iPhone 14 Pro How would you justify paying well over 1000 dollars for a next-gen iPhone ?

[compwiz1202]

That is true. However, last year, many people, myself included, were tickled with the 13 Pro. I know few who upgraded to the 14 series and no one who is thrilled with it.

That's us for sure. My wife didn't upgrade at all, and I went to the Flip Side because there's nothing exciting about a new iPhone to me anymore.

 

[compwiz1202]

Like the CEO of the company I work for. He’s worth tens of millions, owns goodness knows how many super cars and has a 2018 iPad Pro and an iPhone 12 Pro Max lol. I think some on here think if you’ve got money, you’re somehow passionate about having the latest iPhone.

My mom used to work with someone who got some crazy inheritence but ate at diners and took the napkins home

 

[Abstract]

Nobody needs a new phone every year. Heck, I don't even WANT a new phone every year. It's simply wasteful. 🤷🏻‍♂️

As for justification, anyone can justify any purchase if they wanted. When I was 30, my justifications used to be pretty awful.

For me, it's simple: I can afford an iPhone 14 PM, especially if I keep it for over 3-4 years. It's my most oft-used "computer", and I'm on it all the time. It's my map, my camera, and my music player. It does more than any other device I own. I own a 16" MBP that I use FAR less often than my iPhone.

 

[KOTN91]

The iPhone 8 and 8+ were hardly irrelevant. They were effectively an iPhone X without the FaceID and newer looking form factor. They were very popular phones and not everybody was thrilled with the X when it was released despite what many on Mac Rumours may feel. It was the first iPhone that pushed the £1k barrier and that turned a lot of consumers off despite its new looking design. The iPhone 8 was a very solid phone, especially the Plus and was often tipped as being more reliable than its X variant and had better battery life.


That’s completely false. The iPhone 8 contained current technology and had much of the same internals of the iPhone X. Just because it had a classic design rather than the newer form factor does not mean the technology was out of date. It had the current iteration of TouchID on the device too.

It had the same design that had been used on the 3 years previous iPhones, which was unheard of then. Whilst it may have shared the A11 chip with the iPhone X, in terms of other specifications it is certainly not false that the 8 was outdated even for 2017. The 8 was far behind both the X and non iPhone rivals and had an outdated and rehashed design, with huge bezels and a tiny screen to footprint ratio, a significantly worse camera, an inferior biometric system and early 2010s screen technology. If buying on contract the X would have only been a few quid more expensive per month, so it’s hardly like the £1000 barrier is that relevant and clearly the X was the much better buy

 

[KOTN91]

My mom used to work with someone who got some crazy inheritence but ate at diners and took the napkins home

Nothing worse than people who have lots of money but are still cheap

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

It had the same design that had been used on the 3 years previous iPhones, which was unheard of then. Whilst it may have shared the A11 chip with the iPhone X, in terms of other specifications it is certainly not false that the 8 was outdated even for 2017. The 8 was far behind both the X and non iPhone rivals and had an outdated and rehashed design, with huge bezels and a tiny screen to footprint ratio, a significantly worse camera, an inferior biometric system and early 2010s screen technology. If buying on contract the X would have only been a few quid more expensive per month, so it’s hardly like the £1000 barrier is that relevant and clearly the X was the much better buy

It was similar in appearance but introduced wireless charging, True Tone (certainly not an early 2010’s screen), and the A11 was around 3 years ahead of any Android phone. You are judging it purely on aesthetics but that’s pretty selective. Not everybody buys a phone for how it looks and the 8 Plus I had was still the most reliable iPhone I’ve had to date. The biometric system wasn’t inferior by any stretch of the imagination. What utter tripe.

You say the iPhone X was a ‘few quid more expensive a month’. It wasn’t though was it? Is was over £20 a month more on contract and wasn’t worth trying for that price for me. The iPhone 8 was everywhere and a popular business phone whereas the X was a lot more niche, in fact it was over 4 months until I saw one being used by someone. I’m still seeing iPhone 8’s being used now, long after X’s and XS’s have been retired with poor batteries. You may have a different opinion on this but it doesn’t affect my experiences with what was a very popular and successful iPhone.

Nothing worse than people who have lots of money but are still cheap

Why? Who are you to tell someone how to spend or flaunt their money? What an odd statement and one that is clearly seeking attention.

 

[mollyc]

The X also didn't come in a larger size which I prefer, so I chose the 8+ at the time.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

The X also didn't come in a larger size which I prefer, so I chose the 8+ at the time.

Me too, it was a better phone in my opinion at the time. The battery health was also much better than the iPhone 12 I had after it despite claims an OLED screen is much less harsh on battery life.

 

[AppleFanatic10]

I do a lot of trade-ins so essentially I'm not "spending" 1500 on a new device. I think the max I spent out of pocket was like $600 minus the trade-ins I did.

