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ACE_350

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Aug 12, 2013
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We are enthusiasts, everyone that participates on MacRumors Forums is probably the most tech savvy person in their family, so granted, majority of us are going to always gravitate towards Pro models. Most of us understands that the 14 Plus is basically a stripped down, repackaged 13 Pro Max.

But I am firmly predicting that this phone is going to be the next iPhone 6S/6S Plus, iPhone XR. This model is going to sell like crazy because it's a big phone that has a massive battery and it's under 1k. This will be the go-to phone for normies, and the kind of phone you buy your parents/grand parents. People that have the XR, SE (2020), or any iPhone 8/8Plus or below is going to probably get this phone.

Calling it now!
 
I think so, too. It has the size, battery life, and price. Most folks don’t look for more. The Plus is perfect for many people, including school/college kids, and older folks like you said.
 
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We are enthusiasts, everyone that participates on MacRumors Forums is probably the most tech savvy person in their family, so granted, majority of us are going to always gravitate towards Pro models. Most of us understands that the 14 Plus is basically a stripped down, repackaged 13 Pro Max.

But I am firmly predicting that this phone is going to be the next iPhone 6S/6S Plus, iPhone XR. This model is going to sell like crazy because it's a big phone that has a massive battery and it's under 1k. This will be the go-to phone for normies, and the kind of phone you buy your parents/grand parents. People that have the XR, SE (2020), or any iPhone 8/8Plus or below is going to probably get this phone.

Calling it now!

May be in US, but prices in Europe and Japan are too high.
 
China preorders already tell us that Plus is getting 5-6% of orders - so unfortunately it is something like 13 Mini.
I mean it makes sense - if I am shelling out $900, I could also add extra "peanuts" $200 to get the latest and greatest.
For $200 you definitely get your money's worth without stripped internals.
 
In Singapore, iphone 14 and Plus is still available for pre-order and you can pickup in store on release date. Whereas the pro and pro max is not available for pickup anymore and delivery date is October 20.
 
I wouldn’t say the ‘majority’ of people in this forum gravitate towards the Pro models at all. There are tens of thousands of members and I’m sure a big percentage use the standard iPhones.

On the point about the 14 Plus selling really well. Sure it probably will, but prices in the UK and Europe are not on its side this year and articles I have read in the last couple of days suggest demand for smartphones in general is in steep decline at the moment. There is plenty of stock of the 14’s where I am and that’s probably because the 14 Plus starts at £949 ($1100, €1087)! Nobody can say these iPhones are the budget option anymore that’s for sure.
 
I wouldn’t say the ‘majority’ of people in this forum gravitate towards the Pro models at all. There are tens of thousands of members and I’m sure a big percentage use the standard iPhones.

On the point about the 14 Plus selling really well. Sure it probably will, but prices in the UK and Europe are not on its side this year and articles I have read in the last couple of days suggest demand for smartphones in general is in steep decline at the moment. There is plenty of stock of the 14’s where I am and that’s probably because the 14 Plus starts at £949 ($1100, €1087)! Nobody can say these iPhones are the budget option anymore that’s for sure.

I don’t see any budget phone in European Apple sites now lol xd
 
While I’m sure the Plus will sell well, for just $200 more the Pro Max gets you:
- Dynamic island
- Telephoto lens
- Always on display
- Much brighter screen
- Faster processor
- Longer software support
- Greater battery life
- Higher trade in value

The main reasons I could see getting the Plus version is if:
- $900 is already breaking the bank
- The extra 37 grams (203g vs 240g) of the Pro Max is too uncomfortable for one’s pinky to handle.
- You prefer the colors of the non pro models
 
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In Singapore, iphone 14 and Plus is still available for pre-order and you can pickup in store on release date. Whereas the pro and pro max is not available for pickup anymore and delivery date is October 20.

Customers that buy iPhone 14/Plus aren't the type that makes pre-orders. These are mainstream customers that have probably just heard something over the weekend about a new iPhone. They're using iPhone 6s, 7, or maybe an X with a cracked screen. They don't know batteries can be replaced. Sometime over the next 3-6 months, they'll buy a new iPhone 14/Plus at a retail store or with a carrier.

