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Obviously not, he wants the 32GB at the 16GB price
But that is not guaranteed by dropping the 16GB
Raising the storage options doesn't help either

The bottom line is PRICE, not storage sizes
I'd like lower prices too, but raising the base storage doesn't guarantee lower prices

Wow, semantics 101. We all knew what he meant, he doesn't have to spell it out in a 1400 word essay. Your high horse could probably do with some stable time without you riding it.
 
I have a 16GB iPhone 5c. With all of my apps/games installed, I have 7.1GB free. I use the following cloud services:

iTunes Match (22GB of music)
iCloud (photo backup)
Dropbox (everything else)

I only do light gaming and I'm very selective as to what apps I purchase. Thus, in my situation 32GB would be overkill. But I would never complain about getting more for less. ;)

None of Apple's cloud-based services including iTunes Match allow streaming, they expect you to download the music to your phone so it still involves deleting existing music to make room for it and it still isn't a work around for truly portable music storage because it relies on access to WIFI or at least 3G mobile data with an infinite data plan. Neither of which is a practical reality unless you exclusively exist within a concrete jungle.
 
Where are you going without internet? I'm connected to Wi-Fi or LTE 24/7/365. I live about 20 minutes outside a city of 300,000. I wasn't aware that England was in the developing world? ;)

Unlimited data plans and 100% 3G/4G network coverage DON'T EXIST.

24/7 nationwide (including beaches, every nook and cranny of country areas etc...) WIFI hotspots DON'T EXIST.

Infact there's only 2 places you can guarantee getting both WIFI and a 3G/4G.

1) In town/city centres.

2) In bars and gastro pubs that offer WIFI.
 
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I understand your point, I just disagree with the way people state it
It isn't that they want the 16GB to go away, they want lower prices

If you want higher capacity, it is available... for a price
Like everything else in life

I just think, for example, a 16GB iPad for $499 isn't good value at all. Entry level should be 32GB. I feel like I'm being robbed if I pay that much for 16GB.
 
I agree. So from a business stance it makes since to keep the 16gb model. They can make it for less I imagine (even if only slightly), so they would make more profit.

That being said, I wish they would drop it and make the base 32gb. That's the one that I get and it would be nice if it were a little cheaper.

If the 32GB model was the entry level, then that would be the biggest seller.

Since their devices don't have expandable storage, they need to make 32GB the lowest priced iOS device.

Many people get android simply because they need expandable storage.

Their profit margins are high enough already. Time to give us some love. 16GB goes quick.


Users keep bugging them for better and better cameras, more MP, etc etc. The better the pictures the larger the file size.

How many pictures are people going to be able to keep in their iPhone if they don't kill the 16GB?

Let's say you have 12-13GB free out of the box. After your Apps and the storage those apps will need, let's say you have, I don't know, maybe 8GB? If you have lots of apps and games, maybe you have 4GB left. Then your pictures.

Just like that, you're almost full.
 
Its a money maker for them.

I would not be surprised if the iphone 6 came in 16.
 
Its a money maker for them.

I would not be surprised if the iphone 6 came in 16.

I'm not sure about it.

Androids even have 8GB some of them, but SD cards up to 64GB.

Usually if the device doesn't have expandable storage, it is the norm that it comes with a minimum of 32GB.

Things seem to be moving faster at apple, maybe they'll follow suit.

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Ok, lets spell this out...

Current prices (subsidized US from the Apple site)

16GB - $199
32GB - $299
64GB - $399

Kill the 16GB!!!! Arrggghhh!!

Ok, what if Apple kills the 16GB and offers for the 4.7 iPhone 6 (as rumored, 2 sizes, with no 128GB except for the rumored 5.5, doesn't matter)

32GB - $299
64GB - $399

You get what you want... right? The 16GB killed and the base model is 32GB

But wait, that ISN'T what you want... you want the 32GB at the $199 price point

My point is... it isn't the size that is the issue... who cares if they sell a 16GB (or 8GB or 4GB)
It is the PRICE that is the issue

Just say you want lower prices across the board... simple (not that it will happen necessarily)

Just eliminating the 16GB does not guarantee that the 32GB will sell at the previous 16GB price
It might, it might not

For those saying the price is too premium for that you get... hmmmm, that's Apple isn't it?
You are either willing to pay it or you aren't

I think it should. I'm just going by what I see in the android world.

