The 2017 iPhone Could Cost Upwards of $1,000

[78Bandit]

Nothing new or groundbreaking about what Apple is doing. I'm sure they will release a polished piece of hardware, but $1,000+ is ridiculous. In this day-and-time of competition in smart phones Apple needs to find a balance between commodity and premium. IMHO, Apple should have a 5" iPhone 8 with 32GB of storage that starts at $599 and work up from there. A top-of-the line 5.8" 256GB phone should still be under $1,000 unless it is made of gold or encrusted with diamonds.

Apple has stopped innovating and is just polishing what they already have. With the iPad Tim Cook has simply added the "Pro" moniker to minor feature upgrades and tacking on $100 over last year's model. I'm betting he does the same here, base price for an iPhone 8 will jump to $749 or even $799 and the 7 will continue on with a $50 price cut to $600.

If the base price jumps above $800 I think Apple will be in trouble. You'll see the same situation as with the iPad where older models are outselling the new, premium models. The number of people who would be willing to pay a $200+ premium for essentially nothing more than an upgraded display is going to be pretty small, particularly now that carriers have unbundled the phones from the service plans and consumers can see what they are really paying.

 

[compete12]

You mean, you won't buy it. Granted, if OLED is true, there is no doubt it will be more costly than the 7 Plus. Reality is, it won't stop it from selling. If Apple can bring something in September I like, Perhaps I will upgrade, as I do annually.

Either way, it's time for a refresh, even though I like my 7 Plus.

Time for a refresh? Other than the Font/Icon "refresh" back in iOS 6/7 or whenever it was, iPhones basically look and get used the same way they did the day they came out.

Hold it in your left hand, tap, tap, tap with your right index finger.

Same with OS X. Dock against a background....just like in 2001, except for a font/icon upgrade around Snow Leopard or whenever it was.

And don't get me wrong. I WAS the biggest Apple fan (since my G4 iMac), but now they're just chasing $$$ with "slightly refreshed" un exciting products. Would you go trade-in your 2 year old Camry for a "recently updated" Camry (translation: They redesigned the head/taillights)

The time between a blue G3 iMac (~1999) and the first Silver/Black iMac (~2007) is about the same time as the 2007 Silver/Black and the 2017 Silver Black. Barely a distinguishable user experience.

ZZZZZZzzzzzzzzz.....You're gonna have to do better than that to get $2000+ out of me for a laptop. (Actually, you won't....because I'd never spend that kind of money on a laptop)

 

[skitidetdu]

Assembled in the US might bring up the price but I guess that won't happen in a while...

I actually thought the volumes buttons would be touch on the 7. Guess it will come on the next model then

 

[hinesmj]

These comments, lol.


I would buy a more expensive iPhone, if it's amazing

It won't be. It will just be another iterative upgrade from the prior. I'd need a SIGNIFICANT wow factor to pay that much for a phone. That's just insane. You can get a decent mabook air for that. Unreal.

 

[ascender]

Could cost upwards of $1000? It could cost upwards of $2000...

I love that this place is so active, but reading some of the comments on speculative articles like this is a real eye-opener And I get why the site needs to cover articles like this, but does it really even count as a newsworthy piece?

 

[julesme]

After seeing Apple sell 78 million iPhones last quarter, I continue to believe most people really want an iPhone, and most people who choose Android do so because of price. Many Android users can't afford an iPhone, and many others simply refuse to pay the high cost of an iPhone out of principle (I have a couple family member who were like this for years).

Will $1000 finally be the straw that broke Apple's back this fall? I don't know, but I thought the lack of headphone jack would cause a sales problem and look where we are now.

 

[Glassed Silver]

If anything, the consumer has already spoken through the sales of the iPhone 7. They have demonstrated that they are perfectly willing to pay more for a sufficiently differentiated iPhone. Apple likely has the data they need and are confident they can push through sales of 3 different models of iPhones if need be.

The critics and the naysayers can lash out at Apple all they want. They have been wrong about Apple for the umpteenth year counting, so what's another year?
[doublepost=1486592536][/doublepost]
More if that tax holiday happens and Apple is ready to bring its cash home.

Profits may prive them right, kinda wonder how long this will remain the case.

If the customers really do settle for this though and Apple can keep pushing things then sure, go right ahead Apple. You're free to depart from your former ideals as you please.

Glassed Silver:ios

 

[FatherJack1980]

My very first (and as of yet, still only) smartphone was an iPhone - got it as a Christmas present, at Christmas 2012.

However, it's way too small and the storage is frankly pathetic (for my needs). I was thinking about upgrading from my iPhone 4 to some phone with a big screen and plenty of storage. However, if they plan on making the iPhone's cost more than they already do (which they did with the Macbook Pro's - a stupid decision, in my opinion), then I'm going to look at Android phones.

