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

[xpxp2002]

Very surprised about the 14 plus but if I remember didn't the XR have a lacklustre start and then end up being the best selling phone that year?

Not surprised about the smaller 14. Its basically the same as the 13. I actually think the 14 is the biggest rip off product in Apples line up. If they were smart they would have dropped the 13 from their lineup.

I’m not surprised at all. The 14 Plus is the worst of the lineup. It has the worst feature of the Pro Max (too big size/screen) and lacks the two features that make getting a Pro model worthwhile (ProMotion display and telephoto camera).

I can’t imagine why anybody would buy that Plus over the Pro model. If you actually want a clunky phone-like device with a big screen that doesn’t fit in pockets and can’t be used with one hand, just buy a $649 cellular iPad mini.

 

[Turribeach]

Happy to have contributed to this failure by non upgrading my iPhone 13. iPhone 14 is a pathetic joke. Once it runs out I’ll leave the upgrade program and only upgrade my iPhone when apple actually introduces changes.

Good that you ackowledged your mistake in joining a program that promised you a new product you didn't know if you wanted or not.

 

[nottorp]

As a lot of people have said before me, Europe exchange rate/energy prices aren't conductive to upgrading your toys just because you can.

And as some (fewer) people have said before me, my XS is still working just fine(tm) and I see no need to upgrade. And even if i drop it down a well tomorrow, I'm tempted to get a 13 instead of a 14 just because it's cheaper and i don't see the difference in any feature i care about.

Mobile contract expires in a year, so that's the earliest I'd voluntarily upgrade my phone. Possibly with whatever iphone ends up being free then.

 

[klasma]

That said, I wonder how many people just decided to hold onto their old phone another year and upgrade next year, after saving up for a Pro and hoping for USB-C and Island?

I’m actually neither eager on USB-C, because lightning is physically the better connector, nor on the Island, because the pill intrudes lower into the screen than the notch does, and because the animated UI is gimmicky. But I also prefer the mini size, so whatever.

 

[bassexpander]

I’m not surprised at all. The 14 Plus is the worst of the lineup. It has the worst feature of the Pro Max (too big size/screen) and lacks the two features that make getting a Pro model worthwhile (ProMotion display and telephoto camera).

I can’t imagine why anybody would buy that Plus over the Pro model. If you actually want a clunky phone-like device with a big screen that doesn’t fit in pockets and can’t be used with one hand, just buy a $649 cellular iPad mini.

In all seriousness, I was considering the 14 Plus as a good deal for my mom. But when you look at it compared two an older Pro Max, it no longer seems like a good deal.

 

[David Taub]

I was going to upgrade to a 13 mini, possibly (11 Pro, here). Prices didn't go down on it here in Korea, so I decided to wait.

Same thing here in France. 13 mini still 809 euros. I'm heading to the USA in the Spring. I'll buy one there for about 650 dollars, tax included. Maybe it'll even be less expensive by then. In the meantime my 2020 SE is doing the job.

 

[TimmKook]

I’m not surprised at all. The 14 Plus is the worst of the lineup. It has the worst feature of the Pro Max (too big size/screen) and lacks the two features that make getting a Pro model worthwhile (ProMotion display and telephoto camera).

I can’t imagine why anybody would buy that Plus over the Pro model. If you actually want a clunky phone-like device with a big screen that doesn’t fit in pockets and can’t be used with one hand, just buy a $649 cellular iPad mini.

GOOD MORNING!
While I want the 14 Plus to do well so I can pad my pockets with more cash, you're right on the money.

Our Plus/Max sizes are way too big for the average person to hold. They feel awkward, you have to use two hands, and really don't give the user much more than a regular sized iPhone.

But, we sell them at a higher margin price so we make bank off people who think "bigger is better" and fall into the trap. So it's a win-win for us. More moolah. Buy many and buy often!

 

[User 6502]

Wouldn't Apple be happy that people are spending more for the Pro's than the regular just plus sized model

Except they aren’t. The pro is only selling okay, so it’s not like the failure of the non-pro lineup translated in increased sales of the pro, just an overall decrease of sales and profits.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

I think sales have bombed for the 14 and 14+ is because people are enamored with Fantasy Island. They love the pill.

 

[The Cappy]

It's really fascinating to read the article and even moreso the comment. Kuo declared failure only a couple of days into pre-orders, which is a strategy that itself has repeatedly failed in the past. And people in the comments are just accepting that speculation as gospel. Just bizarre.

Keep in mind that *if* iPhone 14 sales are lousy, some of that might be because of prospectives shifting to a very improved 14 pro. And Apple is unlikely to consider that a failed strategy.

 

[bassexpander]

I’m actually neither eager on USB-C, because lightning is physically the better connector, nor on the Island, because the pill intrudes lower into the screen than the notch does, and because the animated UI is gimmicky. But I also prefer the mini size, so whatever.

I'm really torn.... I like the size of my 11Pro (not available in anything else), but the mini is so darned cute. And I have an IPad for content viewing. I also don't care about the notch, as the pill seems to be more "in the way" than the notch was. Saw ONE reviewer turn the IPhone 14 Pro sideways to watch a video, and it was like... eeeee gahds!!!

 

[gadget123]

Apple have treated customers poorly here. Big fail for me is the old chip and price rise. Keep price same and new chip maybe sell better. I did upgrade grudgingly from the 13 to 14 only as I couldn’t justify the £150 price rise over 13 pro to 14 pro.