Look back at iPhone 11 for example. There wasn't much fanfare and shipping dates didn't slip until the following Monday.
 
While I’m sure the Plus will sell well, for just $200 more the Pro Max gets you:
- Dynamic island
- Telephoto lens
- Always on display
- Much brighter screen
- Faster processor
- Longer software support
- Greater battery life
- Higher trade in value

The main reasons I could see getting the Plus version is if:
- $900 is already breaking the bank
- The extra 37 grams (203g vs 240g) of the Pro Max is too uncomfortable for one’s pinky to handle.
- You prefer the colors of the non pro models
Most people will not spend the extra $200 when they don't need those features. The biggest seller is the regular iphone, not the pro model. Apple is betting people want the bigger phone but not the bigger price of the PM.
 
Customers that buy iPhone 14/Plus aren't the type that makes pre-orders. These are mainstream customers that have probably just heard something over the weekend about a new iPhone. They're using iPhone 6s, 7, or maybe an X with a cracked screen. They don't know batteries can be replaced. Sometime over the next 3-6 months, they'll buy a new iPhone 14/Plus at a retail store or with a carrier.

Look back at iPhone 11 for example. There wasn't much fanfare and shipping dates didn't slip until the following Monday.
I’m not sure I agree with that but this may be different depending on the country. The standard iPhones in the past have always been popular pre orders. The iPhone 12 when I last bought a phone sold out within a couple of days and shipping dates slipped. Not sure why this would change but then pre orders in a lot of regions will be down this year due to the economic climate, especially in Europe.
 
I think you might struggle calling the 14 Plus the phone for ‘normies’, parents and grandparents in the UK at £949…

The Pro Max is £250 more here too so the upgrade jump is more substantial. Although I recognise the US is a larger market.
 
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This will be the go-to phone for normies, and the kind of phone you buy your parents/grand parents. People that have the XR, SE (2020), or any iPhone 8/8Plus or below is going to probably get this phone.
I don‘t believe that 2020 SE phone owners are a sizable target demographic for an upgrade to a 14 Plus.
The either bought for SE for being small or for being cheap - both of which the 14 Plus isn’t.
I think you might struggle calling the 14 Plus the phone for ‘normies’, parents and grandparents in the UK at £949…
In Europe, I wouldn’t be surprised if the iPhone 13 will become that (if not the SE).

- iPhone 14 Plus: £949
- iPhone 14: £849
- iPhone 13: £749 (with 128GB on the base model)
- iPhone 12: £649 with only 64GB, £699 with 128GB
- iPhone SE: cheap, but looking ridiculously outdated by this point

👉 iPhone 12 with 128GB seems the worst value proposition. I‘m wondering why Apple are even bothering with keeping that in the lineup.

👉 I don‘t think 6.1 is perceived a „smallish“ display by many, and given the lack of differentiation between the iPhone 13 and 14, 13 seems decent value. Especially given it has the same CPU as the newest (non-Pro) model.
 
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Yeah I apologize, I’m primarily talking about the US market here. I realize there are other markets but I can only speak on that one.

Also, you’d be surprised. My own mother has a SE 2020 because she upgraded to that from a Gen 1 SE but she now wants a “big screen” and many are going to follow suit.

You’d be surprised at what price does a lot to consumers. The very fact that $900 is not $1,000 does a lot for people. Again, the type of demographic I’m talking about doesn’t pre order phones. These are people that go into a store and a sale rep navigates for them all the way.

Just see iPhone XR vs the XS and XS Max. No one thought anyone was going to buy the XR and it ended up outselling both combined. Same with the iPhone 11 over the 11 Pro and Pro Max.

“Nornal” people (I thought normies was a funny term) don’t see things like “well for only $100 I can get a Pro”. My best friend is like this, I tried telling him about that once and he was like “I don’t need all that stuff I just want a phone”.

It’s just a prediction.. but I think history will repeat itself.
 
