Other When will you stop? Are you okay paying 2000€ for a phone?

[Xand&Roby]

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?

Who will stop?
US people had someone else who paid the debt (or I can’t understand why someone of 300 milion americans would mantain an older or an used iPhone, if carriers pay them) so they don’t stop.
EU people don’t stop, at least not until it will be urgent, ‘cause they are the “free trade world”, and in capitalism who stop is died.
So what about the others? Middle class all over the world can’t afford Apple prices over US, medium-high class could. Others are not Apple users, also in India where Apple made iPhones (and sells oldest models) people can’t afford them prices for ancient hardware.
Now iPhone Pro Max costs 2150€. iPad Pro cost 2400€ with 400€ for keyboard. They will tell you “Ehy, its a pocket computer!”, but Pro Max isn’t pocket nor a computer, an iPad Pro isn’t a computer also with a keyboard, and a not cheap Mac computer in 2019 BTO was here for 1940€! And it was a computer (MacOS, do we remember?)! People who tell that iPhone or iPad are computer doesn’t know what a computer is, or if they really believe them are a computer I hope they ask them companies iPhones and make 8 consecutive hours with office tasks on iPhone screen, without externsl screens, keyboard, mice and something else. I don’t know where these people work but in my country rules in videoterminalist work to preserve health are serious from 1990.
So you want to know when they stop? Today Hermes Apple Watch (a ridicolous 8 model) cost more than 2300€ with 899€ of kitch band, and they will buy it!
When we could ate hw Apple products will remember what them real value is.

 

[calstanford]

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?

Who forces you to buy a 14 Pro Max? WTF. There's plenty of cheaper choices from Apple on the market (and from dozens of other manufacturers if you want Android)

 

[unclemax]

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.

To be honest, the current iPhones SE, MacBook Airs, iPads all offer decent value for their respective prices.

 

[Shirasaki]

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.

At the end of the day however, you still need a phone, and iPhone is the phone you choose. I use iPad almost exclusively for everything iOS related today, but I still need an iPhone for, you know, phone, since iPad can’t be one. That “1 of the many functions” is the one that can’t be replaced by iPad or computer. If iPhone is a pocket computer (which it kind of is), we’d call a different name instead of a “phone”.

 

[nate320]

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?

I would give my opinion but I don’t know what a “€” is.

 

[ian87w]

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?

Here's why a $1000 iPhone make sense for a lot of people.

Consider how much money you would spend on:
- iPod
- phone
- PDA
- digital camera
- camcorder

Add on the cost of those devices separately, and the $1000 iPhone price actually is not that bad, considering it can do all those in one device. Plus, for many people, the iPhone is also their "laptop" and "TV". Then you can add social standing/status, the price becomes quite "affordable" for most.

For others, the iPhone is a tool that makes them money. So the cost is an investment for them to recoup from their job tasks that are helped by the tool/iPhone.

And Apple is not just selling a 1.500€ phone. They have the SE, 12, 13 mini, and 13. Plenty of price points.

If you are struggling to pay for electricity or food, you shouldn't even be thinking of buying an iPhone in the first place. It's a luxury item. If you need a smartphone, a $200 Android can do the job just fine, no need on a $1000 iPhone.

In short, I'm not following the point of view about having to choose between rent and iPhone. People struggling with rent shouldn't even be looking to buy an iPhone in the first place. Priorities. People who can afford an iPhone are mostly in a position where they are not struggling to get food on the table.

 

[Shh]

Here's why a $1000 iPhone make sense for a lot of people.

Consider how much money you would spend on:
- iPod
- phone
- PDA
- digital camera
- camcorder

Add on the cost of those devices separately, and the $1000 iPhone price actually is not that bad, considering it can do all those in one device. Plus, for many people, the iPhone is also their "laptop" and "TV". Then you can add social standing/status, the price becomes quite "affordable" for most.

For others, the iPhone is a tool that makes them money. So the cost is an investment for them to recoup from their job tasks that are helped by the tool/iPhone.

And Apple is not just selling a 1.500€ phone. They have the SE, 12, 13 mini, and 13. Plenty of price points.

