iPhone Air The iPhone Air Is Underpriced and Should Have Started at $1,299

[GMShadow]

The original MacBook Air’s hard drive was an iPod spinning disk hdd

Yep, $1799 got you a 4200RPM 1.8" 80GB drive. The 64GB SSD was an additional $1000.

 

[matzoek]

Hello, I would like to pay more for the same device.

 

[gomakoto]

I’m sure Apple marketing and sales considered many different price points. They settled on LESS than the pro. I personally think you’re right that $1299 would’ve been better. But I trust they are smarter than me in marketing and sales.

 

[TracerAnalog]

Here is a thought experiment. Imagine the iPhone Air launched as a luxury device at $1,299 instead of $999. At its current price, the Air falls into an uncomfortable space, priced above the standard iPhone but below the entry-level Pro. The problem is that it clearly lacks the Pro’s important features, including the full camera system and the larger battery, which makes it feel like a compromise. Even though it is built with premium materials and designed to be thinner and lighter, its placement so close to the Pro highlights what is missing rather than what makes it special.

By setting the price at $1,299, Apple could have reframed the Air as a true luxury alternative rather than a stripped down Pro. The phone is not meant for spec chasers but for those who value design, portability, and materials. A higher price would have strengthened that identity and helped the Air stand apart as an elite option. That kind of positioning often shapes perception more than specs, and it might have made the Air feel aspirational instead of compromised.

Why not $1999? 🧐 I think it is expensive enough already. I believe Apple wants to sell the Air in big numbers. It is their way of testing the market for more luxurious but less performant phones. I believe the Pro's are deliberately toned down to make the Air -literally- shine.

 

[Boeingfan]

Here is a thought experiment. Imagine the iPhone Air launched as a luxury device at $1,299 instead of $999. At its current price, the Air falls into an uncomfortable space, priced above the standard iPhone but below the entry-level Pro. The problem is that it clearly lacks the Pro’s important features, including the full camera system and the larger battery, which makes it feel like a compromise. Even though it is built with premium materials and designed to be thinner and lighter, its placement so close to the Pro highlights what is missing rather than what makes it special.

By setting the price at $1,299, Apple could have reframed the Air as a true luxury alternative rather than a stripped down Pro. The phone is not meant for spec chasers but for those who value design, portability, and materials. A higher price would have strengthened that identity and helped the Air stand apart as an elite option. That kind of positioning often shapes perception more than specs, and it might have made the Air feel aspirational instead of compromised.

Just because something is expensive, doesn't make it elite nor luxurious, what it does make it is a slow mover.

 

[Boeingfan]

Air, as it is right now, is not worthy of $1299. They need to make a better product to warrant such price!

Maybe in the future with an Air Ultra.

Imagine what they could charge for an Air Ultra Pro! Oh the dollar signs are practically going begging in the wind 😁

 

[ofarlig]

While I of course like paying less for the same product I was expecting it to be more expensive based on the rumours we had before.

 

[nyc232]

The original MacBook Air’s hard drive was an iPod spinning disk h

Apple tried that with the Watch Edition and that thing had real gold. How did it perform?

People aren't stupid.

I was just waiting for someone to bring this one up. The Watch Edition was in a completely different league. At launch the base Apple Watch Sport started at $349, the stainless steel Apple Watch started around $549, and the Watch Edition began at $10,000 and went as high as $17,000. That meant it cost more than 28 times the base model and 10 to 18 times the stainless steel version.

What I am suggesting with the iPhone Air is nothing close to that. The entry-level Pro is $1,099 and a $1,299 Air would only be about 18 percent higher. Even compared to the $1,199 Pro Max, the Air would only be about 8 percent more. That is not an outrageous markup, it is a classic pricing strategy to create luxury appeal and carve out a distinct identity. Comparing it to the Watch Edition is apples to oranges.

 

[nyc232]

Apple tried that with the Watch Edition and that thing had real gold. How did it perform?

People aren't stupid.

I was just waiting for someone to bring this one up. The Watch Edition was in a completely different league. At launch the base Apple Watch Sport started at $349, the stainless steel Apple Watch started around $549, and the Watch Edition began at $10,000 and went as high as $17,000. That meant it cost more than 28 times the base model and 10 to 18 times the stainless steel version.

