09/05 Below is an update. This post was first published on September 3rd.
The iPhone 14 model line is becoming more expensive. This was the story for months until a little-known leaker earlier this week turned Apple’s pricing on its head. And the image now looks even better.
According to a new report from influential market analyst TrendForce, iPhone 14 buyers may not only pay less than they expected, but also receive significantly more storage for their money.
When it comes to pricing, TrendForce has reduced its pricing margins for all iPhone 14 models by $50. This could result in a $50 price increase for iPhone 14 Pro models, compared to previous analyst projections. The big news, however, is how this affects standard models.
The iPhone 14 is now expected to start at $749, $50 less than the iPhone 13 ($799), with the iPhone 14 Plus starting at $849. This is a significant departure from previous reports in which every iPhone 14 model was expected to increase in price by $100.
And it only gets better. In addition to these price cuts, TrendForce anticipates that the entry-level storage for iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max models will double to 256GB. According to the analyst, the combination of lower-than-expected pricing and higher-than-expected storage is a calculated risk.
09/05 Update: In his latest Always On newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has leaked additional iPhone 14 details. While confirming previous design and camera leaks, Gurman claims that Apple may remove the physical SIM card slot from iPhones entirely, “starting either this year or next for some models” starting “either this year or next.”
Apple was rumoured to be considering an eSIM-only iPhone 14 as early as December, but the rumour died away until Gurman’s newsletter. The “some models” part, on the other hand, is new and makes sense because it allows Apple to test the change on a smaller scale. It remains to be seen whether this applies to Pro or non-Pro models.
Surprisingly, Gurman claims that iPhone 14 Pro models will have “bigger batteries,” though he does not elaborate. This contradicts previous battery capacity leaks, which stated that battery capacities would be slightly reduced on all models except the iPhone 14 Pro Max. iPhone fans will be hoping Gurman’s source is correct.
“Under pressure from rising global inflation and foreign exchange rates,” the report explains, “Apple is expected to adopt a more cautious pricing strategy so as not to affect its sales performance.”
Now comes the clever part. Leaks have claimed for months that Apple will widen the price, design, and feature gaps between its iPhone 14 Pro and non-Pro models. The reaction has been mostly negative, with many seeing it as a crude attempt to upsell customers at a time of increasing economic hardship.
However, based on the most recent pricing leaks, it appears to be very wise. Pricing standard iPhone 14 models aggressively will open the door for fans who may have been hesitant to upgrade this year. At the same time, for those who can afford the higher prices, innovation is not stifled on iPhone 14 Pro models. As a result, Apple can market both value and innovation in a single product category.
Congratulations, Apple. Well done.
