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Sensamic

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Mar 26, 2010
2,836
461
It strikes me seeing people accepting buying a phone (Apple or any other company) for more than 1000€. Now with the new models a Pro 128GB is 1500€, which is absolutely insane. Maybe in 4 years the Pro Max base 256GB will be 2000€, yet still (some) people will buy it.

Doesnt matter if you pay it in 24/36 months. It is just TOO much.

I always wonder if these people who keep buying have 200.000$ per year jobs. Must be rich people, because anyone who is paying gas, electricity, food, rent or whatever surely can’t see this been right.

When will you stop?

Some people seem ok with paying 1.500€ for the 14 Pro Max. So, when will you stop?
 

martin2345uk

macrumors 65816
Jan 6, 2013
1,314
1,058
Essex
For me it's already gone beyond the point where I can justify it to myself... I could afford it, sure, but the need/want balance has now tipped in favour of not getting the latest. I still have a XR, i think once that gives up the ghost I will start a cycle of maybe upgrading to the 2-year-previous iPhone model, so it will still feel like an upgrade, but just not at the elevated prices of the latest and greatest.
 

Jeff Kirvin

macrumors member
Nov 28, 2020
40
98
It strikes me seeing people accepting buying a phone (Apple or any other company) for more than 1000€. Now with the new models a Pro 128GB is 1500€, which is absolutely insane. Maybe in 4 years the Pro Max base 256GB will be 2000€, yet still (some) people will buy it.

Doesnt matter if you pay it in 24/36 months. It is just TOO much.

I always wonder if these people who keep buying have 200.000$ per year jobs. Must be rich people, because anyone who is paying gas, electricity, food, rent or whatever surely can’t see this been right.

When will you stop?

Some people seem ok with paying 1.500€ for the 14 Pro Max. So, when will you stop?
Stop trying to make other people's value decisions for them. If it's too expensive for you, don't buy it, please. But as I often explain to folks here in Colorado, I don't ski. Instead, I spend my discretionary income on Apple gadgets that make me happy. Quit yucking on my yum.
 

Sensamic

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Mar 26, 2010
2,836
461
Stop trying to make other people's value decisions for them. If it's too expensive for you, don't buy it, please. But as I often explain to folks here in Colorado, I don't ski. Instead, I spend my discretionary income on Apple gadgets that make me happy. Quit yucking on my yum.
You don’t understand the question. When will YOU stop?

You like spending your money on apple gadgets? That’s ok. When will YOU stop if prices keep getting bigger?

THATS my question to people like you.
 

pbonitati

macrumors regular
Aug 25, 2015
228
362
Rhode Island
There is a lot that goes into this. Some people don’t care what model phone they have. I have a buddy who is a millionaire and rocks a regular iPhone 12 and before it was an iPhone 6s. I on other hand have a great job and have plenty means to upgrade every year and I do just that. Do I need it? Probably not at all, but I work hard and I reward myself when I see fit. You only get one chance in this world, screw it. Be happy which ever way you go with this or anything else for that matter.
 

JPack

macrumors G4
Mar 27, 2017
10,689
19,298
most people aren't paying anywhere close to full price. here in the US, the carrier trade-in deals almost make it stupid NOT to trade in. get a brand new phone for $0? (or a couple hundred if you have an older one) why not?

You pay for it one way or another. Either through inflated monthly payments or all at once. Getting "trade-in" deals means you forgo the savings offered by MVNOs. There is no free lunch.
 

bbeagle

macrumors 68040
Oct 19, 2010
3,502
2,898
Buffalo, NY
You don’t understand the question. When will YOU stop?

You like spending your money on apple gadgets? That’s ok. When will YOU stop if prices keep getting bigger?

THATS my question to people like you.
I haven't paid for a phone in over 10 years. I had the iPhone 6, iPhone 7, iPhone XR, iPhone 12, and I'll probably get the iPhone 14.

The carriers here in the states let us return our 2-year old used iPhones and they give us brand new iPhones for free. The only caveat is that you're locked into your carrier for 2-3 years. Doesn't matter to me. I've been on the same carrier (AT&T) since 2008.

As long as the carriers keep offering these deals, I'll keep upgrading.

If I had to pay full price to get a new phone, I wouldn't do it. I'd still have a 5-7 year old phone.
 

Wahlstrm

macrumors 6502a
Dec 4, 2013
820
809
I haven't paid for a phone in over 10 years. I had the iPhone 6, iPhone 7, iPhone XR, iPhone 12, and I'll probably get the iPhone 14.

The carriers here in the states let us return our 2-year old used iPhones and they give us brand new iPhones for free. The only caveat is that you're locked into your carrier for 2-3 years. Doesn't matter to me. I've been on the same carrier (AT&T) since 2008.

