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thecore762

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Sep 20, 2014
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I love the new iPhone 12 pro max, but with device prices going up every year it’s kinda sad and annoying to say the least when Apple starts removing things from the case starting with earbuds to now the power adapter. What else are they going to remove? I feel like Apple every year is giving its customers less and less value compared to other companies. Tim Cook is really not innovating Apple. The company is nickle and diming and truly feel sad.
 
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It's not often I see the words Apple and Cheap in the same sentence. I would say to you, and without getting into OS v OS issues, that the value Apple offers is in the longevity and low depreciation of its products, and it's value nobody else offers. A five-year-old MacBook or iPhone is still both highly useable and saleable. A five-year-old Samsung laptop or phone, despite initially costing as much as Apple equivalents, is worth what after five years, or even two years? And will a five-year-old Samsung phone run the latest version of its OS, will it have the latest security updates? Not picking on Samsung especially here, just using them as an example.

As for wired earbuds and power adapters in the box, well who doesn't have a surfeit of those things kicking around? I don't believe Apple's eco-bull about dropping them from the box, I'm sure they've done it for a couple of dollars, but did anyone really need them?
 
I love the new iPhone 12 pro max, but with device prices going up every year it’s kinda sad and annoying to say the least when Apple starts removing things from the case starting with earbuds to now the power adapter. What else are they going to remove? I feel like Apple every year is giving its customers less and less value compared to other companies. Tim Cook is really not innovating Apple. The company is nickle and diming and truly feel sad.

How did the prices go up, though? The starting prices are the same, the top price (512gb 12 Pro Max) is actually $50 cheaper than last year if I’m not mistaken. Mix that with carrier deals, pricing is not only on par, or better than last year, but can be cheaper for a lot of people given this is the first time we’ve seen carriers offer up to $700 (formerly $800) off of new iPhones even for people just upgrading. And yes, I know not everybody will take advantage of that nor everybody orders through the carrier w/ financing.
 
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I actually see things differently. How is that an iPhone user with 8+ still gets iOS14? That's apple taking care of past generations. Why would I get a device that within 1 year I will no longer get OS upgrades or become a headache. What I've learned in my 38 years of life is that good stuff don't come cheap or easy in life. There's a premium we must pay for good items. Bottom line...many of us overlook beyond apple pricing. We are more focused on usability and quality. Time is money people.
 
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OP is making two comparisons:

1. To iPhones from the past

2. to other brands.

In comparison to other brands, see posts above.

In comparison to Apple of the past, yeah: Apple is giving less value for what you pay. (No headphones, buy for $20. No charger, buy for $20) if you want a 6.1" screen? Yeah that went up in price by $130.
It absolutely seems like Apple is giving us less value for what you pay.
 
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Intent of OP is not clear. I would not bring this discussion into Apple and Android comparison. Totally different approaches and not relatable.

Yes, old devices are supported but at what cost. That’s what we have to ask. (Eg. My iPhoneX is struggling with iOS14. When switch to 12 series, whole landscape changed but what if iOS16 comes out in next 3 years. Will it run half legged?

Another pointer on less is more concept. While we get less, the company earns more. Charger, earpiece is just a starter. We would see this scenario more in future.
 
Have about 5 pairs of wired earbuds and numerous chargers from previous iphones. Glad in a way that these were not included!

Yup same here and likely in most other technology friendly households of the last 8 ish years we had Lightning cables.
 
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OP is making two comparisons:

1. To iPhones from the past

2. to other brands.

In comparison to other brands, see posts above.

In comparison to Apple of the past, yeah: Apple is giving less value for what you pay. (No headphones, buy for $20. No charger, buy for $20) if you want a 6.1" screen? Yeah that went up in price by $130.
It absolutely seems like Apple is giving us less value for what you pay.

