Kuo: iPhone 14 Plus Pre-Orders Worse Than iPhone 13 Mini, Product Strategy 'Fails'

[Rradcircless]

I bet they knew this could happen but their ego told them the iPhone 14 would sell like tickets to a K-Pop band. Their logic of iPhone/ iPhone Pro differentiation and segmentation was completely hamfisted. My sister, looking for a new iPhone, asked me what I recommended. I told her, "The iPhone 14 Pro Max is an upgrade to the 13 lineup, not the base 14. The 14 is a shameless reskin of the 13." People will go for either the innovative Pro or save a couple hundred dollars and opt for the 13, but definitely not the 14.

 

[RickDEGH]

Apple went out of their ‘winning’ norm and brought out two devices with a vast differentiating feature, aka Dynamo Island. Unlike cameras people stare at phones from the front. And like it or not, a lot of iPhone buyers want others to know they got the latest. Now, what shows they got the latest if they’re buying the regular 14?

 

[Malus120]

Well would ya look at that... Maybe it was never about "people don't want small phones," so much as people wanted MORE VALUE for their MONEY, and, (particularly given the atrocious pricing outside the US,) see the iPhone 14 (plus) for what it is, an iPhone 13 with a few new features and not a whole lot of extra value to justify that (higher) flagship price tag...

 

[Stiss]

I think it’s time for them to start considering a two year cycle for certain product refreshes.

I’m not sure it’s sustainable to make these marginal improvements to devices (14 & 14 Plus) and charge more for it due to economical factors.

 

[Peter_M]

The headline is pure PR nonsense. People are not buying the phones, because Apple got too greedy and finally pushed the prices too high.

Here in Norway, we've seen multiple price hikes over the last 10 years or so. Apple products went from being fairly reasonably priced and accessible, to becoming overly expensive. I've basically stopped upgrading my Apple stuff, to get the latest and best performance, and now keep my Apple products as long as I can.

Apple obviously thinks that people will still buy their stuff, even when overpriced - WRONG.

For every price hike the excuse is the same "weak currencies in Europe" or "strong US dollar". However, every time the currencies balance out, Apple never lowers the price again. Instead, they keep increasing the prices again and again.

I'm so close to being done with Apple at this point.

 

[heystu]

Apple has reached a stage of being so complacent they just make tiny incremental changes to the iPhone (and Watch for that matter) and expect people to flock to it. With the economic downturn it's inevitable one of the things that will get cut is annual/bi-annual phone upgrades yet Apple still withholds all the 'good stuff' unless you're going to 'go Pro'

C'mon, we didn't even get USB-C as they're inevitably going to announce that with great fanfare for the iPhone 15 and make out like they invented it...

 

[maflynn]

I was all excited to get the 14, though we still owe some money with VZW for our iPhone 12s, but then I was asking myself - what are we getting that is markedly different then our iPhone 12s?

I'm not seeing a must have feature that is worth spending nearly a thousand bucks for. I'm not saying its a bad phone, but what I have is good enough

 

[cicalinarrot]

A) Think this is just a consequence of keeping the non-Pro phones horribly mediocre to push everyone they can to buy the Pro.
B) The Mini was a less expensive phone, it's ok to sell less the pricier one instead on cannibalising the main model with a cheaper one.

 

[TinyMito]

13 to the 14 is basically the same phone. Glad it’s failing.

Pretty much my thought, it's not a bad thing to refresh an existing model with new SoC. I have 12 mini here, there is no point for me to upgrade. Phone is still working in excellent condition—why waste my money and create more trash.

 

[switz]

Will be ordering a mini for my wife as we now have to revert back to carrying two phones with the loss of an actual sim card slot on the new "Pro" models. We travel and need the SIM card capability in parts of the world that have never even heard off an eSim let alone use them.

