwise, we wouldn't have devices such as the iPad 6th gen, Air 3, XR, etc.

 

[44267547]

I imagine the majority of smart phones in the consumers eyes is something that they don’t want to spend a lot of money on, because it’s a tool, not necessarily just for enjoyment factors. That’s why when we have these increases of smart phone prices, it’s not attractive to the consumer, because they’d rather invest their money elsewhere in something that allows for more pleasure. A smart phone no matter how much functionality/technology it incorporates, will always be a tool, it’s not a pleasurable item like a boat/muscle car/piece of jewelry, etc.

 

[pika2000]

I imagine the majority of smart phones in the consumers eyes is something that they don’t want to spend a lot of money on, because it’s a tool, not necessarily just for enjoyment factors. That’s why when we have these increases of smart phone prices, it’s not attractive to the consumer, because they’d rather invest their money elsewhere in something that allows for more pleasure. A smart phone no matter how much functionality/technology it incorporates, will always be a tool, it’s not a pleasurable item like a boat/muscle car/piece of jewelry, etc.

Depends.
Remember the original iPhone? $500 on 2-yr contract. Even Steve Ballmer laughed at it, but here we are today. For some people, having an iPhone is "cheaper" than having multiple of other devices, eg. a mobile phone, a PDA, an MP3 player, a portable video player, a point-n-shoot camera, a camcorder, a portable gaming console, and other things that is now an app on a smartphone like a digital wallet, digital banking, etc. Of course, for people who only sees the iPhone only as a phone, then it is expensive.

I mean photographers are willing to buy a camera lens for thousands of dollars, while for a common person that would be quite ridiculous. A tool is a tool, price is a separate thing.

 

[44267547]

Depends.
Remember the original iPhone? $500 on 2-yr contract. Even Steve Ballmer laughed at it, but here we are today. For some people, having an iPhone is "cheaper" than having multiple of other devices, eg. a mobile phone, a PDA, an MP3 player, a portable video player, a point-n-shoot camera, a camcorder, a portable gaming console, and other things that is now an app on a smartphone like a digital wallet, digital banking, etc. Of course, for people who only sees the iPhone only as a phone, then it is expensive.

I mean photographers are willing to buy a camera lens for thousands of dollars, while for a common person that would be quite ridiculous. A tool is a tool, price is a separate thing.

Price point is relative, because what is the consumer willing to spend for something that really accomplishes all the same things that a cheaper phone can execute a more expensive iPhone can do? What carriers are trying to do, is make it easier to pay off these expensive phones by using subsidized payments. A smart phone will never be more than what it already is, it’s a multi tool/commodity, it’s not a luxury item consumers would rather invest their money in something else.

 

[pika2000]

Price point is relative, because what is the consumer willing to spend for something that really accomplishes all the same things that a cheaper phone can execute a more expensive iPhone can do? What carriers are trying to do, is make it easier to pay off these expensive phones by using subsidized payments. A smart phone will never be more than what it already is, it’s a multi tool/commodity, it’s not a luxury item consumers would rather invest their money in something else.

Well, suit yourself. Obviously for you a tool is the same as a commodity and MUST be cheap.
So what phone are you using now?
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I realize this is simply my opinion only. Having used many different iPhone's over the years, and currently using the XS Max, I personally feel no iPhone is worth more than $600 at retail. I understand others love their iPhone's and paid a lot more than that for them. But having used the XS Max for almost a year now, I'm simply done with pricey iPhone's. I simply don't think they are worth it at that price point. I'm planning on trading in my XS Max to AT&T once it's half paid off and getting an 8 Plus which I believe will be $550 post-keynote this year. I will then hold onto it until it no longer functions properly. With the exception of a potential future folding iPhone, I see no reason to ever spend more than $600 ever again for an iPhone. The innovation in smartphones is simply no longer there.

Be glad that you are paying only that much for an iPhone. In the region where I'm at, the baseline XR is priced at ~USD $1000. Yes, that's the price of the Xs in the US.

So it's hilarious seeing all these people from the US whining about how "expensive" their iPhones are. 😀

 

[rui no onna]

A smart phone will never be more than what it already is, it’s a multi tool/commodity, it’s not a luxury item consumers would rather invest their money in something else.

Note, high end smartphones are luxury items and are sometimes considered status symbols in countries with low median income.