This meme photo seems to be a sad reality for many

And if I were to buy the iPhone 7+ 256gb it costs, where I live, 1,412.46 USD (it's 412,46 USD more than I want to spend on that particular phone). According to this news article the next one will cost more ! No thanks Apple.

 

[Thunderhawks]

I find it amusing how many people with an iPhone 7+ are complaining about a $1000 iPhone. Prices for the 7+ START at $770. When one can justify nearly $800 for a phone, $1000 isn't that much of a stretch.

For me, ($150 for a Sharp Aquos Crystal and then $350 for a 64GB iPhone SE) $770 is as insane as $1000.

Perspective people!

Agreed, I don't even get why there is any outrage about any price point for anything.

In the case of an iPhone or any top shelf smart phone, we have a COMPUTER in our hands.
Beats cans with a string any time.

As always in life, decide if what you want is worth it to you or not. Then buy accordingly.

I have long left behind buying "brands" , competing with neighbors or MUST have the latest.
It also saves money to hang on to stuff as long as it works. My 6S Plus will be good until at least 2019/20
or until iOS leaves that model behind.

Good for those who can afford all of that. I wouldn't even if I have the money (Sadly not the case

If $ 1,000 is a stretch for anybody, maybe that is not the phone to buy?

 

[DUIduckSAUCE]

You are so wrong...the Oled screed on the S7 edge is beautiful, the Battery life is soon much better, the camera "actually" performs well in low light. Fingerprint scanner is the only thing the iPhone does better, and that is fixed with Nougat. Dual Speakers are a nice to have but certainly not a selling point. The physical back button is far more intuitive than scanning the screen for a digital back button. Waterproofing, UI customisation if you need it,.....yawn the list goes on. iPhone 7 doesn't hold a candle to the S7 Edge and i personally can't see the iPhone 8 even competing with what samsung have on the market now. This isn't even up for debate at this point the new flagship Android phones ARE better!

You forgot to mention Samsung pay as superior as well. I own both a s7 edge and 7 plus. I prefer the s7 hardware and the 7 plus software. To me combine the two and you have the perfect phone.
[doublepost=1486660292][/doublepost]

Yes, and they won't be able to keep them in stock. As long as it's hidden in the consumers monthly mobile bill, folks won't care. We got so accustomed to "free" phones under contract and the added cost included in the wireless bill, no one much cares.
That is the only explanation for folks upgrading phones as often as they do. You don't really need a new mobile device every year or even every two years. My iPhone 6 (2 years and 4 months old) still works perfectly fine.
I've never done an analysis of buying your phone outright vs "interest free" installments but it would seem that you have to keep your phone greater than 2 years for an outright purchase to be cost effective to purchase it outright. There's little "lost opportunity" cost in $1000.
It may be odd but the average consumer wouldn't consider buying a new PC/Mac every year or two years but they think nothing of a smartphone.
I have little reason to upgrade my iPhone 6 other than a better camera and moving to the plus model size although I guess 3D Touch is nice.

It's because a phone has become a fashion accessory in a lot of circles. Most people leave their computers at home, so nobody knows if you have the latest or greatest. Everybody sees your phone. There are people who want to be seen with the latest and greatest.
[doublepost=1486660661][/doublepost]

I think you already have plenty of options today to spend extra money if you want to support American-made products (start with cars).

My truck is American made. I prefer European cars.

 

[RodoBobJon]

I think a lot of people aren't thinking this through. Given supply constraints, especially with OLED displays, it makes sense that Apple will keep this phone high-end exclusive, which probably means no 32GB or 128GB versions. This will likely only be available as a 256GB model. So when you consider that the current 256GB 7+ is already $1000, the idea that this new phone would start above $1000 makes perfect sense and it's not at all crazy.

Also, as much as it's great for Apple to maintain a small number of SKUs, product diversification begins to make a lot of sense as a market matures. We've already seen this with the plus models being positioned as "more premium" than the regular models with the superior camera and extra $100 price. We've also seen Apple diversify to the low end with the SE. By all accounts, both of these moves have been big successes for Apple.

Yes, there are disadvantages to product diversification, but when a market is as mature and as large as the smartphone market, the advantages in hitting more than one or two price points begin to outweigh them.

 

[Tycho24]

I hope you get the chance to go there so you will understand what I mean. It wasn't divisive it is just the way it is.

It's really NOT though.... it's the way everyone is everywhere.
No reason to single out the Chinese. It's actually crass & boorish.