What I am suggesting with the iPhone Air is nothing close to that. The entry-level Pro is $1,099 and a $1,299 Air would only be about 18 percent higher. Even compared to the $1,199 Pro Max, the Air would only be about 8 percent more. That is not an outrageous markup, it is a classic pricing strategy to create luxury appeal and carve out a distinct identity. Comparing it to the Watch Edition is apples to oranges.

 

[evorc]

People aren’t that stupid now lol.

 

[JPack]

I was just waiting for someone to bring this one up. The Watch Edition was in a completely different league. At launch the base Apple Watch Sport started at $349, the stainless steel Apple Watch started around $549, and the Watch Edition began at $10,000 and went as high as $17,000. That meant it cost more than 28 times the base model and 10 to 18 times the stainless steel version.

What I am suggesting with the iPhone Air is nothing close to that. The entry-level Pro is $1,099 and a $1,299 Air would only be about 18 percent higher. Even compared to the $1,199 Pro Max, the Air would only be about 8 percent more. That is not an outrageous markup, it is a classic pricing strategy to create luxury appeal and carve out a distinct identity. Comparing it to the Watch Edition is apples to oranges.

Watch Edition Series 2 started at $1,249, which was quite affordable to luxury buyers.

It had a shiny white ceramic case that you could tell was extraordinary. This is far more visible than a titanium band on iPhone.

Nobody treats an iPhone with a single camera as a luxury item. Consumers have been trained to correlate number of cameras with price. Air is a thinner design but is negated by a single camera. The two design features wash out.

 

[nyc232]

If two speakers and an ultra wide, they might could have tried to position it as a luxury product and priced it equal or more than Pro. Maybe!

However, I think they went the best route, especially with the compromises on the speakers and cameras.

I see what you’re saying. If Apple had given it two speakers and the ultra-wide, it definitely would have made more sense from a value standpoint to price it higher. But my overall point is less about value in the tech sense and more about how it could have been positioned as a luxury good. Luxury products often succeed not because they offer more features but because they offer a different kind of appeal built around design, materials, and perception.

 

[nyc232]

Watch Edition Series 2 started at $1,249, which was quite affordable to luxury buyers.

It had a shiny white ceramic case that you could tell was extraordinary. This is far more visible than a titanium band on iPhone.

Nobody treats an iPhone with a single camera as a luxury item. Consumers have been trained to correlate number of cameras with price. Air is a thinner design but is negated by a single camera. The two design features wash out.

This is reinforcing my point. The gold Watch Edition at $10,000–$17,000 was clearly a misstep. But when Apple brought the Edition back at $1,249 with the ceramic case, a lot more people bought it. That price point was still premium but within reach, and it created the perception of luxury without drifting into excess.

That is exactly the positioning I am talking about with the iPhone Air. At $1,299 it would not be an ultra-luxury gamble like the gold Watch, it would be a premium product priced just above the Pro. Apple has already shown that the “reachable luxury” strategy works.

 

[sunapple]

What problem are you trying to fix by raising the price?

 

[Sami13496]

Here is a thought experiment. Imagine the iPhone Air launched as a luxury device at $1,299 instead of $999. At its current price, the Air falls into an uncomfortable space, priced above the standard iPhone but below the entry-level Pro. The problem is that it clearly lacks the Pro’s important features, including the full camera system and the larger battery, which makes it feel like a compromise. Even though it is built with premium materials and designed to be thinner and lighter, its placement so close to the Pro highlights what is missing rather than what makes it special.

By setting the price at $1,299, Apple could have reframed the Air as a true luxury alternative rather than a stripped down Pro. The phone is not meant for spec chasers but for those who value design, portability, and materials. A higher price would have strengthened that identity and helped the Air stand apart as an elite option. That kind of positioning often shapes perception more than specs, and it might have made the Air feel aspirational instead of compromised.

Very good point. And I believe that for many potential Air buyers those compromises aren’t even compromises. Some might even value one-camera system for minimalist look (I know I do). Discussion about so called compromises is mainly coming from Pro users. For them those might be compromises, yes. But not necessarily for Air’s target user.

