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iPhone 5c

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Re: iPhone 5c

#131

Post by Asterick6 »

roc wrote: post #109
antr wrote: post #5

Time will tell, but for the sake of argument: at c. $550 for the unsubsidised version this is a very high price point for the "iPhone for emerging markets" argument. I'm just very curious to see the market expansion with this "lower" tier model.

I never understood the expectation for the 5C to be introduced so cheaply. Apple's M.O. has been good/better/best, with increasingly older models making up the cheaper slots. Without a 5C, everyone would have expected 5S/5/4S. So with a 5C in the 'good' slot, that would imply 5S/5/5C -- but who would buy a 5 for $100 more, if it's barely distinguishable from the 5C? And they couldn't have stripped a 5 C down much fur…

The iPhone 5 will most likely be discontinued and the iPhone 4S will be made free with contract.

Re: iPhone 5c

#132

Post by phamilton »

Tloewald wrote: post #116
pavlov wrote: post #84

There's a feeling of déjà vu about this product approach. Take yesteryear's technology, repackage it in a safe design that follows trends established by others, sell for a price that is more than twice what the competitors charge because, hey, you're Apple and your customers will happily pay for your increasing margins. At least this time around, the MBAs didn't get to name it "iPhone Performa 551c".

Certainly your comment evokes deja vu -- same old criticism of Apple that is based on tired old characterizations from 15 years ago. I don't think there are any competitive phones available for half the price (there are certainly inferior phones available for half the price). I do think it's priced a bit high. I'm surprised it's not $50-100 cheaper. Maybe they have iPhone 4S inventory to get rid of (I don't understan…

Nexus 4 is half the price, and I would not call that an inferior phone.

Re: iPhone 5c

#133

Post by mikeash »

ekanes wrote: post #31

Now with fingerprint sensor, so when the NSA politely asks Apple for it, they'll be able to send them your fingerprints, a log of all activity and voice print (siri). Such a cool technology (harder to steal phones), just wish it didn't come with this catch.

Of all the vast quantities and kinds of data your phone could be reporting about you (all conversations held nearby, all e-mail, all passwords, etc.) my fingerprints are the least of my concerns.

Re: iPhone 5c

#134

Post by pekk »

ctdonath wrote: post #124
barake wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most people don't consider the true cost of a phone contract. They're only truly considering the up front cost - and a mid-range phone "costs half". It's really hard to get the average smartphone buyer to understand the price isn't $100 vs $200, but really $2500 vs $2600 over two years.

In the USA, considering the true cost of a phone contract is rather pointless because you can't get a contract that discounts monthly cost by buying the phone up front. You're going to pay the $2500 either way.

You're only going to pay $2500 if you plan to spend $104/mo. for one person. Is that a 'discount'? Of course not.

If people spend that much, it is totally unnecessary. If you are going to budget $2500 for every two years, you could get an unlimited talk plan for $40/mo. and buy a $1540 phone every two years.

If you put it to most people that they should buy a phone for $1500 every two years, they would think it was excessive.

Re: iPhone 5c

#135

Post by rodedwards »

Pxtl wrote: post #105
rodedwards wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

4S is probably not long for this world. Right now, its filling a gap both in the product shelf (free) and in an amortization-of-development-costs schedule somewhere. Plus, it allows for some extra profit taking from the 5C for the moment as people eschew the 4S. I'll bet as 5C production ramps, the 4S goes away in X months. Its in Apple's long term best interests to get everyone on the same screen anyway...

Not to mention the peripheral market needs to get onto the new port.

Huh - I didn't realize the 4S still had the old port. Screen size and peripherals - 4S has to get phased out pretty quickly.

Re: iPhone 5c

#136

Post by pekk »

cliveowen wrote: post #100
antr wrote: post #5

Time will tell, but for the sake of argument: at c. $550 for the unsubsidised version this is a very high price point for the "iPhone for emerging markets" argument. I'm just very curious to see the market expansion with this "lower" tier model.

I think this lineup may backfire. People with a 4S wanting to upgrade will probably opt for the coloured, cheaper version. People who previously wouldn't have bought the iPhone because too expensive (mostly in Europe where subsidized planes aren't always available) won't buy it now anyway because the 5c is in the same ballpark of the 5s. They have basically introduced a cheaper alternative to old customers.

Whether they are old customers or not doesn't matter, if selling more phones at a slightly lower price makes more money.

Re: iPhone 5c

#137

Post by Timothee »

mikeash wrote: post #127
rz2k wrote: post #113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it is kind of a bummer that Apple is going this route. It will be too bad if people get their first smartphone because it is $100 instead of $200, but fail to realize that they are changing their 2-year mobile phone expenses from ~$1200 to ~$2400. Illogically though, I suspect I would have less of a problem with what they are doing if they priced the 5s starting at $300.

Where do you get a change from $1200 to $2400? The monthly plans cost the same, so the 5S versus 5C will cost you roughly $2300 versus $2400 over two years.

if people get their first smartphone

I think he means from a feature-phone plan to a smartphone plan.

Re: iPhone 5c

#138

Post by aespinoza »

mikeash wrote: post #120
aespinoza wrote: post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You know, you are right. It is sad to see that Apple has no new ideas. I wonder if they will ever do something innovative again ? I also wonder if Steve Jobs would ever put a fingerprint scanner in an iPhone, make a "Gold" iPhone or keep the same hardware design for 3 consecutive iphones.

3 consecutive iPhones? 5, 5C/5S, what's the third?

4 & 4S had pretty much the same external design. So is the 5 & 5S.

Re: iPhone 5c

#139

Post by mikeash »

Timothee wrote: post #137
mikeash wrote: post #127

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Where do you get a change from $1200 to $2400? The monthly plans cost the same, so the 5S versus 5C will cost you roughly $2300 versus $2400 over two years.

if people get their first smartphone I think he means from a feature-phone plan to a smartphone plan.

That would explain the numbers, but I don't see the connection to the 5C's pricing, then.

Re: iPhone 5c

#140

Post by mehrdada »

phamilton wrote: post #132
Tloewald wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Certainly your comment evokes deja vu -- same old criticism of Apple that is based on tired old characterizations from 15 years ago. I don't think there are any competitive phones available for half the price (there are certainly inferior phones available for half the price). I do think it's priced a bit high. I'm surprised it's not $50-100 cheaper. Maybe they have iPhone 4S inventory to get rid of (I don't understan…

Nexus 4 is half the price, and I would not call that an inferior phone.

I am a big fan of the Nexus 4, but it is objectively inferior: it lacks LTE, battery life is probably far worse, and it has worse screen than 5c (just look at the screen in sunlight and see the visible digitizer dots).

Also, Nexus 4 pricing is the exception, not the rule.

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