As long as the carriers keep offering these deals, I'll keep upgrading.

If I had to pay full price to get a new phone, I wouldn't do it. I'd still have a 5-7 year old phone.

What’s the monthly bill on a plan that includes a +$1000 phone “for free”?

We can get phones included here as well but that usually takes the monthly bill from like $30 to $100.
So I wouldn’t call it “free”. :)
 

bbeagle

macrumors 68040
Oct 19, 2010
3,502
2,898
Buffalo, NY
What’s the monthly bill on a plan that includes a +$1000 phone “for free”?

We can get phones included here as well but that usually takes the monthly bill from like $30 to $100.
So I wouldn’t call it “free”. :)
The monthly prices are the same regardless of whether you get the free phones or not. I'm sure it's baked into the prices, but you pay the same whether or not you opt to get a free phone.

I have 7 lines (4 phones and 3 watches) and pay $220 total with taxes. Unlimited talk and data. With free HBO+.
 
Last edited:

kasakka

macrumors 68020
Oct 25, 2008
2,337
1,020
I could see myself paying a fair bit for those foldable phones, when they get good enough or when Apple makes their own 2nd gen version (not buying the first version is always a good idea). They are almost two phones in one or double as a tablet. That has value to me considering I use my phone as a phone less.

But for me the decision has been very easy because for me large phones are a total no go. I really enjoy my 12 Mini's form factor. I also have not seen any reason to buy anything but the base model as it has enough storage space for me. Battery life is also enough to last me through a whole day.

To me the iPhone 14 Pro is just plain bad value unless you are an avid photographer or aspiring filmmaker who can truly make use of the camera. For us regular folk, even my 12 Mini shoots good pictures. The rest of it is the same iOS you get from the cheapest to the best model and the larger sizes do not make any use of the extra screen real estate.
 

Ryan1524

macrumors 68000
Apr 9, 2003
1,918
691
Canada GTA
The question is incorrect.

I'm not spending $2000 on a phone. I'm willing to spend $2000+ on a pocket computer that I carry with me all day everyday, to do everything from work, entertainment, communications, etc. And since I use these devices for 4-5yrs at a time, it's not much over that span of time.
 

rkoshack

macrumors regular
Nov 30, 2012
138
52
The question is incorrect.

I'm not spending $2000 on a phone. I'm willing to spend $2000+ on a pocket computer that I carry with me all day everyday, to do everything from work, entertainment, communications, etc. And since I use these devices for 4-5yrs at a time, it's not much over that span of time.

This is exactly what I came here to say. We need to stop calling these things “phones”. That is just 1 of the many functions these things are these days.
 

daniesy

macrumors regular
Apr 19, 2010
217
234
Mars
The monthly prices are the same regardless of whether you get the free phones or not. I'm sure it's baked into the prices, but you pay the same whether or not you opt to get a free phone.

I have 7 lines (4 phones and 3 watches) and pay $220 total with taxes. Unlimited talk and data. With free HBO+.
In my country I pay 10$ for 5g unlimited minutes and data. So i think it’s quite a difference. However if I need to get a phone on this plan, the discount is barely noticeable.
 

Ponylover52

Cancelled
Jun 12, 2022
108
104
You pay for it one way or another. Either through inflated monthly payments or all at once. Getting "trade-in" deals means you forgo the savings offered by MVNOs. There is no free lunch.
I hate this, and of course the only post paid value unlimited plans that are more in line with the prepaid counterparts are never eligible for trade in promotions. I’m not paying $65+ a month for phone service that’s just in my mind an unreasonable cost.
 

daniesy

macrumors regular
Apr 19, 2010
217
234
Mars
I will stop now. I’ve been buying every single model since the 3g. But the prices now are outrageous. I remember Steve Job’s vision to have everyone own an iPhone. Now, it’s all about profit margins. I can’t justify to myself paying 1600€ for the 256gb pro max. I definitely can afford it, but it’s more expensive than an iPad Pro an even a mbp. The only way I’ll buy it will be if I get it from the states, at a reasonable price.
 

HackMacDaddy

macrumors regular
Dec 17, 2019
149
437
Undisclosed
I will stop now. I’ve been buying every single model since the 3g. But the prices now are outrageous. I remember Steve Job’s vision to have everyone own an iPhone. Now, it’s all about profit margins. I can’t justify to myself paying 1600€ for the 256gb pro max. I definitely can afford it, but it’s more expensive than an iPad Pro an even a mbp. The only way I’ll buy it will be if I get it from the states, at a reasonable price.
Remember: us model is esim only
 
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