If you are struggling to pay for electricity or food, you shouldn't even be thinking of buying an iPhone in the first place. It's a luxury item. If you need a smartphone, a $200 Android can do the job just fine, no need on a $1000 iPhone.

In short, I'm not following the point of view about having to choose between rent and iPhone. People struggling with rent shouldn't even be looking to buy an iPhone in the first place. Priorities. People who can afford an iPhone are mostly in a position where they are not struggling to get food on the table.

Unfortunately, rich people spend like they're poor and poor people spend like they're rich. Some people are very bad at managing their priorities.

 

[fakestrawberryflavor]

Trading in my 13 Pro for 600, buying a 14 Pro for 1200. So I’m spending 600 for a computer I don't even really use as phone, and this thing is my most used and interacted with thing in my life. I couldn’t even calculate how many hours a day I’m using this thing. $600 net new spend devided by 360 days a year is $1.667 per day. Cheap. I drink 2 Red Bulls at $3 each per day as it is. iPhone addiction is way cheaper to support ❤️

 

[MajorFubar]

I've already stopped.
This iPhone SE2 will be my last iPhone, after ten years of exclusively using iPhones.
Apple is choosing to not innovate in the phone space anymore compared to competitors, while screwing RotW over in order to keep prices affordable in its home territory.
There comes a point when you just say, nah, I'm done.
And I've said it.

iPhones are heading towards extinction in the UK in any case.
The stats might say they fractionally have the marketshare edge (literally by 1-2%), but that's mostly due to enterprise sales: it seems like every company's default 'work phone' handed out to employees is an iPhone. But based on what I see around me which I have no reason to believe is not representative, domestic mobile phones are Android, and by a huge margin. Commonly a Samsung. Worldwide, iPhones only have 30% of the market, and if you discount enterprise sales, I'd say it's the same in the UK, and declining. And these insane price hikes will do nothing to encourage takeup.

Give it five years, and in the UK, iPhones will be those things you remember everyone once owning but don't see anymore, like a Ford Cortina. Not even USB-C adoption will save them.

 

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

Nobody is being forced to buy anything. When will people stop being offended by how other people choose to spend their money?

It's maybe him being offended.

But the question is valid and none of you who are offended by him being offended that you're not offended by Apple's prices have answered his question.

😆

So, stop pretending you all have unlimited funds and tell us how many thousands of dollars you are willing to spend on iPhones.

We don't need a haughty phrase. We need a number.

If you had to pay in cash how much is your max for an iPhone?

*I'd also like to point out that this debate is a bit stupid, or unfair, as Apple hasn't actually increased iPhone prices per se. It's a weak Euro against a strong us dollar. Americans get iPhones 14 at no increase compared to 13, and nearly all EU/EEA/EFTA countries are seeing substantial increases on all new and even many older iPhones.

 

[Shh]

It's maybe him being offended.

But the question is valid and none of you who are offended by him being offended that you're not offended by Apple's prices have answered his question.

😆

So, stop pretending you all have unlimited funds and tell us how many thousands of dollars you are willing to spend on iPhones.

We don't need a haughty phrase. We need a number.

If you had to pay in cash how much is your max for an iPhone?

*I'd also like to point out that this debate is a bit stupid, or unfair, as Apple hasn't actually increased iPhone prices per se. It's a weak Euro against a strong us dollar. Americans get iPhones 14 at no increase compared to 13, and nearly all EU/EEA/EFTA countries are seeing substantial increases on all new and even many older iPhones.

Personally, I'm offended by this.

 

[unclemax]

I've already stopped.
This iPhone SE2 will be my last iPhone, after ten years of exclusively using iPhones.
Apple is choosing to not innovate in the phone space anymore compared to competitors, while screwing RotW over in order to keep prices affordable in its home territory.
There comes a point when you just say, nah, I'm done.
And I've said it.

iPhones are heading towards extinction in the UK in any case.
The stats might say they fractionally have the marketshare edge (literally by 1-2%), but that's mostly due to enterprise sales: it seems like every company's default 'work phone' handed out to employees is an iPhone. But based on what I see around me which I have no reason to believe is not representative, domestic mobile phones are Android, and by a huge margin. Commonly a Samsung. Worldwide, iPhones only have 30% of the market, and if you discount enterprise sales, I'd say it's the same in the UK, and declining. And these insane price hikes will do nothing to encourage takeup.