Value is subjective. To those of us who never touched those items in recent years because we’ve moved on to wireless headphones or use 3rd party chargers or chargers we already owned, they mean absolutely zero. There’s a lot of us out there like that. I get the value from how my phone performs in relation to what I pay out of pocket, and thus far Apple has hit that mark for me.

For example:

I purchased a 11 pro max 256 last year for both myself and my wife.

Phone = $1250
Monthly payments = $41.64

I used the phone from Launch last year until Nov 13th 2020

I paid off each remaining balance of ~$710 before purchasing my 12 pro maxes, which means I spent approximately $540 for each phone in a year. After selling each phone for $850 (total in account after shipping and frees), I technically only spent $400 on each phone. Then, take into account my travel rewards on my CC that I get, I was able to redeem ~$175 worth of travel due to the phone purchases alone, which means I effectively spent $312 per phone for a year’s worth of use. Now, take into account that I use my phone for not only entertainment, but also for my photography gig (my screen for my drone, payment processor, social media and contact with clients), my phone also MADE me money. I won’t calculate that into the total, but even so, $312 to use a top end flagship phone for a year, and it helped make me money, that’s pretty darn good value, for me.

Value is subjective, and not everybody will find the same value for the same products.
 
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I could have used another USB-C charger, everything runs on that these days. So yeah, I also don't like them skipping that, or the wired headphones. It is less value to me too. Pricing in Canada is the conversion rate + $100 for the Max phone, and since they've moved away from Jobs' one phone model, the price has continually crept upward. Since the big price leap of the X, resale values locally have nosedived. I used to be able to upgrade every year just adding $200-300, now I need to add $700-1000.

The iPhone still offers value to me, which is why I continue to choose it. However, the competition has gotten (a lot) better, and the iPhone's value has taken a few hits, so the decision is harder and harder each year to stay with it. This year, it still won out, but by the smallest margin yet.
 
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I love the new iPhone 12 pro max, but with device prices going up every year it’s kinda sad and annoying to say the least when Apple starts removing things from the case starting with earbuds to now the power adapter. What else are they going to remove? I feel like Apple every year is giving its customers less and less value compared to other companies. Tim Cook is really not innovating Apple. The company is nickle and diming and truly feel sad.
Apple is cheapening out because they don't include things in the box that by now most people have multiples of?

If you're really that hard up I have a lightning cable from my 2012 iPhone 5 I can give you. Oh wait, I'm still using it!

I've got a busload of those square wall plug-USB chargers you can have though. Let's see…one from my iPhone 5, one from my iPhone 6+, one from my iPhone 6s+, one from my son's iPhone SE, one from my wife's iPhone 5, one from my wife's iPhone 6 and one from my wife's iPhone 6s. Oh, yeah, and all the others from my iPhone 4, 4s and 3GS. Hold on, I've got the larger chargers from two iPad Airs 2s and two iPad 6 gens.

You don't have ANY of this stuff in your own house that you NEED it to be in the box of the new phone? You can't run down to Walmart for any of this? For cheap?

Who is cheapening out here?
 
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Apple is cheapening out because they don't include things in the box that by now most people have multiples of?

If you're really that hard up I have a lightning cable from my 2012 iPhone 5 I can give you. Oh wait, I'm still using it!

I've got a busload of those square wall plug-USB chargers you can have though. Let's see…one from my iPhone 5, one from my iPhone 6+, one from my iPhone 6s+, one from my son's iPhone SE, one from my wife's iPhone 5, one from my wife's iPhone 6 and one from my wife's iPhone 6s. Oh, yeah, and all the others from my iPhone 4, 4s and 3GS. Hold on, I've got the larger chargers from two iPad Airs 2s and two iPad 6 gens.

You don't have ANY of this stuff in your own house that you NEED it to be in the box of the new phone? You can't run down to Walmart for any of this? For cheap?

Who is cheapening out here?
This......... :D
 
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They kept prices the same. I will take that over including useless wired earbuds that I have a drawer full of. Yeah, a USB-C charger would be nice, but these are cheap enough now too.
 
