Standard iPhone 15 Models to Lack ProMotion and Always-On Display Features

[The-Real-Deal82]

That’s not true though is it? Apples prices on their devices haven’t increased to cover shortfalls. The
latest Mac Mini is even $100 (almost 20%) cheaper than the same level, that was last released. The AppleTV's are cheaper. And given supply constraints and shipping costs, that’d not bad, eh?

I will give you though, that people aren’t upgrading as often now. Part of that is price, but also that most phones, regardless of brand are only incremental upgrades and don’t require it. That’s why they are pushing the camera as the biggest reason so often, as it tends to be the only feature getting big bumps. However there is probably a better case to upgrade an android phone, just to get the latest operating system. Not a problem on iPhone tbh. I have the iPhone 12 Pro, I can’t see me upgrading until at least the iPhone 17.

It is true. In Europe which accounts for over a quarter of Apple revenue, the prices of iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches and Macs have gone up significantly since 2021. iPhones have gone up as much as £150 for the Pro models and the base model iPad has gone from £329 to £499. America is the only market where prices have either remained the same or certain products have seen a slight decrease.

 

[webkit]

Apple are still making huge profits because the price of the devices has increased to cover any shortfalls, for now.

Overseas price increases were largely, if not entirely, due to exchange rate factors (stronger USD) which doesn't necessarily benefit Apple and can actually hurt them. Apple's profit margin was actually lower last quarter because they weren't "greedily" raising prices to make up for shortfalls as you suggest. As we've discussed in other threads, Apple had actually lowered prices in its home country currency (USD) in the UK and other countries which contributed to Apple's lower margin for the quarter.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Overseas price increases were largely, if not entirely, due to exchange rate factors (stronger USD) which doesn't necessarily benefit Apple and can actually hurt them. Apple's profit margin was actually lower last quarter because they weren't "greedily" raising prices to make up for shortfalls as you suggest. As we've discussed in other threads, Apple had actually lowered prices in its home country currency (USD) in the UK and other countries which contributed to Apple's lower margin for the quarter.

Apples lower USD conversation in UK prices still translated as a £150 increase over a year between models. That means diddly squat to consumers seeing such a huge price increase over just a 12 month period. Seeing a phone go from £949 to £1099 never feels like a lower price regardless of how it is spun.

 

[webkit]

Apples lower USD conversation in UK prices still translated as a £150 increase over a year between models. That means diddly squat to consumers seeing such a huge price increase over just a 12 month period. Seeing a phone go from £949 to £1099 never feels like a lower price regardless of how it is spun.

I never said it didn’t result in higher local prices in local currency. I was specifically responding to your comment about Apple raising prices to makeup for shortfalls. The reality was that prices in Apple’s home currency (USD) were actually lowered in the UK and other overseas countries, and the profit margin for last quarter declined too. In late September last year, the pre-VAT prices of various iPhones in the UK were actually lower in USD than pre-sales tax prices for the same phones in the U.S.

Apparently you feel Apple didn't lower prices in USD enough but much of the "blame" here goes to the exchange rate (stronger USD).

 

[Radeon85]

Why do people expect Pro features on the non-Pro model. How else can Apple differentiate their different models?

It's just a high refresh display, it's not a "pro" feature, it's a bloody basic one these days even on cheap PC monitors. It's pathetic Apple is locking it behind a paywall.

 

[_Spinn_]

This is not really a surprise.

 

[floral]

It is called "Pro"motion after all. Meant for Pro devices. Though, the AOD should be a given..

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

It is called "Pro"motion after all. Meant for Pro devices. Though, the AOD should be a given..

Could Apple not just add the word ‘Pro’ to their standard iPhones then if that is the case to allow them to compete against phones in the market at the mid tier price point?

 

[GuruZac]

That may be true but doesn't seem to be affecting Apple right now. According to Counterpoint, iPhone's annual smartphone market share has been on the rise since 2019. Time will tell where things go from here but any customers who are that dissatisfied with Apple's pricing or model configurations and features should stop buying iPhones and go with an Android instead if they feel it offers a better overall package/value.