The prices of the phones stayed the same, but if the phone doesn't have expandable storage, then the base phone is 32GB. $199.

Seems like that's where everyone else is going. So anyway. We will see if they do or not, but if they do then $199 for 32GB is the way to go. They're still making tons of profit.

I don't live in the US at the moment, so everything I buy is cash.

They don't even have to kill it. Just offer the 16GB for $99.00 on contract and off the 8GB forever.

Then the 32GB starts at $199.
 
Unlimited data plans and 100% 3G/4G network coverage DON'T EXIST.

24/7 nationwide (including beaches, every nook and cranny of country areas etc...) WIFI hotspots DON'T EXIST.

Infact there's only 2 places you can guarantee getting both WIFI and a 3G/4G.

1) In town/city centres.

2) In bars and gastro pubs that offer WIFI.

This isn't true - I have unlimited data and 100% 3 and 4g here in the UK.

I don't keep any music files on my iPhone as streaming is so compelling, when data is fast, unlimited and almost free.
 
This isn't true - I have unlimited data and 100% 3 and 4g here in the UK.

I don't keep any music files on my iPhone as streaming is so compelling, when data is fast, unlimited and almost free.

They don't have "fair usage"? Here in Thailand it is Unlimited, but when I reach 5GB they slow the connection to edge until the next billing cycle.

It still says 3G, but it is as slow as edge.
 
I'm not sure about it.

Androids even have 8GB some of them, but SD cards up to 64GB.

Usually if the device doesn't have expandable storage, it is the norm that it comes with a minimum of 32GB.

Things seem to be moving faster at apple, maybe they'll follow suit.

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I think it should. I'm just going by what I see in the android world.

The prices of the phones stayed the same, but if the phone doesn't have expandable storage, then the base phone is 32GB. $199.

Seems like that's where everyone else is going. So anyway. We will see if they do or not, but if they do then $199 for 32GB is the way to go. They're still making tons of profit.

I don't live in the US at the moment, so everything I buy is cash.

They don't even have to kill it. Just offer the 16GB for $99.00 on contract and off the 8GB forever.

Then the 32GB starts at $199.

No iPhone-equivalent Android device comes with 8GB. The premium ones are 16GB onboard with an SD slot giving access to CHEAP additional storage. The NEXUS devices which don't have SD slots are priced rrrreal cheap for memory upgrades.
 
This isn't true - I have unlimited data and 100% 3 and 4g here in the UK.

I don't keep any music files on my iPhone as streaming is so compelling, when data is fast, unlimited and almost free.

Presume you are with 3 then? I'm on their unlimited data contract but there are still plenty of dead spots that mean you cant get a signal and there are no wifi hot spots as well. You may be in an area the vast majority of the time where you get a good signal but venture a bit further to some areas then you will be stuck.
 
This isn't true - I have unlimited data and 100% 3 and 4g here in the UK.

I don't keep any music files on my iPhone as streaming is so compelling, when data is fast, unlimited and almost free.

Bring you phone to numerous locations within a mile or 2 of where I live and watch that signal disappear. I'd also like to know which UK network offers truly unlimited mobile internet, not some restrictive service after hitting a monthly limit?
 
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No iPhone-equivalent Android device comes with 8GB. The premium ones are 16GB onboard with an SD slot giving access to CHEAP additional storage. The NEXUS devices which don't have SD slots are priced rrrreal cheap for memory upgrades.

Yes. The 8GB ones are dirt cheap. Nokia does the same.

The premium ones are still 16GB, but with expandable storage. If no SD card, then 32GB, like my G2. This and the 5c came out at the same time. The 5c was more expensive than this one. Half the storage, half the ram, and older hardware. Insanity.
 
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I'm not sure about it.

Androids even have 8GB some of them, but SD cards up to 64GB.