Give it five years, and in the UK, iPhones will be those things you remember everyone once owning but don't see anymore, like a Ford Cortina. Not even USB-C adoption will save them.

Interesting, I always thought that English-speaking countries were "home turfs" for iPhones (in Apple sense, I must clarify, as in not that majority uses iPhones, but a significant fraction, say above 30%). I just googled iOS share in the UK and various sources quote 37%, 48% etc - is this all garbage?

 

[Pilot Jones]

Interesting, I always thought that English-speaking countries were "home turfs" for iPhones (in Apple sense, I must clarify, as in not that majority uses iPhones, but a significant fraction, say above 30%). I just googled iOS share in the UK and various sources quote 37%, 48% etc - is this all garbage?

Not the person you replied to, nor do I doubt the stat you're quoting, but one thing to keep in mind about a lot of European markets is that people are not at all tied into the Apple ecosystem as badly as they are in the US.

Most of my friends and family in the UK have iPhones, but not a single one ever uses FaceTime, iMessage, etc. They all use WhatsApp, Signal or the likes. Not a single aspect of my communication or interaction with them is dependent on an Apple-exclusive service even when I've actively tried to get them to use them since that's what I personally prefer.

Apple's ecosystem lock-in across most of Europe, and even Asia for that matter, is tenuous at best. Asia especially so, because their market share is significantly lower in most countries in that entire region to begin with. If they keep pushing its pricing like this, it can easily result in people jumping ship with no hesitation.

Considering the current economic crises across Europe and the state of the Euro, this year's sales will be very telling in whether Apple finally jumped the shark or not.

 

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

Interesting, I always thought that English-speaking countries were "home turfs" for iPhones (in Apple sense, I must clarify, as in not that majority uses iPhones, but a significant fraction, say above 30%). I just googled iOS share in the UK and various sources quote 37%, 48% etc - is this all garbage?

From what I gather, the average Brit has been in a "cost of living"-crisis for quite some time and it's getting worse and worse.

Being that smartphones are non-essentials, and expensive ones even more so, I guess sales of new iPhones must be going down quite drastically in the UK right now despite the new product launches.

And with the passing of the Queen the crisis might dip even further in the coming days (Yes, I think it'll impact consumer spending negatively, no joke).

 

[unclemax]

Not the person you replied to, nor do I doubt the stat you're quoting, but one thing to keep in mind about a lot of European markets is that people are not at all tied into the Apple ecosystem as badly as they are in the US.

Most of my friends and family in the UK have iPhones, but not a single one ever uses FaceTime, iMessage, etc. They all use WhatsApp, Signal or the likes. Not a single aspect of my communication or interaction with them is dependent on an Apple-exclusive service even when I've actively tried to get them to use them since that's what I personally prefer.

Apple's ecosystem lock-in across most of Europe, and even Asia for that matter, is tenuous at best. Asia especially so, because their market share is significantly lower in most countries in that entire region to begin with. If they keep pushing its pricing like this, it can easily result in people jumping ship with no hesitation.

Yes, you are absolutely right about Asia. I met people who didn't even know what Siri was on their iPhone 13 Pro, and obviously Apple invests heavily into marketing and advertising in their language (Chinese). I think they know their foothold in China is rather tenuous, that's why they don't like increasing iPhone prices much, here in China their iPhone 14 costs pretty much the same as iPhone XR four years ago.

 

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

Not the person you replied to, nor do I doubt the stat you're quoting, but one thing to keep in mind about a lot of European markets is that people are not at all tied into the Apple ecosystem as badly as they are in the US.

Most of my friends and family in the UK have iPhones, but not a single one ever uses FaceTime, iMessage, etc. They all use WhatsApp, Signal or the likes. Not a single aspect of my communication or interaction with them is dependent on an Apple-exclusive service even when I've actively tried to get them to use them since that's what I personally prefer.

Apple's ecosystem lock-in across most of Europe, and even Asia for that matter, is tenuous at best. Asia especially so, because their market share is significantly lower in most countries in that entire region to begin with. If they keep pushing its pricing like this, it can easily result in people jumping ship with no hesitation.

