Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
If you have an X, the XS is a giant waste of money. If you don't care about cameras what is the point in upgrading from an X. The form factor, screen and perceivable speed of the XS are identical to the X. And the only reason to get an XR would be to have a larger screen for less money.

The X will still be a great phone for many years. The 2018 phones are very much for those of us who had 2, 3, 4 , 5 year old phones and wanted an upgrade. Yearly upgrades just seem silly the last couple of years.

I have the X and skipped last year’s XS Max. I will be upgrading this year to whatever X Max launch, but only if it’s the same price as the 256GB 2018 version. If it’s more I’ll just buy last year’s model. Don’t get me wrong, I love my X and it’s still fast as the day I got it 14 months ago, but I want a bigger screen.
 
I have the X and skipped last year’s XS Max. I will be upgrading this year to whatever X Max launch, but only if it’s the same price as the 256GB 2018 version. If it’s more I’ll just buy last year’s model. Don’t get me wrong, I love my X and it’s still fast as the day I got it 14 months ago, but I want a bigger screen.
I’m guessing the 2019 model phones will come in at a very close price point to the 2018 phones. I don’t think Apple will reduce the price nor do I think there will be a meaningful increment given the recent hoopla over pricing.
 
My theory for 2019 is they will be differentiating the smaller and larger OLED models to better distribute the pricing, and will also reduce the pricing on some models as it is undeniably an issue in this current market. Not all models though, because they’re stubborn. My guess is as follows:

iPhone 11 Max - $1100 - OLED, stainless steel, improved Face ID, thinner due to removal of 3D Touch and touch layer integrated into OLED panel, 3 cameras for most superior camera (low light, VR and zoom), A13 and 6GB of RAM, Fast charger in the box

iPhone 11 - $900 - OLED, stainless steel, improved Face ID, thinner due to removal of 3D Touch and touch layer integrated into OLED panel, 2 cameras (some upgrades to the XS), Reduced price to make it more affordable/attainable, A13 and 4GB of RAM

iPhone 11R - $700 - LCD and aluminium, same body, iPhone XS camera, Reduced price to match entry level price of iPhone 8 from a few years ago, A13 and 4GB of RAM

An issue with the current lineup is most of the models are over $1000 and premium, and people don’t understand enough about the models to differentiate or justify the price. It’s moved from plastic vs aluminium, and big vs small, and now I think it’ll be cameras and screen tech. And this can also be summarised quite simply for the majority of the market:

- OLED with 3 cameras = most premium
- OLED with 2 cameras = premium
- LCD with 2 cameras = least premium


Then for 2020, I believe a redesign is in order, including a smaller notch or punch-hole design once the sensors are embedded behind the display. With this I hope they bring back the iPhone 5/iPad Pro style flat sides with matte stainless steel and OLED across the whole lineup. Maybe at this time they will also introduce a 5.2" R variant to there is the smaller and larger for both the entry level and premium ranges. 5.4/6.1 and 5.8/6.5

LMAO!!!!!

Most Premium
Premium
Less Premium

You sound like the dimwits at my work - Hot, Really Hot, Gotta have it now Hot.

Why not just call it "Varying Levels of Premium"? :D
 
Um, 10 words.
One worded posts will be removed. Hence the additional explanations.
Clearly mentioned in the "Things Not to Do" portion of the forum rules.
[doublepost=1547352610][/doublepost]
Niche concern.
There's a two word response for you. Honestly I've never noticed latency on my AirPods.
You are a data point having just as much weight as me being another data point.
 
Last edited:
Is this the final nail in the coffin for my SE sized dreams?

What, no mention of the 5C yet? Guess it's my turn.
Please release a "5C" form factor iPhone with all the latest bells and whistles*.
Thanks.

*bells and whistles includes audio jack

It's actually one of my favourite ergonomic iPhone designs. soft on the back - curved where you hold it, but sharp on the front where you want the screen to go to the edges. It reminds me a lot of the G4 iMac screen. If only they sold it with a matte finish.

Everyone just railed on it because of the choice of material finish, poor thing.
 
Last edited:
I’m guessing the 2019 model phones will come in at a very close price point to the 2018 phones. I don’t think Apple will reduce the price nor do I think there will be a meaningful increment given the recent hoopla over pricing.

I don’t mind paying last year’s prices since I’m on a 2 year upgrade cycle now. Anything higher and I’ll be buying last year’s model.
 
  • Like
Reactions: smulji
I’m guessing the 2019 model phones will come in at a very close price point to the 2018 phones. I don’t think Apple will reduce the price nor do I think there will be a meaningful increment given the recent hoopla over pricing.

I wonder if this March, Apple will announce the return of the X starting at $849 or $849 and keep it through September 2019 at a lower price point.

Getting rid of the X in 2018 seems more like greed (and the first time since 2014 that Apple has removed a model from the previous year from sale).

I wonder also if the XR will see a price cut to start at $699. Failing a redesign of the device this year (which isn’t going to happen) it is obviously just too expensive vs features for most people to consider upgrading.

Agree with you that at the top end (Xs and max replacements), the prices will stay as they are
 
  • Like
Reactions: I7guy
more cameras not going to help sell more iphones

three things apple can do that may help sell more iphones:

1. the most obvious is lower the price, but even lowering the price is
not a guaranteed that people will buy. people with iphone 6s, iphone 7,
Iphone 8, iphone xr, xs, xs max may just stick with their phones since
its still running well.

2. innovate, add more compelling features that will lead people to want to
buy. but apple is not doing so well in this department, features such as
the notch, face id are not compelling enough. its not just apple, a lot
of other phone makers have run out of ideas also. maybe a foldable phone?

3. the iphone 5s came out in 2013 and still gets ios 12 in 2018. that's five years later!
one way to increase sales is to stop supporting older hardware for such a long time.
instead of giving ios update for 5 years, maybe just cut it down to 3 years. but this strategy
to sell more iphones can backfire because providing timely ios update is the main selling point
of buying iphone. if apple stop providing ios update for such a long time than they will be just
like the other android phones. this strategy may cause a lot of apple fans to switch to android phones


I don't think apple will do number 2 and number 3. their best chance is to try number 1.
but they may see an increase in sales when 5G gets here and people need to update their phones to get 5G
 
Last edited:
That's the smart move right there. I should have been doing this years ago but I don't have the discipline and I always get the urge to have the latest and greatest. Luckily this only happens to me with phones and laptops (and lately not so much since I use my macbook less and less) and not everything in my life :D
[doublepost=1547760371][/doublepost]I had to replace my 6+ last year with the 8+. Not a significant upgrade.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.