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Other Older iPhone models price drop prediction.

Apple$

Apple$

macrumors 6502
Original poster
May 21, 2021
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Hi everyone,
I'm wondering what to expect in terms of price drops for older models when the iPhone 13 series release.
So here's my prediction:
(Prices are in USD)
iPhone SE 2020 - same price ($399) or a $50 price drop. ($349)
iPhone XR - to be discontinued, replaced with iPhone 11.
iPhone 11 - price drop to $499. (from $599)
iPhone 12 mini - (Likely to be discontinued due to low sales)
iPhone 12 - this is a bit of a toss up, I think it could be $649-699 but it would mean a $150-200 price gap with nothing in-between. Thoughts?
iPhone 12 Pro/Pro Max -to be discontinued in favor of 13 Pro/Pro Max.
Any thoughts on this front?
 
Apple$ said:
Hi everyone,
I'm wondering what to expect in terms of price drops for older models when the iPhone 13 series release.
So here's my prediction:
(Prices are in USD)
iPhone SE 2020 - same price ($399) or a $50 price drop. ($349)
iPhone XR - to be discontinued, replaced with iPhone 11.
iPhone 11 - price drop to $499. (from $599)
iPhone 12 mini - (Likely to be discontinued due to low sales)
iPhone 12 - this is a bit of a toss up, I think it could be $649-699 but it would mean a $150-200 price gap with nothing in-between. Thoughts?
iPhone 12 Pro/Pro Max -to be discontinued in favor of 13 Pro/Pro Max.
Any thoughts on this front?
Click to expand...
Your prediction seems reasonable to me. Whether or not it comes to fruition is another matter. lol
 
SE - $399
11 - $499
12 mini - $599
12 - $699
13 mini - $699
13 - $799
13 Pro - $999
13 PM - $1,099

I don't think the 12 mini just gets dropped, I think Apple will want to see how sales go at lower price points.
 
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You can also use as a reference how much they're selling for in the Apple Refurb Store, which are typically a 15% discount. Obviously new will be priced more than the refurbs. The 12 models aren't there yet, but the 11 and earlier are. If the new price for the 12 series is reduced, the refurb prices for earlier models might also be reduced accordingly.
 
Falhófnir said:
SE - $399
11 - $499
12 mini - $599
12 - $699
13 mini - $699
13 - $799
13 Pro - $999
13 PM - $1,099

I don't think the 12 mini just gets dropped, I think Apple will want to see how sales go at lower price points.
Click to expand...
I don't see Apple lowering the price on the 12 mini until it gets to the point where they want to do a very quick clearance, to get rid of stock like they did with the remaining OG SE they had on their site.
 
Apple_Robert said:
I don't see Apple lowering the price on the 12 mini until it gets to the point where they want to do a very quick clearance, to get rid of stock like they did with the remaining OG SE they had on their site.
Click to expand...
But (if I’m understanding what you say correctly) that will mean the 12 mini on sale alongside the 13 mini at the same price?
 
SE - $399 (probably refreshed in Q1 2022)
11 - $499
12 - $699
13 mini - $699
13 - $799
13 Pro - $999
13 PM - $1,099

The 12 mini will very likely be dropped for multiple reasons. Lack of scale and competition against the 13 mini.

The SE is pretty poor value before the next refresh. For $100 more, you get 1GB more RAM, a much better camera system, a bigger screen and much better battery life in the 11. Both have the A13 chip.
 
boak said:
SE - $399 (probably refreshed in Q1 2022)
11 - $499
12 - $699
13 mini - $699
13 - $799
13 Pro - $999
13 PM - $1,099

The 12 mini will very likely be dropped for multiple reasons. Lack of scale and competition against the 13 mini.

The SE is pretty poor value before the next refresh. For $100 more, you get 1GB more RAM, a much better camera system, a bigger screen and much better battery life in the 11. Both have the A13 chip.
Click to expand...

I think this is the most likeliest scenario. Especially as I don't think Apple are seeing the upcoming iPhones as an S generation like many on this forum are and as such they'll keep the 12 around.

I don't see them keeping the 12 Mini around, and the SE needs to be replaced (design-wise) really soon. I know there have been rumours that the next SE will keep the same design but I wonder if Apple has any plans to upgrade the SE in 2022 to the Mini form factor?

I guess keeping just a $100 gap between the SE and 11 makes it perfect for the compromise effect. I bet the marketing team will have a huge input in the pricing too - keep the SE at 399 and price the 11 at 499 and you got X out of 10 people who originally came to buy the SE but have left the store giving Apple an extra $100.
 