 

[Abazigal]

I think this is because:

• 90%+ of pre-orders on launch day are for the 14 Pro/Pro Max as these are the enthusiasts who must have the best — the mini was actually somewhat something that was desired by this same market
• Later launch date than the other models, meaning if you want something for launch day, you won't get it

I have a feeling that the Plus will sell really well on contracts or when people come to upgrade as and when. The battery life is going to be insane.

Yup. Feels like an iPhone XR / 11 scenario all over again. The people in the market for one are not the ones to run out and buy one on launch day. They will upgrade when it’s time, which could be any time from now to next June.

It’s just way to early to form any sort of conclusion.

 

[AlekseyS]

Maybe some people expected iPhone 14 mini. And another reason: in most EU countries prices are much higher than before (even if convert to USD equivalent). For example in Sweden it is +50% in SEK for same models and +20% even in USD equivalent (after correcting currency rate). So now for every 1$ we pay $1.40 now or for every 10 SEK half year Ago now 15 SEK.

 

[Ralfi]

This warms the cockles of my heart.

Signs like this, where Apple aren’t making money off consumers after raising prices for essentially the same product, means the market is catching on & smartening up…I hope.

 

[EugW]

I think the iPhone 14 Plus will be this year's best seller with the iPhone 14 in #2 spot. Or else the 2nd best after the iPhone 14.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/poll-which-2022-iphone-14-series-model-will-be-the-highest-seller.2357462/

 

[KurtMann]

It is still early to tell whether it is a success or a failure.

As I observe the 13 and 14 are very similar in terms of features, I miss a 14 mini less than I thought I would and would just get a 13 mini if my current phone died. But that also made me think of another possible strategy, that would be suitable to more people: for each generation add to the "regular" model either a "plus" or a "mini" and alternate which one is updated. That would let people have a larger choice of sizes possibly at the cost of getting last year's version, but given that the differences are less and less meaningful that should not matter too much anyway.

That would be a nice strategy. I have a 13 mini and feel no need to upgrade. And because apple is great at providing software updates, keeping a model for several years is not a problem as long as you replace the battery once or twice.

The software gives midrange iPhones longer life then some flagship androids.

 

[mdnz]

Who would pay 200 euro extra for the same phone as the 13? Makes no sense.

 

[maflynn]

Apple has reached a stage of being so complacent they just make tiny incremental changes to the iPhone

I wouldn't say complacence but rather product maturity.

What could be done, has been done. Other then a folding phone design, all phones are just getting minor refinements at this stage, whether its a pixel, or samsung

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

I think they’re happy about it ? If people turn towards the pros,it’s all they ever wanted

 

[nfl46]

There’s hardly any difference between the iPhone 13 and 14 non-pros. May as well buy the iPhone 13 and save some money.

 

[Kiwe]

In Europe, they are much, much more expensive. Probably reached a tipping point for some people.

 

[contacos]

Basically same phone, 300 EUR more expensive. Literally makes no sense.

The iPhone used to sell well (in Europe) because you could get it cheaper on a 24 months plan but now that the iPhone has gotten so expensive, the first time down payment is already like 300 EUR (instead of 1 EUR a few years ago). I was just checking Telekom and they want 89 EUR (monthly) for a 20 GB plan with the iPhone 14 Pro + 300 EUR up front

 

[EugW]

There’s hardly any difference between the iPhone 13 and 14 non-pros. May as well buy the iPhone 13 and save some money.

The 6.7" screen is the biggest upgrade in years. Main problem is cost if you're buying in Euros.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

This warms the cockles of my heart.

Signs like this, where Apple aren’t making money off consumers after raising prices for essentially the same product, means the market is catching on & smartening up…I hope.

It just means people are buying the pros ,which is what Apple always wanted

 

[ralph_sws]

pro 13 max vs pro 14 max

 

[Coconutx]

If they sold the iPhone 14 £699 and iPhone 14 Plus for £829 no doubt this will a big seller in the uk market...

To be honest anyone after a new iPhone why spend £949 for a plus model you can get a iPhone 13 Pro max on eBay sealed £900 or less....