The list of iPhones features and services that are U.S. exclusive is also a part of the explanation.

 

[TurboJobo]

I stopped, sold my 13 at 700 a week a go and got a brand new 3rd gen SE for 200 dlls.
I hate FACEID and this is the only phone with touch ID. oh well.

 

[gpat]

As an Android user, and an European one at that, this thread just seems trolly to me.
Staying in the Android ecosystem is hardly any cheaper. Android smartphones went a lot closer to Apple prices lately.

I need a phone with top-end CPU and OIS on the main camera, that's my minimum standard.
In 2018, I could have gotten it for <400€, now it's more like 600-700€.
Mainly because we have less choice in terms of manufacturers, Huawei is not a competitor anymore and Xiaomi quality went down the drain - just look at the infamous proximity sensor problems.

This leaves only Samsung as a credible competitor, and that's what I'm buying, because I like Android better as a system.
But it's not cheaper. This summer I got an S20 FE for my mom at 399€. If she wanted iOS, I could have gotten a roughly equivalent 2020SE for the same price.

As for myself - I'm rocking a S21 ultra, paid much less than MSRP (900€ instead of 1400€ on Amazon), but if I was an iOS aficionado I could have gotten the regular 13, just lose some features and gain some.

Apple does have its value products - right now, you can get a 128GB 13 mini at roughly 680€ in third party stores in EU, which is a pretty good deal.

If you must have at all costs a flagship, you'll pay for the status symbol - just like you'd pay a premium price for an Android flippable foldable phone or whatever.

But a 13 mini will last the exact same amount of time as a 14 pro max. Roughly 3 years before the hardware starts failing or the new features starts becoming compelling. I guess 4-5 years if you continue to keep it as a backup phone or something like that.

I'm not factoring Android midranges in my argument because you lose features compared to day one and also lose in longevity, so they're a worst investment to my eyes. Also I'm not leaving home if my phone doesn't have a camera with OIS (which is standard on any iPhone starting from the 7).

If you can't afford any of this, you can search marketplaces for iPhone 8 models in good condition at <200€ - objectively a much better deal than any 200€ Android phone.

 

[unclemax]

As an Android user, and an European one at that, this thread just seems trolly to me.
Staying in the Android ecosystem is hardly any cheaper. Android smartphones went a lot closer to Apple prices lately.

I need a phone with top-end CPU and OIS on the main camera, that's my minimum standard.
In 2018, I could have gotten it for <400€, now it's more like 600-700€.
Mainly because we have less choice in terms of manufacturers, Huawei is not a competitor anymore and Xiaomi quality went down the drain - just look at the infamous proximity sensor problems.

This leaves only Samsung as a credible competitor, and that's what I'm buying, because I like Android better as a system.
But it's not cheaper. This summer I got an S20 FE for my mom at 399€. If she wanted iOS, I could have gotten a roughly equivalent 2020SE for the same price.

As for myself - I'm rocking a S21 ultra, paid much less than MSRP (900€ instead of 1400€ on Amazon), but if I was an iOS aficionado I could have gotten the regular 13, just lose some features and gain some.

Apple does have its value products - right now, you can get a 128GB 13 mini at roughly 680€ in third party stores in EU, which is a pretty good deal.

If you must have at all costs a flagship, you'll pay for the status symbol - just like you'd pay a premium price for an Android flippable foldable phone or whatever.

But a 13 mini will last the exact same amount of time as a 14 pro max. Roughly 3 years before the hardware starts failing or the new features starts becoming compelling. I guess 4-5 years if you continue to keep it as a backup phone or something like that.

I'm not factoring Android midranges in my argument because you lose features compared to day one and also lose in longevity, so they're a worst investment to my eyes. Also I'm not leaving home if my phone doesn't have a camera with OIS (which is standard on any iPhone starting from the 6S).

If you can't afford any of this, you can search marketplaces for iPhone 8 models in good condition at <200€ - objectively a much better deal than any 200€ Android phone.

Really, why is this trolly? Whenever I go back home I am very curious to see who else uses iPhones because it is kind of hard for me to imagine someone taking public transit forking out €900 on a phone in my home country. What I also noticed last few times, people started using brands like Huawei or Xiaomi, not even Samsung.