Usually if the device doesn't have expandable storage, it is the norm that it comes with a minimum of 32GB.

Things seem to be moving faster at apple, maybe they'll follow suit.

I still think though Apple will have the 16 at the bottom model, knowing people will pay extra for the 32.

Its not about the 16 being too small, its about profit margin. If the 16 is scrapped, it will be 32, 64, 128. So it really comes down to when the 128 is cost effective for Apple to ship. They will drop the 16 when they are making a good profit on the 128. The thing is, top tier phones are getting cheaper, and the iphone is the most expansive one, so apple is under pressure to also provide a competitive device at the right price point. Hence I believe the 16 will remain, though I hope I am wrong. Though you have to admin at 128GB ipad is damn expansive, compared to the competition.
 
Bring you phone to numerous locations within a mile or 2 of where I live and watch that signal disappear. I'd also like to know which UK network offers truly unlimited mobile internet, not some restrictive service after hitting a monthly limit
I'm fairly sure the One Plan on 3 is unlimited or at least it was if you signed up for a while ago. There is talk newer users will hit a fair usage limit but not sure if this will hit folk who have been on it for ages.

I've been on it nearly a year now and at times can rack up a fair amount of data usage through streaming Sky Go etc and never seen it cause any issues.

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I still think though Apple will have the 16 at the bottom model, knowing people will pay extra for the 32.

Its not about the 16 being too small, its about profit margin. If the 16 is scrapped, it will be 32, 64, 128. So it really comes down to when the 128 is cost effective for Apple to ship. They will drop the 16 when they are making a good profit on the 128. The thing is, top tier phones are getting cheaper, and the iphone is the most expansive one, so apple is under pressure to also provide a competitive device at the right price point. Hence I believe the 16 will remain, though I hope I am wrong. Though you have to admin at 128GB ipad is damn expansive, compared to the competition.
I wouldnt be overly surprised at all to see the 16gb model still there as the base model. Lets not forget its not long since an 8Gb 5c hit the market. I would suspect there are a lot of users out there that have no interest in filling up the phone with music, video, large games etc and just use it for phoning, texting, few pics and a bit of social media. My other half was on an 8gb iPhone 4 for a couple of years and had no issues at all space wise.
 
I disagree. Though you clearly glossed over what I typed for whatever silly reason. This isn't just about cheaper, it is about paying a price for something that is of greater value. Perhaps a point you cannot understand or I am not articulating well enough. There is a premium paid with Apple products to have a very good device but at some point paying what we pay for 16GB is definitely not a good value.

The thing is, an iPhone isn't only storage space.....

Apple's margins have gone down. So whatever you think of the "value" of their devices, they've been giving us "more" for the same price.

Seems to me storage space is just one of the ways they keep the margins acceptable.

Personally, I think it'd be more likely (and would still help us out) that they decrease the price changes for more storage. Margins go through the roof as storage space increases and that's somewhere they could "cut" without really affecting the bottom line and still look good to consumers.

Honestly, it might actually HELP the bottom line. If people had options of $199/$249/$299 for 16/32/64, perhaps there would be plenty of people who would go for a 32 or 64 that normally would buy the 16 because the value proposition makes more sense.

I already buy the 32GB for $299. If the above price points happened, it wouldn't cause me to try and save the $50....I'd still spend the same $299 for the 64GB. I've already identified that I value a 32GB iPhone at $299. Of course I'd value a 64GB iPhone even more.

EDIT: Actually, Apple's margins on the 5S were better than the 5. Perhaps gearing up for addition of sapphire displays and maybe a change in storage pricing? Who knows....

If the iPhone 6 has a similar BOM as the iPhone 5/5S, these are the numbers we'd see at the price points I mentioned above:

16GB: BOM = $199, Price = $649, GPM = 69%
32GB: BOM = $209, Price = $699, GPM = 70%
64GB: BOM = $230, Price = $749, GPM = 69%

Margins would decrease on the top two storage tiers by 2-3% points....negligable and likely easily off-set by the number of consumers who would purchase a 32GB at $249/$699 or 64GB at $299/$749 when they normally wouldn't.