 

[Andeddu]

The iPhone 8 is probably the most reliable phone I have ever owned. I normally upgrade every 2 years but I ended up keeping that one for 3 years and upgraded only when the 12 was released. It was such a feature rich device and was a huge upgrade over my 6S.

 

[ctjack]

It is quite easy in US. I like xiaomi phones and i liked sourcing them at MSRP under $300. But in US your regular xiaomi note becomes 50-80% more expensive due to tariffs and no direct seller - only amazon flippers. I don’t see myself paying that for Xiaomi.

I like that european apple stores list VAT incl. line - so effectively you are paying the same 1029 euros which is more or less the same as Americans pay for their latest iphone pros. The rest of your charge is VAT which is 300-400 euros - and that is a great question that is better addressed by your government. Apple only gets 1000 euros from you and your government charges 300-400 euros for that transaction.

PS edit: not saying that spending 1000+ is easy, meant to say that the difference in pricing is explained easily.

 

[1rottenapple]

The 8 was outdated technology on release, as shown by the fact the X was released concurrently

Processor for 8 and X is the same. No difference.

 

[clueless88]

Nothing worse than people who have lots of money but are still cheap

Maybe there is a correlation between restrained spending and accumulation/retention of wealth?

 

[sam_dean]

Nothing worse than people who have lots of money but are still cheap

Perhaps the reason why they stay rich because they stay cheap?

A problem of many persons who come into money suddenly is that their expenses overshoots their improved cashflow.

For example if I were to come into money I'd do the following in secret

- pay off all personal/business debt
- make repairs to current home to rent out and buy myself a new home in a better neighborhood
- sell off all old things as downpayment for current model & follow a scheduled replacement cycle of all home appliances, devices, cars, etc
- do not tell the local diner that I came into money
- invest money into stock in March 2020 & April 2020.

 

[Fried_Gold]

I used to upgrade every year but moving onto a 2 year cycle. Money isn’t an issue it’s more to do with the fact we are only seeing minor upgrades

This is me now, I used to upgrade yearly but after last year I will probably wait it out until the 15 or 16 as I don't see much reason to upgrade from my 13 so far.

 

[iFone88]

My justification is that I love new tech, I love new iPhones, the amount I use it far exceeds it's value.

 

[XboxEvolved]

I have an iPhone 11 and was planning on updating to a 15 Pro MAX EA SPORTS IT'S A PHONE (or whatever Apple calls it) but then I thought to myself, well usually when I upgraded phones I was handing it down to someone else. Everyone that I would hand it down to has a perfectly fine phone. Then I thought this phone has been incredibly durable, has no visible scratches, and hasn't really had any slowdown that couldn't be blamed on buggy iOS versions.

I just sent it off to Apple using my Apple Care to replace the battery and whatever else they can do to make it better (the speakers were getting a little low due to debris getting in them from the job I have) so it will almost be like having a new phone again. Then I thought way back in the day when Apple products would last forever and started thinking like that. I might just keep this phone until they quit making new iOS updates for it unless it just gets significantly slower. It will make me appreciate any and all upgrades to the latest phone all the more and probably save me a few thousand in the long run. I've actually started thinking about doing this with all my Apple products (so I would end up upgrading my iPad next since it's the closest to not having the latest OS). You know to get "more bang for my buck". To me, it also just makes more sense to be frugal due to the extreme inflation right now. Then again, maybe the latest iPhone this year will just wow me enough that I'll change my tune.

 

[saber32au]

My main justification is driven by whether I need an item, and whether I’ll benefit positively from purchasing the item.

For example, I’ve got an XR and was considering upgrading to a later model iPhone.

After purchasing a newer model phone, I found myself regretting the purchase, and ultimately returning the phone.

Simply put, after the initial “new phone feeling” subsided, I found there was no functional difference in the way I used my phone between my current XR and the newer phone.

The fancy new features of a newer phone didn’t mean anything to me, as I either didn’t use the feature, or didn’t value the feature.

I simply couldn’t justify buying something that brought no benefit to me. For me, I’m better off spending the money on something else that I truly enjoy and get value from.

So for now, I’m sticking with my XR (with a new battery).

 

[XboxEvolved]

My main justification is driven by whether I need an item, and whether I’ll benefit positively from purchasing the item.

For example, I’ve got an XR and was considering upgrading to a later model iPhone.

After purchasing a newer model phone, I found myself regretting the purchase, and ultimately returning the phone.

Simply put, after the initial “new phone feeling” subsided, I found there was no functional difference in the way I used my phone between my current XR and the newer phone.

The fancy new features of a newer phone didn’t mean anything to me, as I either didn’t use the feature, or didn’t value the feature.

I simply couldn’t justify buying something that brought no benefit to me. For me, I’m better off spending the money on something else that I truly enjoy and get value from.