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Saladin12 said:
I know there have been rumours that the next SE will keep the same design but I wonder if Apple has any plans to upgrade the SE in 2022 to the Mini form factor?
Click to expand...
Probably a refresh in 2022 in terms of specs. 2023 for new form factor.
 
boak said:
The SE is pretty poor value before the next refresh. For $100 more, you get 1GB more RAM, a much better camera system, a bigger screen and much better battery life in the 11. Both have the A13 chip.
Click to expand...

For most people who have or want the SE, a bigger screen is not a plus. People going for the SE at this point are after then smaller form factor. The SE looks outdated and there is a lot of wasted space, people don't want that. The 12 mini would be just what they want. It has roughly the same dimensions as the SE but a bigger screen and a more modern design. Sadly, it's a lot more expensive.

If they refresh the SE eventually (2023?) and use the 12 mini chassis with appropriate hardwarde to reach a lower price point, the SE might actually become more popular again.
 
imdropbear said:
If they refresh the SE eventually (2023?) and use the 12 mini chassis with appropriate hardwarde to reach a lower price point, the SE might actually become more popular again.
Click to expand...
mini form factor with single-lens, no MagSafe, sub-6GHz only 5G would be great. Not sure about the single-lens though as Apple will have to redesign the back, which neither SE1 nor SE2 received.
 
SE retains its price at $399
Xr discontinued
11 drops to $499 to take the place of Xr
12 mini drops to $549
12 drops to $649

12 Pro and 12 Pro Max are discontinued

2021 iPhones(12s/13) priced at current 12 series prices -

12s(13) mini at $699
12s(13) at $799
12s(13) Pro at $999
12s(13) Pro Max at $1099
 
Falhófnir said:
SE - $399
11 - $499
12 mini - $599
12 - $699
13 mini - $699
13 - $799
13 Pro - $999
13 PM - $1,099

I don't think the 12 mini just gets dropped, I think Apple will want to see how sales go at lower price points.
Click to expand...
They will continue selling the Mini until stock is gone. They already ceased production of it far earlier than most models so eventually stock will run dry as there is no new inventory coming in. AT some point it will be gone.
 
Last edited:
MikeAK said:
They will continue selling the Mini until stock is gone. They already ceased production of it far earlier than most models so eventually stock will run dry as they're is no new inventory coming in. AT some point it will be gone.
Click to expand...
That's a good point, though they do have the option of restarting production if they need more units. They previously did this with the iPhone 6, once it had stopped mainstream sales, it was brought back for emerging markets some months later.
 
Current prices holding. New devices will see price increases due to inflation increasing rapidly.
 
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Falhófnir said:
That's a good point, though they do have the option of restarting production if they need more units. They previously did this with the iPhone 6, once it had stopped mainstream sales, it was brought back for emerging markets some months later.
Click to expand...

Anything is possible, but it's a much different time and landscape today. I doubt Apple does such a thing when it's already considered a niche product. And especially when they'll be producing a Mini 13. I think they will sell the 12 mini until stock is gone and then it'll be a collectors item. When it's gone it's gone.
 
Apple won't sell the 12 mini directly. The remaining stock will just be sold via third-parties or used as replacement units.
 
cardfan said:
Current prices holding. New devices will see price increases due to inflation increasing rapidly.
Click to expand...
I'd be very surprised if Apple introduced a price hike for the e 13 models. I'd be even more surprised if they kept the current line up at the same price it's currently at.

Apple could have introduced a price hike last year with the 12 but didn't - the introduction of 5G + new design was the perfect opportunity, I can't see them doing it in a year where the design doesn't change and the 'biggest' new feature is the ProMotion display.

I hear you on the inflation bit though - will be interesting to see if Apple eat the margin (they can damn well afford to do so)
 
Apple$ said:
Hi everyone,
I'm wondering what to expect in terms of price drops for older models when the iPhone 13 series release.
Click to expand...
I'm predicting no price drop. Apple doesn't want to encourage folks to buy older devices at a discount. They want us to by the latest and greatest at whatever price they set. People will compare and see that the new iPhone is the same price as the old one or slighty more, they'll buy the new iPhone. Lowering the price of last year's model will have people thinking, maybe I don't need x-feature so that'll save me some moolah buying the older iPhone.
 
Mousse said:
I'm predicting no price drop. Apple doesn't want to encourage folks to buy older devices at a discount. They want us to by the latest and greatest at whatever price they set. People will compare and see that the new iPhone is the same price as the old one or slighty more, they'll buy the new iPhone. Lowering the price of last year's model will have people thinking, maybe I don't need x-feature so that'll save me some moolah buying the older iPhone.
Click to expand...

For the most part, doesn't Apple drop the price of the previous gen iPhone when the newest is launched? Seems to me that's been the norm the past several years.
 
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MikeAK said:
For the most part, doesn't Apple drop the price of the previous gen iPhone when the newest is launched? Seems to me that's been the norm the past several years.
Click to expand...
Yup. Also, Apple just hiked the price by $100 last year.
 
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