 

[qgadrian]

The mini shouldnt have been made as the “cheapest new iphone” with the 12 and 13. The niche market are mostly people who want the small iphone with the three best camera’s.. not the people who think give me the smallest because its the cheapest.

Hopefully, they will apply the same rule they followed to stop iPhone mini production and bring it back.

The iPhone 14 Plus makes no f sense, a iPhone 14 mini would.

 

[NeoSe7en]

Thats surprising to me. I thought there would be more people who wanted a larger phone but didn’t want to shell out $1,100 for the Pro Max.

 

[bassexpander]

Apple have treated customers poorly here. Big fail for me is the old chip and price rise. Keep price same and new chip maybe sell better. I did upgrade grudgingly from the 13 to 14 only as I couldn’t justify the £150 price rise over 13 pro to 14 pro.

Why even upgrade from the base 13 to base 14? I don't get it, unless you are on some sort of upgrade plan?

 

[Rockanrolero]

I’m pissed at Apple because they always manage to screw something up… even though my address is complete in my profile they don’t fill it up completely and then I get this crap from UPS 🤬

 

[bassexpander]

GOOD MORNING!
While I want the 14 Plus to do well so I can pad my pockets with more cash, you're right on the money.

Our Plus/Max sizes are way too big for the average person to hold. They feel awkward, you have to use two hands, and really don't give the user much more than a regular sized iPhone.

But, we sell them at a higher margin price so we make bank off people who think "bigger is better" and fall into the trap. So it's a win-win for us. More moolah. Buy many and buy often!

The 14 Plus should seem a fair amount lighter than anything Pro, however....

 

[webkit]

It’s because of their pricing strategy. Why buy a 14 Plus when you can get Pro (albeit smaller) for 100 more.

They should have put the Plus at the price of the normal 14 and the 14 at a 100 less (so directly replaced last years line-up and kept the same prices). I guarantee if Apple did this they’d see the Plus outsell the 6.1 14.

If they dropped the price of the regular 14 by $100, that would mean they would've had to drop the prices of regular 13 and 12 models by $200 instead of just $100. That would be twice the normal price reduction for older models in recent years.

Oh and yes, the rest of the world has seen an unbelievable price increase so that will also play a part. Those who buy the pros are less likely to scoff at a price increase unlike the target market for the stand 14s.

I think this is the bigger issue... along with an economy slowdown/decline, ongoing high inflation, etc. in the U.S. and elsewhere.

 

[Seanm87]

It's really fascinating to read the article and even moreso the comment. Kuo declared failure only a couple of days into pre-orders, which is a strategy that itself has repeatedly failed in the past. And people in the comments are just accepting that speculation as gospel. Just bizarre.

Keep in mind that *if* iPhone 14 sales are lousy, some of that might be because of prospectives shifting to a very improved 14 pro. And Apple is unlikely to consider that a failed strategy.

Except it also says pro sales haven't been great either

 

[joecomo]

they should have kept the Mini and offered the iPhone14 in 3 sizes.
It is just additional sales volume (that might now go to Sony as small size high-end phones are rare),
that they abandoned

 

[gadget123]

It's really fascinating to read the article and even moreso the comment. Kuo declared failure only a couple of days into pre-orders, which is a strategy that itself has repeatedly failed in the past. And people in the comments are just accepting that speculation as gospel. Just bizarre.

Keep in mind that *if* iPhone 14 sales are lousy, some of that might be because of prospectives shifting to a very improved 14 pro. And Apple is unlikely to consider that a failed strategy.

Sales are average for the Pro though again it’s not a major design change other than the pill shale cut out. Maybe sales are lagging as no folding phone yet?

 

[TimmKook]

Happy to have contributed to this failure by non upgrading my iPhone 13. iPhone 14 is a pathetic joke. Once it runs out I’ll leave the upgrade program and only upgrade my iPhone when apple actually introduces changes.

GOOD MORNING!

Were you not entertained by our brand new, extremely innovative, aptly termed, "Dynamic Island"? If that didn't get you to upgrade I don't know what will! We spent YEARS trying to make animations that bubble up around a cut out on the top of the phone. Our preorder sales are horrible pls buy.

 

[Sammy in SoCal]

People really love these apocalyptic threads, “apple is doomed, yes!”. Lol. Give the phone a chance to launch 🚀 first before diving into why it’s a failure. I think it should do well considering the weight difference vs the Pro Max. That’s an understated feature. The 14 plus weighs about as much as the 8 plus did. It’s gonna feel nice in the hand. The 14 plus does come with some notable upgrades from the regular 13. It has 2gb more ram. It has a later version of qualcomms modem, the X65. It has upgraded Bluetooth 5.3. It comes with the satellite 🛰 and crash detection feature. And it has most of the camera Upgrades like the auto focus, aperture and lens Changes, and video action Mode feature. All those things together are not nothing. Let’s see what happens and revisit this Next year

 

[last_c]

I think they failed to differentiate the Iphone 13 from the 14 mainly because, there's not much difference between them. Customers with an Iphone 12 (me) and an Iphone 13 have no need to upgrade this year. 13 and 14 are way too similar.

 

[AppleTO]

Simple, the phones are too dang expensive, especially outside the US. Maybe they will finally realize this.