 

[gpat]

Really, why is this trolly? Whenever I go back home I am very curious to see who else uses iPhones because it is kind of hard for me to imagine someone taking public transit forking out €900 on a phone in my home country. What I also noticed last few times, people started using brands like Huawei or Xiaomi, not even Samsung.

Covered your questions in the rest of my post if you had bothered to go beyond the 1st paragraph

 

[unclemax]

Covered your questions in the rest of my post if you had bothered to go beyond the 1st paragraph

I don't see that. You only described how prices of flagships and near-flagships form Samsung are close to prices of iPhones - sure, if you say so, I'll just take your word for it. But you can open GSMArena and see phones they review, there are many new releases that cost less than even the current iPhone SE. If you are in a market for new phone and don't want to bargain-hunt for second-hand iPhones, I guess many people would just go for these Realmes or what not, even if they don't have all the features. So I don't see how the question about high prices of iPhones (especially in Europe) is trolly.

 

[gpat]

I don't see that. You only described how prices of flagships and near-flagships form Samsung are close to prices of iPhones - sure, if you say so, I'll just take your word for it. But you can open GSMArena and see phones they review, there are many new releases that cost less than even the current iPhone SE. If you are in a market for new phone and don't want to bargain-hunt for second-hand iPhones, I guess many people would just go for these Realmes or what not, even if they don't have all the features. So I don't see how the question about high prices of iPhones (especially in Europe) is trolly.

If a Realme is good enough for you, it's a fair argument.
I've had my share of Chinese phones, quality/price was amazing some years ago (years of Xiaomi Mi3 all the way to Mi8), now they don't save you as much money and are much more buggy than something from Samsung.

Also good luck finding something as simple as a battery replacement once warranty expires, that's what put my Xiaomi Mi8 out of commission.

I'm a long-time Android user (started with HTC G1 running Android 1.5), tried any kind of Android phone, and nowadays I wouldn't touch anything that doesn't come from Samsung.
Their One UI is miles ahead of the competition, even the Pixels can't compare and always end up having faults of some sort.
It's like going from Windows XP to Windows 10, could you handle your daily workflow on XP today? Yeah, probably, but not worth it.

A smartphone is the center of your digital life, you handle communications, social networks, banking, transportation, media capture from it and it's an investment you can make once every 3 years.
It makes much more sense to spend 50-100€ more to have a more capable device that will still be good as a backup for a relative once I've discarded it, rather than buying 200€ worth of e-junk every year.

 

[applepotato666]

Staying in the Android ecosystem is hardly any cheaper.

For equivalent devices in the US I'd have to agree, but Samsung's latest are MUCH cheaper in the EU because of the way the companies treat currencies. S22 is €680 to 799 depending on retailer because you don't have to buy from Samsung, iPhone 14 is €1090 in France. Both are $799 in the US.

I could have gotten a roughly equivalent 2020SE for the same price.

I wouldn't call the SE equivalent with that poor aged design. Apple wants the SE to compete in that sector but to me the SE is just funny with that screen and bezel compared to the Samsung you mentioned.

I agree that getting a used iPhone is better than buying new cheap Android junk though. Definitely the better investment, an iPhone 8 would be better than the laggy experience a €150-200 Android would provide as that iPhone was once a way different price class and it shows.

 

[Jinbei]

But a 13 mini will last the exact same amount of time as a 14 pro max. Roughly 3 years before the hardware starts failing or the new features starts becoming compelling. I guess 4-5 years if you continue to keep it as a backup phone or something like that.

Still rocking my Iphone X after 5 years, except for the battery everything work flawlessly. If I did not break the screen I would not be upgrading to the 14 pro.

 

[MajorFubar]

I just googled iOS share in the UK and various sources quote 37%, 48% etc - is this all garbage?

37% seems like a figure I'd agree with, based on personal experience. My guess based on anecdotal observation was about 30%, but there was not exactly any science behind it. 48% I think is a figure impacted by enterprise phones, because that implies nearly half the people who walk past me on an average street corner are rocking an iPhone for personal use, and they just aren't. Not even close.

EDIT: compare that to ten years ago when, even here in the UK, iPhone was almost a euphemism for smartphone because nearly everyone with a smartphone was using an iPhone.