That’s true but let’s not confuse Apple’s market share success due to hardware. It’s most certainly the software that keeps people on iPhone. Other than the SoC, there’s not much of anything noteworthy about the iPhone hardware that isn’t done better on Android. I use iPhone because I much prefer the ecosystem. But I’m under no illusions the hardware is better than other Android flagships, because outside of the overpowered SoC, the hardware isn’t better than Android.

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

The non pro phones really are a bad deal. Precisely why the 14 plus tanked.

I expected the non pro 15 would at least get the faster refresh rate, sounds like the standard iPhone is going to be the same phone it's been for the last four years.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

The non pro phones really are a bad deal. Precisely why the 14 plus tanked.

I expected the non pro 15 would at least get the faster refresh rate, sounds like the standard iPhone is going to be the same phone it's been for the last four years.

Apple certainly seem to be making it very difficult for the mainstream consumer to remain interested in the iPhone when it’s so dull and restricted. No wonder sales are dropping off.

 

[webkit]

That’s true but let’s not confuse Apple’s market share success due to hardware. It’s most certainly the software that keeps people on iPhone. Other than the SoC, there’s not much of anything noteworthy about the iPhone hardware that isn’t done better on Android. I use iPhone because I much prefer the ecosystem. But I’m under no illusions the hardware is better than other Android flagships, because outside of the overpowered SoC, the hardware isn’t better than Android.

The iPhone's "success" is due to the overall package (hardware and software) versus the competition but despite complaints (by some) about high(er) prices, mediocre hardware, software glitches, etc., the iPhone has still been doing better than the industry average as far as sales.

 

[webkit]

Apple certainly seem to be making it very difficult for the mainstream consumer to remain interested in the iPhone when it’s so dull and restricted. No wonder sales are dropping off.

But it's not just iPhone sales that are dropping off as the overall smartphone industry has seen a sales decline. The iPhone is actually doing better than most and has seen its market share steadily increase since 2019.

Reading all of the criticisms in this thread (and some others), you'd expect to see iPhones doing much worse than the overall market but the opposite is true.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

But it's not just iPhone sales that are dropping off as the overall smartphone industry has seen a sales decline. The iPhone is actually doing better than most and has seen its market share steadily increase since 2019.

Reading all of the criticisms in this thread (and some others), you'd expect to see iPhones doing much worse than the overall market but the opposite is true.

The whole industry is seeing a decline and this is down to two factors. Firstly phones aren’t significantly better year on year and secondly the higher cost of devices means people keep phones longer than 2 years. The average now is 3-4 years.

My point about the standard iPhone is more about how plain it is compared to the Pro. The potential market for the standard iPhone is a lot bigger than that of the Pro, yet Apple do the bare minimum to give it features that many Androids in its class have as standard. In fact they compete on features against the iPhone Pro’s, but Apple have created a premium for these features to maintain a differential between models. Personally I think it’s a strategy that is slowly going out of date and basic things like triple and quadruple camera systems and higher refresh rate vibrant OLED displays are what non-phone enthusiasts see as pretty standard features across the industry at a much lower price price point to what Apple operate to.

 

[webkit]

The whole industry is seeing a decline and this is down to two factors. Firstly phones aren’t significantly better year on year and secondly the higher cost of devices means people keep phones longer than 2 years. The average now is 3-4 years.

My point about the standard iPhone is more about how plain it is compared to the Pro. The potential market for the standard iPhone is a lot bigger than that of the Pro, yet Apple do the bare minimum to give it features that many Androids in its class have as standard. In fact they compete on features against the iPhone Pro’s, but Apple have created a premium for these features to maintain a differential between models. Personally I think it’s a strategy that is slowly going out of date and basic things like triple and quadruple camera systems and higher refresh rate vibrant OLED displays are what non-phone enthusiasts see as pretty standard features across the industry at a much lower price price point to what Apple operate to.