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Value is subjective. To those of us who never touched those items in recent years because we’ve moved on to wireless headphones or use 3rd party chargers or chargers we already owned, they mean absolutely zero. There’s a lot of us out there like that. I get the value from how my phone performs in relation to what I pay out of pocket, and thus far Apple has hit that mark for me.

For example:

I purchased a 11 pro max 256 last year for both myself and my wife.

Phone = $1250
Monthly payments = $41.64

I used the phone from Launch last year until Nov 13th 2020

I paid off each remaining balance of ~$710 before purchasing my 12 pro maxes, which means I spent approximately $540 for each phone in a year. After selling each phone for $850 (total in account after shipping and frees), I technically only spent $400 on each phone. Then, take into account my travel rewards on my CC that I get, I was able to redeem ~$175 worth of travel due to the phone purchases alone, which means I effectively spent $312 per phone for a year’s worth of use. Now, take into account that I use my phone for not only entertainment, but also for my photography gig (my screen for my drone, payment processor, social media and contact with clients), my phone also MADE me money. I won’t calculate that into the total, but even so, $312 to use a top end flagship phone for a year, and it helped make me money, that’s pretty darn good value, for me.

Value is subjective, and not everybody will find the same value for the same products.
Yeah, using a Pro for photo gig is perfect example of how "expensive" tech works for self employed. I wish I was in your situation.

I'd love to be able to have an excuse to spend $1300 😂
 
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I get both sides of the argument. I have been with iPhone since 07 and have upgraded every year, so I personally dont care rather they include chargers or headphones. I have Airpod Pro’s and a ton of unused charging bricks. But I understand for new iPhone users who came over from another phone that may not have any of the chargers or earbuds. Those people may feel it’s unfair that those items are not included and now they have to go out and purchase them. I see both sides of this debate.
 
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Apple is cheapening out because they don't include things in the box that by now most people have multiples of?

If you're really that hard up I have a lightning cable from my 2012 iPhone 5 I can give you. Oh wait, I'm still using it!

I've got a busload of those square wall plug-USB chargers you can have though. Let's see…one from my iPhone 5, one from my iPhone 6+, one from my iPhone 6s+, one from my son's iPhone SE, one from my wife's iPhone 5, one from my wife's iPhone 6 and one from my wife's iPhone 6s. Oh, yeah, and all the others from my iPhone 4, 4s and 3GS. Hold on, I've got the larger chargers from two iPad Airs 2s and two iPad 6 gens.

You don't have ANY of this stuff in your own house that you NEED it to be in the box of the new phone? You can't run down to Walmart for any of this? For cheap?

Who is cheapening out here?
That's very nice of you :) truly.

It's also just arguing against the wrong target: not being willing or able to go to wal mart to buy a charger has nothing to do with the perception that Apple has a reduction in value of their iPhones.
 
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I have loads of EarPods that were never used, so I have no issue excluding those from packaging. Regarding the charging brick, I can understand the move to eliminate them had they opted to use the same USB-A connection in the brick. I have piles of those as well. Since they changed to USB-C, I feel like they should have included the brick. It is what it is. Personally speaking I appreciate the software support on previous model devices. Still have a 6s and 8+ that are getting software updates.
 
That's very nice of you :) truly.

It's also just arguing against the wrong target: not being willing or able to go to wal mart to buy a charger has nothing to do with the perception that Apple has a reduction in value of their iPhones.
No, the subject as proposed by the OP is Apple cheapening out because they are not providing accessories in the box anymore. If OP meant to mean that Apple is cheapening out on the iPhone itself, well OP didn't bring it up.

If someone is a rare bird and also sells off or throws away their accessories with each new phone I can see why they'd want accessories in the box. But how common is that?

Therefore my point stands. You can get any of this stuff online or instore - for cheap. If it must be Apple branded, even that can be found cheaply.
 
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