 

[manu chao]

I think a lot of people aren't thinking this through. Given supply constraints, especially with OLED displays, it makes sense that Apple will keep this phone high-end exclusive, which probably means no 32GB or 128GB versions. This will likely only be available as a 256GB model. So when you consider that the current 256GB 7+ is already $1000, the idea that this new phone would start above $1000 makes perfect sense and it's not at all crazy.

The 256 GB 7+ costs $969. I also don't think anybody said anything about the OLED version starting above $1000, only that there be a version of it that costs above $1000.

 

[jiggad369]

Looks like one need to sell both Kidneys now to buy iPhone 8

You're getting ripped off for the price quote for your kidneys.

 

[farewelwilliams]

That would explain the high price. Transparent Aluminum iPhone, here we come!

i didnt mean transparent aluminum. i meant liquidmetal

 

[TallManNY]

Apple should come out with an updated SE this year at the $399 price point. That way some folks could continue to enter the Apple ecosystem at a reasonable price.

 

[mthomas184]

I love iPhone's but if it gets that high, Android would get a lot more iOS customers IMO

 

[Moorepheus]

I am on my Last iPhone for a while, unless I get the same deal as I got last year. I got $650 off my iPhone 7 Plus, and I won't be eligible to do that now for 2 years, if they even offer that again. These prices for phones are just getting out of hand.

 

[Mackinjosh]

You'd have to be a moron to pay the current prices they charge. Paying 1000+ for a phone will advance you into the Uber Moron class.

 

[zombierunner]

I may upgrade my ipad mini 4 depending on what they come up with but I'll stick with the iPhone 7

 

[ackmondual]

Remember that there was no 32 gb version of the jet black iPhone.

The Apple Watch Edition came with the charging stand.

If supply is this new iPhone 8 is as constrained as rumours are making it out to be, no point further fragmenting your supply chain with 32 gb models which nobody wants. Maybe there will only be 128 gb and 256 gb models or perhaps only a 256 gb version available.

Think about it - a 256 gb-only OLED iPhone 8 with a $100-$150 premium over the normal plus models. Bundle it with a wireless charging stand and it really might not be such a bad deal after all.

There were outcries of how iPhones were still being offered in 16 GB flavors for at least 1 release (probably 2 if you count the Iph6/plus as well) when 1) the competition was offering more 32 GB base models as standard, and how 2) features like HD video recording and generally how large apps can get these days. I can see Apple sticking with 32 GB base for a bit.

And as I understand, some folks still use the lower capacities to be as economical as possible (even if 70% of users could stand to go for the mid-tier storage one).

As for all the bundles you mentioned, that would be nice. We'll see if they offer that.

 

[MyopicPaideia]

Apple should come out with an updated SE this year at the $399 price point. That way some folks could continue to enter the Apple ecosystem at a reasonable price.

iPhone 7 design in a 4" form factor, with 128GB option and I would buy it over anything else Apple releases. I already think 4.7" is too big, and if the SE came in 128GB I'd have that right now instead of a 7...

 

[smacrumon]

So many people here complaining about the possible cost of the iPhone, but you'll all pay it. You'll all go and buy one. And if you don't buy one, it'll be because you're saving harder to buy the next iPhone.

And if you were Apple, you'd do the same. They haven't updated the design for years, they removed the headphone jack so iPhone users had to buy adaptors or expensive wireless Earpods - but people keep on buying them by the millions. iPhone sales are through the roof.

So good on Apple. They've got a product that people will blindly buy, even when useful features are removed. $1,000 sounds cheap to me.
[doublepost=1486631607][/doublepost]

Lol! Look at your signature - it's like an Apple Store product listing. You'd buy it at twice the price.
[doublepost=1486631845][/doublepost]

I read that iPhone sales are up. Why would they need to "restart interest"?

They were only up last quarter. They've been trending consistently going down/flatlining for the past year and more.

 

[ryanwarsaw]

It's really NOT though.... it's the way everyone is everywhere.
No reason to single out the Chinese. It's actually crass & boorish.

I have spent over twenty years of my life in Japan, China, Korea, Lao and Thailand please don't condescend to me and tell me all about it. I speak 4 Asian languages and have some idea of the culture here.

 

[Attirex]

Look rocket scientists--it's a phone only in name. How many of you knuckleheads actually make more than two voice calls per day? (and, yes, I know, I know--ALL of you are super-important traveling business types who make calls all day long to every high-level exec in the valley because otherwise the world will end and, well, you're super-important).

My guess is the majority of you spend the majority of your time on your iPhones texting, playing games, checking email, browsing Web, checking FB to see what your middle school classmate ate for lunch, etc, etc. WHICH IS WHAT YOU DO ON A COMPUTER.

The iPhone is a computer. It's not a $100 flip-phone from 1996. So quit whining and pay up...for your computer.