Edit: Having said that, I’m happy it doesn’t cost that much. 🤣

 

[JPack]

This is reinforcing my point. The gold Watch Edition at $10,000–$17,000 was clearly a misstep. But when Apple brought the Edition back at $1,249 with the ceramic case, a lot more people bought it. That price point was still premium but within reach, and it created the perception of luxury without drifting into excess.

That is exactly the positioning I am talking about with the iPhone Air. At $1,299 it would not be an ultra-luxury gamble like the gold Watch, it would be a premium product priced just above the Pro. Apple has already shown that the “reachable luxury” strategy works.

Gold Watch was only to satisfy Jony Ive. Apple tried again with ceramic Series 2 and it still failed in terms of sales. Nobody or not enough people bought those.

The story is the same with iPhone Air. Aesthetics and luxury aren't likely to work in terms of raising prices. Utility does (Pro/Max/Watch Ultra).

 

[tomtad]

For reference a whole MacBook Air, a full computer, with a 13" screen, an M4 chip, and a keyboard, and a trackpad, and a MagSafe cable, and a charger, is $999

 

[Iridescent Caterpillar]

I think Apple priced it correctly. Like another poster said, what is the problem you are solving by making it needlessly more expensive?

If it's just because of LUXURY then Apple should stay away from such a silly mindset.

The Air being a Premium product priced according to its strengths - thinness, titanium frame and its weaknesses - battery life, speaker, camera is perfectly fine.

 

[Hicksmat1976]

Here is a thought experiment. Imagine the iPhone Air launched as a luxury device at $1,299 instead of $999. At its current price, the Air falls into an uncomfortable space, priced above the standard iPhone but below the entry-level Pro. The problem is that it clearly lacks the Pro’s important features, including the full camera system and the larger battery, which makes it feel like a compromise. Even though it is built with premium materials and designed to be thinner and lighter, its placement so close to the Pro highlights what is missing rather than what makes it special.

By setting the price at $1,299, Apple could have reframed the Air as a true luxury alternative rather than a stripped down Pro. The phone is not meant for spec chasers but for those who value design, portability, and materials. A higher price would have strengthened that identity and helped the Air stand apart as an elite option. That kind of positioning often shapes perception more than specs, and it might have made the Air feel aspirational instead of compromised.

Tim is that you?

some people on here are very very strange.

 

[C. Robert]

iPhone price is fine but you should get a discount for the 🎃 phone

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I think thats a bit of a hard-sell tbh. I personally think the Air is overpriced at £999+. I think it should have started at £849 considering what it offers and not sure what people mean by 'premium' in regards to it?

 

[waquzy]

I think thats a bit of a hard-sell tbh. I personally think the Air is overpriced at £999+. I think it should have started at £849 considering what it offers and not sure what people mean by 'premium' in regards to it?

I just got mine and I'm honestly blown away by it. It feels surreal holding it. The best iPhone since iPhone X...

 

[pakupakuman]

Here is a thought experiment. Imagine the iPhone Air launched as a luxury device at $1,299 instead of $999. At its current price, the Air falls into an uncomfortable space, priced above the standard iPhone but below the entry-level Pro. The problem is that it clearly lacks the Pro’s important features, including the full camera system and the larger battery, which makes it feel like a compromise. Even though it is built with premium materials and designed to be thinner and lighter, its placement so close to the Pro highlights what is missing rather than what makes it special.

By setting the price at $1,299, Apple could have reframed the Air as a true luxury alternative rather than a stripped down Pro. The phone is not meant for spec chasers but for those who value design, portability, and materials. A higher price would have strengthened that identity and helped the Air stand apart as an elite option. That kind of positioning often shapes perception more than specs, and it might have made the Air feel aspirational instead of compromised.

Did you send them the wire for the $300?

 

[ozapple]

Well, mine must be super duper extra special premium at $1799…! 🤔

 

[ArchEtech]

The “Air” nomenclature has never been at the top of their products.

It will be interesting to see how it sells. I hope it does because I’m interested in an Air 2 when it’s closer to the the pro. I also really want a smaller version of it at the regular pro size.