Low Sales Expected for Larger Apple Watch Series 8 Due to High Price Point

[MacRumors]

The Apple Watch Series 8 model with a larger 1.99-inch display is expected to sell in comparatively low volume, which could indicate a high retail price, according to insightful display analyst Ross Young.

Young made the remarks on the latest episode of The MacRumors Show, explaining that the larger Apple Watch Series 8 model that is expected to join the lineup this year will be manufactured in relatively low volume, reflecting its forecasted sales.

Apple is purportedly expecting to ship just one million units of the larger Apple Watch in the third quarter of this year, compared to four million 45mm Apple Watch Series 8 models. This suggests that the new, larger Apple Watch may have a high price point that constrains sales volume.

This supports Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman's recent speculation that the new Apple Watch will be stylized as a high-end model with a price tag in the region of $900 to $999. In addition to a slightly larger display, the device is expected to offer better durability and longer battery life.

Article Link: Low Sales Expected for Larger Apple Watch Series 8 Due to High Price Point

 

[Ateam043]

What is Apple smoking with a $999 price tag?

 

[blueflame]

What is Apple smoking with a $999 price tag?

the good stuff

 

[SevLucas]

This article is only gonna push even more people to purchase the heavily discounted series 7 only to have them kicking themselves when there is only a marginal price hike and new design announced for the series 8. Gotta clean out that inventory somehow!

 

[Prof.]

I mean I’d buy it.

I’m 6’3 so a bigger Apple Watch is a huge plus for me.

 

[xdmys]

You already have idiots who shell out $900+ for a phone so why not a watch too lmao

 

[AlexESP]

What is Apple smoking with a $999 price tag?

They’re smoking reality. I recall when people couldn’t believe the AW would start at $499. If I would have needed to guess, $999 would have been on the lower end of my range.

 

[Prof.]

You already have idiots who shell out $900+ for a phone so why not a watch too lmao

It may come as a shock, but some people make a lot of money where dropping $900 for a watch or phone isn’t a big deal for them.

I’ve had dinners that cost more than some people’s mortgages. It’s all relative, my friend. Apple is a premium brand that caters to more affluent customers.

 

[iStorm]

This article is only gonna push even more people to purchased the heavily discounted series 7 only to have them kicking themselves when there is no price hike announced for the series 8. Gotta clean out that inventory somehow!

This is about the rumored 3rd size that's even larger and more rugged than the ones we have today, for a total of three sizes in the lineup. I suspect the two "normal" sized ones (41mm & 45mm) will still stay at the same price points as they are today.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

With respect, is this really news? A company doesn't take products to market and expect them all to be high-volume sellers. Paradigms exist to appeal to different customer segments, with a profit/margin considered at every level of development. Like the AR glasses, it's not unusual to consider this a small (but no less important) member of the product family.

 

[seat_hydrant]

I really hope Apple doesn't forget that smaller humans who still want their best watch exist... the 44mm is already ungainly, if they start splitting watch features up by watch size that'd be extremely disappointing

 

[smaffei]

This article is only gonna push even more people to purchase the heavily discounted series 7 only to have them kicking themselves when there is only a marginal price hike and new design announced for the series 8. Gotta clean out that inventory somehow!

No we won't. Bought a Blue Series 7 GPS / Cellular for $403 from Amazon. Couldn't be happier. Recession is coming folks and all that free money out there is gonna dry up.

 

[jclardy]

I think the high price point is just to have a scape goat for low innovation. AW 4/5/6/7 are nearly indistinguishable for the average consumer. Always on is nice, but now two years old already.

 

[krifor03]

I'm rockin a Series 4 still and I'm not getting the iPhone 14 so this is where my money is going

 

[ackmondual]

It may come as a shock, but some people make a lot of money where dropping $900 for a watch or phone isn’t a big deal for them.

I’ve had dinners that cost more than some people’s mortgages. It’s all relative, my friend. Apple is a premium brand that caters to more affluent customers.

While this can still be true, they've already catered to lower end customers as well. $300 iPad and $400 iPhones (with the latter unsubsidized) would've been unheard of even mere years ago. This has been a new strategy to get their hardware into as many hands as possible to get more people to subscribe to their services. The money made from app purchases and IAP of course still applies.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

As long the worthy upgrades are there I don’t think Apple has to worry about it. Look at how expensive iPhone 13 Pro Max is and that is probably the most popular iPhone in the region.

 

[v0lume4]

What is Apple smoking with a $999 price tag?

The same thing they were smoking with that $15,000 (or however much it costed) gold Apple Watch.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

What is Apple smoking with a $999 price tag?

I'm willing to pay $999 if comes in a premium ceramic chassis. Sign me up for that, please!

 

[nwcs]

I know some appreciate oversized devices like watches and phones but I think my next watch will be the smaller one. One day battery life is enough for me and they have simply gotten too chunky for my taste.

 

[easy4lif]

Im not willing to spend anything past $500 for a Apple Watch. if Apple Wants 1k, its better do blood glucose, blood pressure, and temp along with everything else it currently does!

 

[ackmondual]

the good stuff

I'd have some of that as well, but, probably couldn't afford it :\ Speaking of which...

It may come as a shock, but some people make a lot of money where dropping $900 for a watch or phone isn’t a big deal for them.

I’ve had dinners that cost more than some people’s mortgages. It’s all relative, my friend. Apple is a premium brand that caters to more affluent customers.

... I did treat myself to a $300 purchase of caviar on Costco.com recently, so yeah, I get it... we all have things that we will absolutely cheap out on, but other things which we'll spend more $$ on, or otherwise get some of the finer things every now and then. However, "spend more $$ on" is always relative. I used to only buy $100 to $300 phones, but with the Google Pixel 6 getting $100 off, I can justify spending $500 on a phone to treat myself yet again (and I'm told the Pixel 6A being at only $50 cheaper, the P6 would be the way to go)

 

[GuruZac]

I wonder what they’re gonna charge for the rugged model. I want the cellular model.

 

[Bmoreguy03]

I might be interested in getting this

 

[sw1tcher]

Solution: launch a series 8 Apple Watch at a $1499 price point to make this one seem like a deal to attract more buyers.

 

[BobSc]

You already have idiots who shell out $900+ for a phone so why not a watch too lmao

I work my butt off and have an advanced degree and a good income. I prefer better technology and more advanced products that I can afford. Just because you can only afford cheap crap, please don't call me an idiot. Are you able to go back to school and get a better job with a higher income so you can afford nice things? LMAO