iPhone XS Max This is why the new iPhones are failing

[janeauburn]

No, I wouldn't touch a phone at that price.

I consider that price a liability, actually, because it would necessitate that I keep the phone for many years, and I'd have no guarantee that the phone would, in fact, last that many years unless I also pony up for a very expensive insurance plan. I also would have no guarantee that the phone would remain of interest for the number of years that I would have to "cost it out." Heck, 5G is probably going to come along next year and make any older phone look really old really fast.

In short, phones at that price are simply a bad idea financially for most people.

Also, the chance of buyer's remorse would be high, especially given that after the initial "wow" period, you'd realize that you're essentially just doing the same things on the phone that you did with your previous phone, except now you're $1,600 lighter.

 

[jagolden]

I went to price out an XS Max at 512 GB and found the price to be close to 1,600 US dollars!

That's insane.

I will not give Apple so much of my money. I'm holding on to my iPhone until the bitter end and then buying something more reasonable.

Apple is not living in the real world that I am.

Nice try there. It’s $1449.00 US. Do you really need 512gb. The pricing should not be a surprise as the phones have been out for months and there have been endless thread comments on the pricing.
Just keep the phone longer to make it worth your while. If you have a phone to trade-in or sell that will take some of the sting out of the cost.
I bought a 256gb Max. Was a little expensive but I got good money for my 6s Plus, I use the phone extensively, and I’ll keep it three years.

 

[janeauburn]

I would have no confidence that I would want to keep it 3 years. We're heading into 5G. Current phones are going to seem really uninteresting, and their resale value will drop.

 

[timeconsumer]

Nice try there. It’s $1449.00 US. Do you really need 512gb. The pricing should not be a surprise as the phones have been out for months and there have been endless thread comments on the pricing.
Just keep the phone longer to make it worth your while. If you have a phone to trade-in or sell that will take some of the sting out of the cost.
I bought a 256gb Max. Was a little expensive but I got good money for my 6s Plus, I use the phone extensively, and I’ll keep it three years.

I believe they were referring to the cost after tax as it’s close to $1600 after tax.

Also, if you got the 256GB Max, that’s $1249 and if you keep it for three years it’s approximately $416.33 per year.

The iPhone 6S plus was $849 for the middle tier, so if you kept it for two years it would cost $424.50 per year.

Not sure about you but I’d rather get a new phone every two years rather than every three.

 

[janeauburn]

I believe they were referring to the cost after tax as it’s close to $1600 after tax.

Also, if you got the 256GB Max, that’s $1249 and if you keep it for three years it’s approximately $416.33 per year.

The iPhone 6S plus was $849 for the middle tier, so if you kept it for two years it would cost $424.50 per year.

Not sure about you but I’d rather get a new phone every two years rather than every three.

Yes, that's one thing I meant by liability. With these gross prices, you're forced into thinking about holding the phone for longer.

 

[timeconsumer]

Yes, that's one thing I meant by liability. With these gross prices, you're forced into thinking about holding the phone for longer.

Yes, you are. At least Apple does support their devices longer (iOS updates) and offers battery replacement services as you’ll likely need that if you’re planning on keeping it for 3+ years.

 

[janeauburn]

Yes, you are. At least Apple does support their devices longer (iOS updates) and offers battery replacement services as you’ll likely need that if you’re planning on keeping it for 3+ years.

That's another cost you'd have to factor in. Batteries last, realistically, 2 years max. What are they now? $79? Then add the cost of a case (or two), and you're close to $2,000 for a phone. And that's before the cost of "services" that Apple is pushing now. Plus cellular fees.

Ridiculous.

 

[alphaswift]

You're only complaining about Apple prices now? Where have you been the past few years?

 

[GizmoDVD]

I went to price out an XS Max at 512 GB and found the price to be close to 1,600 US dollars!

That's insane.

I will not give Apple so much of my money. I'm holding on to my iPhone until the bitter end and then buying something more reasonable.

Apple is not living in the real world that I am.

Cool dude. Welcome to last year.
[doublepost=1556547068][/doublepost]

That's another cost you'd have to factor in. Batteries last, realistically, 2 years max. What are they now? $79? Then add the cost of a case (or two), and you're close to $2,000 for a phone. And that's before the cost of "services" that Apple is pushing now. Plus cellular fees.

Ridiculous.

Making crap up its fun.

I've never had a phone battery die after 2 years. My mom is still using her 6 with little issues. But cool - keep making things up!

 

[Isamilis]

Agree. Insane price. You can get an iMac 21" base config with that money!

 

[decafjava]

Yes, that's one thing I meant by liability. With these gross prices, you're forced into thinking about holding the phone for longer.

Well, that's what I'm doing! Even 5G is not an issue as it will be quite awhile until it rolls out, and here in Switzerland at least there is a bit of controversy due to 5G as some municipalities have frozen installation of new antennas until some studies have been completed. In any case, buying the previous year's model is still an option - and yes even if I wanted to drop a wad of cash I would keep my phone for longer than the two years previously.