 

[44267547]

Note, high end smartphones are luxury items and are sometimes considered status symbols in countries with low median income.

Sure. But the influx of price points are exactly what is causing the slow down of upgrades. China is a great example of that, Apples second largest market that has been on the decline for over the last year now, because they can’t afford the prices of what Apple is charging for their top-tier phones. Case in point really.

 

[rui no onna]

Remember the original iPhone? $500 on 2-yr contract. Even Steve Ballmer laughed at it, but here we are today. For some people, having an iPhone is "cheaper" than having multiple of other devices, eg. a mobile phone, a PDA, an MP3 player, a portable video player, a point-n-shoot camera, a camcorder, a portable gaming console

Most families probably didn't own all those devices.

Smartphones may be mini-computers but they're practically commodities by now. To paraphrase @Relentless Power's earlier comment, there are very few things that a $1500 iPhone XS Max can do that a $750 iPhone XR couldn't.

I believe the US is where iPhones have the largest market share. Even here though, pricing on the high end (even on installment) is going beyond the realm of what's affordable/reasonable for many.

Mind, yes, our entire family's on iOS.

Currently, we're on the ff for phones:
1x iPhone SE
2x iPhone 7
1x iPhone XR (replaced a 6+)

It's a major pain switching OS platforms and my parents get confused by Android for some reason. As long as Apple continues to sell up-to-date devices at $750 or less in form factors we can tolerate, we'll be sticking with Apple.

 

[BoricuaHec01]

My Blackberry cost me $600 back in 2008.

 

[rui no onna]

My Blackberry cost me $600 back in 2008.

One of the reasons I decided to get the OG iPhone after I lost my flip phone. The iPhone was competitively priced with the Palm Treos and Blackberries at the time. From playing around in store, it was also much nicer to use for web browsing.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

iPhones are hugely popular but the high end iPhones like the XS are just less popular and less in demand because they are priced excessively above what the average consumer is interested in. Deeper blacks and stainless steel are difficult to market as benefits these days when the base price is £1k.

I see people here justify it by suggesting phones are more expensive to manufacture and Apple need to recoup their R&D investment which is fine, but as a consumer why should I be tempted to do that? The XR does 95% of what an XS does and is £250-300 cheaper. This is why I think Apple need to focus on the XR line more closely going forward as it’s becoming the business and consumer iPhone of choice as it’s competitively priced and is capable enough.

 

[BoricuaHec01]

One of the reasons I decided to get the OG iPhone after I lost my flip phone. The iPhone was competitively priced with the Palm Treos and Blackberries at the time. From playing around in store, it was also much nicer to use for web browsing.

I miss the qwerty keyboard days.

 

[apolloa]

Hmm.. personally I think considering how much Apple charges fo the iPhone, and the massive profits it’s made from it, they could include a USB C to lightning cable in the figging box! You could plug it into a Mac laptop then...

 

[blairh]

This fall will be a really interesting time for the iPhone lineup. Very curious to see what it will entail exactly and at what price points. Assuming it follows the pattern of previous years, you'll be able to obtain an iPhone 8 and 8 Plus at very competitive prices ($450 & $570). Even though they look dated they offer great features and will be very appealing compared to the more luxury line that starts at $1,000 and up. I personally got swept up in the redesign hype which led to owning the X for a year and then the XS Max for what will be a year next month. A few months into owning the Max it hit me that not having bezels is really not a big deal (for me).

 

[mebehere]

I realize this is simply my opinion only. Having used many different iPhone's over the years, and currently using the XS Max, I personally feel no iPhone is worth more than $600 at retail. I understand others love their iPhone's and paid a lot more than that for them. But having used the XS Max for almost a year now, I'm simply done with pricey iPhone's. I simply don't think they are worth it at that price point. I'm planning on trading in my XS Max to AT&T once it's half paid off and getting an 8 Plus which I believe will be $550 post-keynote this year. I will then hold onto it until it no longer functions properly. With the exception of a potential future folding iPhone, I see no reason to ever spend more than $600 ever again for an iPhone. The innovation in smartphones is simply no longer there.

I would consider the XR if you can get a deal. I got an email from from Verizon a month or so ago, and after all the math, the phone is costing me $380 with no silly new line or requiring unlimited data. Same old plan. Traded in my 6.
[doublepost=1564797473][/doublepost]

I will pay 6000 for it

Please adopt me.

