Totally second this! Release the regular size once every couple of years and also split mini/max model releases to avoid tanking sales, for example release a mini every 3-4 years and people like myself and many others who want a smaller phone would be totally fine with such upgrade cycles.There are a lot of people who prefer the extreme ends of screen sizes. I used to upgrade on a yearly basis until they released iPhone 7, since then it's only been 2 more phones. Plus, their whole "eco" image would be far more realistic and believable. But hey, billions are to be made, so Timmy won't do this.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Kuo: iPhone 14 Plus Pre-Orders Worse Than iPhone 13 Mini, Product Strategy 'Fails'
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
The Mini failed for 3 reasons, it should have had pro specs, especially the materials (I would have bought it then) even without the third camera, initially it was launched with a very weak battery and it has a lot of competition from the SE.
The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus have seen "bad" pre-order results, indicating that Apple's positioning of the two new standard models may have failed, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
In his latest post on Medium, Kuo explained that the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max have seen "neutral" and "good" pre-order results compared to the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max. Delivery wait times of more than four weeks may indicate good demand for the new high-end devices. It is apparently "unclear" whether Apple will increase shipment forecasts of its Pro models, but there is a "growing" chance that it will cut orders of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, which currently account for around 45 percent of the entire lineup's shipments.
The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus are expected to be in stock in retail stores on their launch dates, "reflecting lackluster demand." As it stands, Kuo says that the pre-order results for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus are worse than those of the third-generation iPhone SE and the iPhone 13 mini. He noted that Apple cut orders of both the third-generation iPhone SE and the iPhone 13 mini in the first half of 2022 due to low demand.
If demand for the two standard models do not improve, Apple may cut iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus orders as soon as November. Suppliers who are not major beneficiaries of Apple's iPhone 14 Pro models will likely see the start of declining revenue in September and October as a result.
For iPhone 14 Plus, in particular, the "pre-order result is significantly lower than expected." As a model that effectively replaces the "mini" form factor in the latest iPhone lineup, with 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch display sizes now being the only options, Kuo said that "Apple's product segmentation strategy for standard models fails this year."
All four of the iPhone 14 models were announced by Apple last week and have been available to pre-order since September 9. The iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max are set to launch on Friday, September 16, and the iPhone 14 Plus will launch on Friday, October 7.
Article Link: Kuo: iPhone 14 Plus Pre-Orders Worse Than iPhone 13 Mini, Product Strategy 'Fails'
The 14 Plus will fail, because the difference with the Max is huge and for $300 extra 80% of it's potential buyers will go Pro Max
You said it yourself. The 13 Pro Max has been discontinued.
The average upgrade cycle is 3-4 years, according to various stats. Remember, that's average, not max, meaning that many people don't upgrade for say 5 years.
Hell, I'm an Apple geek with a very decent income, and my upgrade cycle is 4 years. I'll be on my 12 Pro Max until 2024. The only people I know personally that upgrade every year include one that does app design for iOS and he writes off the phone every year on his taxes for his business, and another who makes 7 figures and also writes off the phone every year for his business.
I think the that's the issue, right? I think if you drop the iPhone 13 in this line-up then problem solved. The difference between the iPhone 13 Mini and iPhone 14 is minimal, so it could work. Goes from:
iPhone SE - $429 (64GB)
iPhone 12 - $599 (64GB)
iPhone 13 mini - $599 (128GB)
iPhone 13 - $699 (128GB)
iPhone 14 - $799 (128GB)
iPhone 14 Plus - $899 (128GB)
iPhone 14 Pro - $999
iPhone 14 Pro Max - $1099
To this:
iPhone SE - $429 (64GB)
iPhone 12 - $599 (64GB)
iPhone 13 mini - $599 (128GB)
iPhone 14 - $699 (128GB)
iPhone 14 Plus - $799 (128GB)
iPhone 14 Pro - $999
iPhone 14 Pro Max - $1099
"today we are introducing the MAGIC PORT, its a port that works across all of your devices like magic... Use the same cable to connect all of your Apple devices.. And we are selling magic port cables seperately for $59 each in the same color as your phone."
How is it the same? Best Buy right now is selling 13 pro max starting at 1099$. 14 plus starts at 899
"The new iPhone 14 is incredible, I'm pre-ordering day one!"
- No one, ever.
- No one, ever.
Your argument falls down when you look at Samsung’s Fold/Flip pricing strategy.
Prices were the same.
It’s likely Google (Pixel) and Samsung (S23) will be similar.
Those who want the Pro version will buy sooner.
Those that want the basic version will buy later, especially during the holidays. Also excluding the year-over-year upgrades because of small perceived improvements.
...and we get these results.
Those that want the basic version will buy later, especially during the holidays. Also excluding the year-over-year upgrades because of small perceived improvements.
...and we get these results.
And who's going to buy a 13 Pro Max at that price instead of a 14 Pro Max? It sounds like Best Buy has not updated its pricing yet.
Regardless, there are good deals to be had on 13 Pro Max - which is a much smarter buy than the 14 Plus imo. On the used market they can be had at or under $900 for sure.
Good. Apple should learn that the Mini isn't the problem, it the placement in the lineup. People that want the "best" iPhone buy the Pro Max. People that want the smallest, best phone, buy the Pro. A mini Pro will work. This proves people don't just want the biggest phone available.
With the 12 Mini, you had to sacrifice battery. With the 13 Mini, you had to choose size over a 120hz screen. Do people want a bigger cheap phone? Nope. People want a more expensive, small phone.
With the 12 Mini, you had to sacrifice battery. With the 13 Mini, you had to choose size over a 120hz screen. Do people want a bigger cheap phone? Nope. People want a more expensive, small phone.
I'm not sure if you're joking or not, but Apple basically already does this.
iPhone Upgrade Program
Get a new iPhone every year, and the protection of AppleCare+ with the iPhone Upgrade Program. Buy now or visit an Apple Store today.
www.apple.com
You can still get pro max 13 with little bit more money than 14 plus
If Ukraine was liberated it would make a difference - people would worry less about winter energy costs. I want to get a 14 Pro but I’d be crazy to while things are so uncertain.
Different subject, my post was about whether a “Pro” camera would make sense or not on a iPhone Mini.
But on the very existence of the mini, yes no doubt it didn’t sell enough for Apple to keep it in the line-up so there is no surprise.
Having said that, the timing was as bad as it could have been to launch a Mini. It came just months after widespread lockdown had been enacted in many countries and everyone was getting used to being stuck at home and not travelling/commuting - literally a generational worst time to market a new more portable device. Also Apple didn’t market it very well IMO - they did try to sell it more as a budget option than a cool smaller device (although as I just said, circumstances didn’t help them).
I feel slightly pleased about this. Using a year old processor and ditching the mini aren’t changes that I like.
The Mini Pro I totally agree with, would have bought it instead of the 13 Pro, probably even if it only had 2 cameras, because being so small realistically they can't fit 3 cameras in it, however as long as it had all the other Pro features, I would have gone for it
The best thing to do is just not to buy anything at all and wait until next year and see if apple comes back to their senses.
Apple releases a new iPhone and we get stories about allegedly poor sales. Happens every single year. News at 11.
I think a Pro mini would sell even worse, unless they priced it the same as the old mini, which they wouldn't.