 

[janeauburn]

Cool dude. Welcome to last year.

LOL. That's funny.

Love living in the past!

 

[jagolden]

I believe they were referring to the cost after tax as it’s close to $1600 after tax.

Also, if you got the 256GB Max, that’s $1249 and if you keep it for three years it’s approximately $416.33 per year.

The iPhone 6S plus was $849 for the middle tier, so if you kept it for two years it would cost $424.50 per year.

Not sure about you but I’d rather get a new phone every two years rather than every three.

I’m sorry, I was counting wrong, it would be two years if I upgrade in 2020.
But, I could still wait ‘till 2021.
In terms of Apple products we won’t see 5G until 2020. 4G, 5G, people are too obsessed with numbers and having the latest and greatest just for bragging. 4G is sufficient. 5G is just going to cost more for the phones and more from the carriers.
Even if I do wait until 2021 I’ll still get a good trade/sell on my Max.
As to cost per year it doesn’t matter to me, but acknowledge it can certainly be a factor for others.

 

[willmtaylor]

I went to price out an XS Max at 512 GB and found the price to be close to 1,600 US dollars!

That's insane.

I will not give Apple so much of my money. I'm holding on to my iPhone until the bitter end and then buying something more reasonable.

Apple is not living in the real world that I am.

Yes, you’ve mentioned (i.e. complained about) it before:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/this-is-why-the-new-iphones-are-failing.2159928/

Not sure how you could be shocked by this.

 

[Shanghaichica]

It is expensive but there isn’t an alternative for me so if I want the Xs max or any iPhone going forward I’ve resigned myself to just bitting the bullet and paying up.

 

[jagolden]

I would have no confidence that I would want to keep it 3 years. We're heading into 5G. Current phones are going to seem really uninteresting, and their resale value will drop.

For Apple, 5G won’t happen until 2020 and carriers won’t have it set up right until end of 2019/beginning of 2020.
Android is another choice, but they’re likely to rush it out and do it half-baked initially, so either way back to 2020.
Resale value will not drop that dramatically.
You’ve already noted carrier fees. You think 5G is going to be cheaper? I believe many will hold on to their "dated" 4G phones and plans for a little while and be quite happy.

How will 5G make a phone more "interesting"?

 

[Wide opeN]

I paid like $1300 something after taxes for my 256GB iPhone Xs Max. Will be keeping it 3 years minimum.

It's only worth it if you plan to keep for awhile.

 

[jagolden]

It is expensive but there isn’t an alternative for me so if I want the Xs max or any iPhone going forward I’ve resigned myself to just bitting the bullet and paying up.

Agree. Not looking forward to what future pricing will be like.

 

[nouveau_redneck]

Agree. Insane price. You can get an iMac 21" base config with that money!

Exactly, comparatively speaking, new iPhones are too expensive. There are plenty of MacBooks in that price range as well.

 

[janeauburn]

You know, it's actually possible to get a really nice, fast Android phone today for ~$300. Is the Apple ecosystem worth that much of a price premium?

After a certain point, you have to check your head to pony up such cash.

I look at these Max phones as having somewhat of a "Mercedes" factor out in public, too. When I see someone with an XS Max, I think "more money than sense."

I guess some people like be perceived as having money. I guess they don't figure that people like me just look at them as potentially foolish.

 

[Shanghaichica]

You know, it's actually possible to get a really nice, fast Android phone today for ~$300. Is the Apple ecosystem worth that much of a price premium?

After a certain point, you have to check your head to pony up such cash.

Yes the Apple ecosystem is worth the price for me and if you don’t want to pay for the Xs max there are other options like the Xr and older iPhones.

Even if I wanted to get an android phone I wouldn’t get a £300 one it would a flagship device like the S10+ which costs less than the Xs max but significantly more than £300.

 

[Lee_Bo]

Don't want to pay $1500+ for a new device? Then don't buy it.

However, as long as people will pay whatever price tag Apple puts on their devices, the prices will only keep going up.

 

[Vlad Soare]

I went to price out an XS Max at 512 GB and found the price to be close to 1,600 US dollars!

That's insane.

I will not give Apple so much of my money. I'm holding on to my iPhone until the bitter end and then buying something more reasonable.

Apple is not living in the real world that I am.

You know, it's actually possible to get a really nice, fast Android phone today for ~$300. Is the Apple ecosystem worth that much of a price premium?

After a certain point, you have to check your head to pony up such cash.

And your point is...?
If it's too expensive for you, don't buy it. Buy a nice Android.

 

[MacDawg]

Cool... its been a while since we've had a thread complaining about iPhone prices
I guess it is about time we recycle these old arguments and comparisons to Android

 

[trillionaire]

Yes, the price points are crazy. This is a global trend though. The cost of everything is going up. It's ridiculous how much more expensive life has become within the last few decades.