 

[mebehere]

Oh lord, here we go again. 🙄 Thanks for your opinion. No, the price doesn't matter to most people. Yes, we will likely continue to pay what we do for Apple products. No, we don't care that you think they are overpriced. No, the notch doesn't bother normal people. Did I cover everything? Oh, and thanks for announcing your intentions so that you can feel validated. There, that's all. Have a good day. 😀

Different strokes for different folks. Ever heard that before? Facts are to be accepted. Opinions are to be respected.

 

[Zwhaler]

I agree that the phone is worth about $600 to me as well. I have many many reasons why I prefer Android over iOS, and therefore the idea of paying a premium for an iPhone is ridiculous for me. Obviously works well for many other people so I'm not bashing them.

 

[mebehere]

Of course they're quite overpriced in comparison to older models but you have some technology that no other phones have for now.

For example, the folded OLED. Apple is the only ones who fold the display at the bottom and escape the chin disease. They can even shrink their bezels to just a few mm and still not have a chin.

Taptic Engine? Tell me a phone that has a better vibration motor. One Plus tried to implement something similar, but that's almost 3-4 years after Apple and seems like Apple will improve it even more. Not a big innovation, but something that only they thought about improving.

I don't know how much more expensive this is, but have yall seen the insides of the flagship Androids? They look cheap compared to the looks of Apple. Not saying it's worse by performance, but Apple sure does pay more for better visuals.

Also, their CPU is still the leader among every other phone. We don't have to talk about that.

The longevity of iOS compared to Android is undeniable.


I'm not saying $1000 for example is an acceptable price, but for some, it never will be, for others - they don't care, it's Apple.

I do honestly believe that these are still incremental upgrades that we’ve seen every year. I also remember when we got a brand new design update every two years as opposed to four (6 to 8, X excluded).

The problem as I see it is that every iPhone is touted as an amazing upgrade over its predecessor. And the new phones do either have a great new design or great new features using the old design.

But then the prices got all out of whack. And that has never made much sense to me.

And don’t even get me started on the iPads.

Anyway. Yeah.

 

[mebehere]

Depends.
Remember the original iPhone? $500 on 2-yr contract. Even Steve Ballmer laughed at it, but here we are today. For some people, having an iPhone is "cheaper" than having multiple of other devices, eg. a mobile phone, a PDA, an MP3 player, a portable video player, a point-n-shoot camera, a camcorder, a portable gaming console, and other things that is now an app on a smartphone like a digital wallet, digital banking, etc. Of course, for people who only sees the iPhone only as a phone, then it is expensive.

I mean photographers are willing to buy a camera lens for thousands of dollars, while for a common person that would be quite ridiculous. A tool is a tool, price is a separate thing.

You have a very good point regarding phones being able to replace multiple products. I spent well over $10,000 on DSLR camera equipment back in the day (I was a professional at the time).

But smartphones have always been more than phones. Well before the first iPhone. There’s a certain expectation that a smartphone will do more than just make calls.

 

[loybond]

Different people have different needs, taste, finances etc. Personally I'm ok paying around $1500-2000 CAD for the 11 Max (or whatever it'll be called) and upgrading every year.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Oh lord, here we go again. 🙄 Thanks for your opinion. No, the price doesn't matter to most people. Yes, we will likely continue to pay what we do for Apple products. No, we don't care that you think they are overpriced. No, the notch doesn't bother normal people. Did I cover everything? Oh, and thanks for announcing your intentions so that you can feel validated. There, that's all. Have a good day. 😀

Wouldn’t ‘most people’ be paying £1k+ for their iPhone if price didn’t matter? It’s a buyers market, of course price matters.

 

[The Game 161]

I do honestly believe that these are still incremental upgrades that we’ve seen every year. I also remember when we got a brand new design update every two years as opposed to four (6 to 8, X excluded).

The problem as I see it is that every iPhone is touted as an amazing upgrade over its predecessor. And the new phones do either have a great new design or great new features using the old design.

But then the prices got all out of whack. And that has never made much sense to me.

And don’t even get me started on the iPads.

Anyway. Yeah.

Prices are out of whack but tech has improved greatly since the prices were in that 600-700 range. In pretty much every area and parts have cost more too.

Not just apple the rest of the comp aren’t also in or close to that 1k range too