Also when I worked in IT, I often did Authenticator resets and would help users install outlook on their mobile. You would be surprised at the sheer amount of people I encountered who didn’t even know what the model of their iPhone was called, and these were people that worked in finance, marketing, administration, all more seasoned positions that paid at the very minimum 50k a year or often times way more.
 
I believe there‘s a sizable market for „affordable“ phones with big screens - that Apple has often been somewhat reluctant to serve. They often seem to steer these customers towards more expensive „Pro“ models. Bigger screen usually meant „going Pro“ with Apple.

The iPhone Xr was a notable exception and fit that market. I‘m not surprised if it sold very well (not having looked it up myself).

The 14 Plus seems positioned to do the same - though it may be hampered somewhat by the current economic climate and foreign exchange rates in parts of the world (Europe and Japan).
 
The OP will be wrong when it’s all said and done. People who buy iPhones will go for the cheapest current model.

The $799 USD 6.1 iPhone 14

The plus sits in no man’s land at $899.

That’s my opinion. Especially with apple essentially reusing the same A15 2021 processor.

$100 is still $100 from the 6.1 to 6.7. Many people do not want a 6.7 phone.

Those who want a bigger phone will pay for the pro max with all those extra features.
 
The OP will be wrong when it’s all said and done. People who buy iPhones will go for the cheapest current model.

The $799 USD 6.1 iPhone 14

The plus sits in no man’s land at $899.

That’s my opinion. Especially with apple essentially reusing the same A15 2021 processor.

$100 is still $100 from the 6.1 to 6.7. Many people do not want a 6.7 phone.

Those who want a bigger phone will pay for the pro max with all those extra features.
Clearly that’s not true, otherwise we would still have a mini.
 
I’ve always thought the regular models normally make the impact in sales through the year, not so much in the launch/preorder moment. There are different scenarios for why people would opt for the bigger 14 Plus. Some tend to forget that the phone may have an eye-candy factor and while the average customer doesn’t care about the specs or the new features (example, carrying the same chip as last year’s), they might just see that it’s the bigger phone for under a $1000. I see some noticing that the only price difference is $200 for the Pro Max but hey, it’s almost the same scenario as the iPad Air and iPad Pro 11”.
 
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I believe the pro models will sale better. It’s not that just for $200 more you get much more. It’s the fact that those that get monthly payments on a device you talking an extra $10-$15 a month extra. Also usa carriers giving a lot of credits towards the 14. So why not go for the pro’s for some extra dollars.
 
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I believe there‘s a sizable market for „affordable“ phones with big screens - that Apple has often been somewhat reluctant to serve.
Cheap phones is a red ocean. Too many amazing options for consumers but very thin margins for Apple. They rather focus on adding more value to make it easier for you to justify your purchase e.g Apple Watch compatibilit, easy iCloud restore, Apple fitness and 6 months of Apple Music etc.
 
I spent the day yesterday with 8 women. Educated, intelligent people with families and businesses and some of them even enterprises. Most of them had iPhones, there were two that used android devices.

I asked if anyone pre-ordered the iPhone (I did). None of them even knew there were iPhones coming out. None of them cared. One woman, who’s currently working on her PhD, struggled to understand the dynamic Island when I was explaining it to her. I was like, OK, well never mind then. This stuff doesn’t even blip on their radar of what’s important.

These are wives of my husband’s colleagues. Speaking of my husband’s colleagues, none of them care about this stuff, either. I did an unofficial poll. They use their phones until they become cumbersome and then they get new. My husband was using his 5s until I gave him my XR in late 2019. He’d still be using that if I hadn’t forced my 11p into his hands when I got my 13p beginning of this year. He just doesn’t care. He’s a brilliant man and works in a small, elite unit of educated men. I’m not bragging, I’m just saying I’m really surprised that all these folks with money and access and education couldn’t give less of a sh*t about phones.

Makes me feel like I’m a strange breed indeed.
 
Two big reasons I'm ordering the 14 Plus to replace my 8 Plus over a 14 Pro Max, is the lighter weight and the smaller camera bump/plateau. I am not a photog, I leave that to my partner, for whom I've ordered a 14 Pro 512GB. I would prefer my phone sit someone flat on a table.
 
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