I'm guessing the BOM will be a tad higher this go around though due to various improvements. We may have to wait until next year to see something like this.
 
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They will scrap 16GB when one of two things happens:

1) People stop buying the 16GB model.
2) It becomes inconvenient to have a 16GB model because small enough flash memory chips aren't available.

That's it. If Apple can save even a buck a unit by offering 16GB, and they sell, they'll do so.
 
I'm fairly sure the One Plan on 3 is unlimited or at least it was if you signed up for a while ago. There is talk newer users will hit a fair usage limit but not sure if this will hit folk who have been on it for ages.

I've been on it nearly a year now and at times can rack up a fair amount of data usage through streaming Sky Go etc and never seen it cause any issues.

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I wouldnt be overly surprised at all to see the 16gb model still there as the base model. Lets not forget its not long since an 8Gb 5c hit the market. I would suspect there are a lot of users out there that have no interest in filling up the phone with music, video, large games etc and just use it for phoning, texting, few pics and a bit of social media. My other half was on an 8gb iPhone 4 for a couple of years and had no issues at all space wise.

What is the signal coverage like?

I couldn't get away from O2 fast enough once my contract is up, they've screwed me on the warranty on a less than 1 year old phone (Apple were apologetic and gave me a new phone), they've put their tariff up mid-contract, they've created a new contract for new customers that's the same cost as their old one, yet allows you to pay off the phone early and just pay the service, they only allow you to buy out a contract if you agree to sign a new one and last but not least, when my 3GS was damaged, the local O2 shop recommended a repair service near their shop (which they use themselves) who charged £35 to fix the screen, earphone and power button but broke the home button in doing so and expected £10 more to fix what they broke. Then the headphone socket came loose inside the phone within weeks of the repair and they refused to fix it. (By then I'd given up on patching up an almost 4.5 year old phone and got my iPhone5.)
 
My point is that for example the entry level iPad $499 should be 32GB. I don't want to pay $599 to get 32GB.

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I think 16GB is a big seller just because it is the entry level price.

So *you* don't want to pay extra for more storage?

Why should 90% of people, who would never fill 16GB, subsidise the fact that you don't want to pay for more storage?
 
I can see them reducing the price for upgrades from $100 to $50 like they just did for the iPod Touch. It would allow them to maintain their margins on the 16GB model while encouraging more users to upgrade.

$199 - 16GB
$249 - 32GB
$299 - 64GB
 
I can see them reducing the price for upgrades from $100 to $50 like they just did for the iPod Touch. It would allow them to maintain their margins on the 16GB model while encouraging more users to upgrade.

$199 - 16GB
$249 - 32GB
$299 - 64GB

I really hope this is the case, they've already shown they can decrease the cost of jumping to the next storage size on iPods, so why not do the same on iPhones. I'm definitely looking at getting a 32gb iPhone 6, but if they follow this pricing structure, i'm not going to pass up a 64gb for what i'm anticipating on spending for a 32gb, right now. And to go a step further, if there is a 128gb thrown in at $349, I'd be in line for one of these. I've got a son on the way in October and right now I'm constantly shifting pics/videos of my 2 1/2 year old daughter off my phone to my Mac. 64 or 128 would be much nicer at these price points. If they keep with the current pricing model, 32gb would be my max.
 
This chart basically illustrates why Apple doesn't scrap the 16GB model. Purchases are almost evenly split between 16/32GB models, and 16GB is the best-selling option. Almost nobody purchases 64GB+ devices.

Image
Source (MacRumors)

That chart doesn't say anything of the sort. All it says is that the cheapest version sells best. Make the 32GB the cheapest version and it'll sell the best as well.

At this point, I think memory prices are low enough that apple can afford to make the jump for a profit perspective. Whether they will or not is a different story.
 
Bring you phone to numerous locations within a mile or 2 of where I live and watch that signal disappear. I'd also like to know which UK network offers truly unlimited mobile internet, not some restrictive service after hitting a monthly limit?

Well, last month I used 106GB on 3 - I do live in central Edinburgh, though, and always have a good signal.
 
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