Time will tell. Since "Pro" level iPhones were first introduced in 2019, Apple's smartphone market share has steadily risen so what they are doing seems to be working at this point.

The reality is that many phone makers offer different models at different levels and pricing, several even more wide ranging than Apple. Samsung, for example, offers new phones in the U.S. ranging in price (before sales tax) from under $200 to over $2,000.

 

[Denzo]

It is amusing with the pathetic upgrade strategy for us keen upgrades.. But I guess we just need to get used to the fact that there won't be something exciting from Apple every year any more. More like every 5 years or something

 

[The Game 161]

The non pro phones really are a bad deal. Precisely why the 14 plus tanked.

I expected the non pro 15 would at least get the faster refresh rate, sounds like the standard iPhone is going to be the same phone it's been for the last four years.

Did it tank? iPhone dominates the top 10 sales and this was end of 2022 when the 14 series had only just released

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Did it tank? iPhone dominates the top 10 sales and this was end of 2022 when the 14 series had only just released

It isn’t on that list at least. Articles at the beginning of this year suggested sales were disappointing’ and I’d imagine that was largely down to the 14 Plus having a starting price of £949. In the US the starting price of the 14 Pro is $949.

 

[I7guy]

It isn’t on that list at least. Articles at the beginning of this year suggested sales were disappointing’ and I’d imagine that was largely down to the 14 Plus having a starting price of £949. In the US the starting price of the 14 Pro is $949.

Not to mention inflation, job layoffs, etc.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Not to mention inflation, job layoffs, etc.

That element has affected the entire industry though, not just a single phone model.

 

[webkit]

It isn’t on that list at least. Articles at the beginning of this year suggested sales were disappointing’ and I’d imagine that was largely down to the 14 Plus having a starting price of £949. In the US the starting price of the 14 Pro is $949.

The pre-sales tax starting price of the 14 Pro in the U.S. is $999 not $949. The pre-VAT starting price of the 14 Plus in the UK is £790.

When the 14 Plus launched last year, it was actually cheaper pre-VAT/sales tax in USD in the UK than it was in the U.S. (around $877 in UK versus $929 in U.S.). Good ol' Apple trying to help out its UK customers a bit regarding the exchange rate by offering the phone cheaper there than in the U.S.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

The pre-sales tax starting price of the 14 Pro in the U.S. is $999 not $949. The pre-VAT starting price of the 14 Plus in the UK is £790.

When the 14 Plus launched last year, it was actually cheaper pre-VAT/sales tax in USD in the UK than it was in the U.S. (around $877 in UK versus $929 in U.S.). Good ol' Apple trying to help out its UK customers a bit regarding the exchange rate by offering the phone cheaper there than in the U.S.

I don't think Apple are trying to help UK customers out, they just know £949 is pushing the limit on what will sell for a mid tier iPhone that has now adopted a Pro price point. As it happens the reception for this model has been disappointing in certain markets where it is priced higher. A pre VAT price won't soften any opinions on a product not being worth it for the price. I got a 13 Pro Max for the same price as a 14 Plus for instance, so Apple got it very wrong with their structure this year. Hopefully this year they will do better and if they continue with a higher priced mid tier, they actually improve the hardware features to make it compelling to purchase.

 

[The Game 161]

It isn’t on that list at least. Articles at the beginning of this year suggested sales were disappointing’ and I’d imagine that was largely down to the 14 Plus having a starting price of £949. In the US the starting price of the 14 Pro is $949.

In fairness the 14 plus was released a month after the rest. Will see when there are more numbers for 2023. I still think it’s sold better than most other flagships

 

[I7guy]

That element has affected the entire industry though, not just a single phone model.

But it seems the iPhone (or Apple) was the least effected in this smartphone industry.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

But it seems the iPhone (or Apple) was the least effected in this smartphone industry.

So far they are a few percentage better, but it was only the latter part of last year where costs went ridiculous. It is predicted inflation, job losses and general economic problems will be continuing over the next couple of years. I doubt buying a new smartphone is top of everybody's list right now.