So for now, I’m sticking with my XR (with a new battery).

Yeah, I have this dilemma. For me the benefits of any new iPhone would be a better battery as I play a lot of Pokemon GO, something a battery pack basically solves. The OLED screen would be nice, the better speakers, the magsafe, faster processor, cameras, faster screen refresh, and bigger screen and whatnot, but 80% of the time I feel I would be having the same general experience I already have with my current phone. I don't know if that 20% difference is enough for me.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I believe that the iPhone offers an unmatched user experience, from its sleek and intuitive design to its robust ecosystem of apps and services. For me, no Android device can match the seamless integration and consistency of the iPhone. Additionally, the latest iPhone models feature cutting-edge technologies like 5G connectivity, improved cameras, and advanced security features, making them worth the investment for me. The premium price tag for a next-gen iPhone is a reflection of its exceptional performance, innovative features, and long-term value. While there may be cheaper alternatives available, for me, nothing comes close to the iPhone's overall experience.

iOS is not perfect though, Siri for example lags far behind Google’s voice assistant which for me is unacceptable as it’s such an integral part of the experience and something I use throughout the day for reminders, app launches and timers. The premium price tag increased significantly last September and I’m at a loss to see what we got additionally that sets the iPhone apart? It’s not like the iPhone has the best camera anymore. Like you I prefer the overall iOS experience with its polished (mostly) interface. However, Apple are neglecting certain aspects and I’m starting to question whether I continue my 12 year iPhone experience as prices continue to increase.

PS: I’m assuming your post isn’t a copy and paste from a marketing ad and I haven’t misinterpreted it.

 

[The Game 161]

I upgrade every 2 years but the 14 Pro is more than I think is worth spending. I’m not ruling out switching to Android next time around as I’m also starting to ask what the justification is for iPhones to be well over a £1000? I’m noticing more and more people I know gravitating away from the iPhone and this is surely down to prices in Europe being ridiculously high?

I opted for a 13 Pro Max this time around and my options going forward will either be the previous years Pro iPhone or an Android. Let’s face it, a smartphone is a smartphone and they all essentially do the same thing.

Unless you are buying a pixel though most android phones are as expensive if not more so these days. S23 ultra i'm expecting to be 1200/1300

 

[ctjack]

Perhaps the reason why they stay rich because they stay cheap?

There is a big difference between cheap and frugal.
Once in a college my friends once went out on a takeout spree - eating out every day. I got away with buying water or etc. Once i rejected, they asked why and i said i am on a budget. Then they shared their food which I really appreciated.
My uncle serves grit paper in the bathroom when he invites relatives to their house, other people steal towels from hotels - that is totally another level which is called cheapness.

My boss drives 25K car when he takes home 2.3 million after taxes - leftovers are used to build condos near ocean.
My friends bought 100K and 280K houses(pretty nice ones), when their peers with the same income went for 350K-400K.

 

[Isamilis]

Hey all,

I live in France and the cheapest iPhone 14 Pro model retails at 1329 euros, that's 1441 US Dollars.

I've had an iPhone for 15 years and used to update every year, lately every two years, but now sometimes ask myself...

Moving forward, what really justifies to spend that crazy amount of money onto an iPhone vs. an Android alternative ?

For the same amount of money I could probably get 3 Xiaomi phones with equivalent specs.

Looking forward to all your thoughts

(I've got mine but am interrested into other people's take)

You can justify the price if the phone can last for 5+ years. Consider battery replacement and slower iOS update which are not bad at all for secured, intuitive UI and integrated ecosystem. Or, your current lifestyle (and income) justifies it.

 

[sam_dean]

There is a big difference between cheap and frugal.
Once in a college my friends once went out on a takeout spree - eating out every day. I got away with buying water or etc. Once i rejected, they asked why and i said i am on a budget. Then they shared their food which I really appreciated.
My uncle serves grit paper in the bathroom when he invites relatives to their house, other people steal towels from hotels - that is totally another level which is called cheapness.

My boss drives 25K car when he takes home 2.3 million after taxes - leftovers are used to build condos near ocean.
My friends bought 100K and 280K houses(pretty nice ones), when their peers with the same income went for 350K-400K.

I would not consider stealing towels as being cheap or cheapness. You're just a plain thief.

They're worse than Filipinos who earn less than $5,000/year

 

[OneBar]

Yeah, I'm thinking of finally letting go of my iPhone X specifically because 5 years is enough time to see meaningful camera improvements, but being a photographer, I'm realistic that I'll still be disappointed anytime I compare my smartphone photos to my real camera photos. If you don't mind carrying around an extra gadget, you can save yourself a lot of money. Even a basic compact point and shoot still outperform flagship phones.

Interesting. I frequently fool people into thinking I'm shooting with one when it's the other. As with DSLRs, you have to know your phone cam's strengths and weaknesses when shooting.