Price reductions in gadgets are always good news for consumers and it seems that the iPhone 15 could be pending if the latest leak is to be believed: Apparently Apple is considering lowering the prices of the iPhone 15 Plus, which is due to be launched in September.
This comes from reputable online source Yeux1122 on South Korean social network Naver (via Macworld (opens in new tab)). The move is apparently being seriously considered and would come in response to underwhelming sales of the current Plus model.
That iPhone 14Plus Unveiled earlier this year with the rest of the family, it has a starting price of $899 / £949 / AU$1,579 for the 128GB version, but it doesn’t seem to be attracting buyers in the numbers Apple wants.
A Tale of Four Telephones
While canceling the Plus model would be an option for Apple, it’s likely that development of the iPhone 15 is too far advanced for that to happen. A price drop for the handset that replaces the iPhone 13 mini would be the next most logical step.
It’s worth remembering that the iPhone 14 pro max offers the same screen size as the Plus but adds features like a faster chip, the dynamic island and the always-on display for another $200 / £250 / AU$320 – making it the better deal.
So far, there’s no indication of how big the price cut might be, or how it might affect the pricing of the other models in the range. We’ve also heard that Apple could introduce a more powerful and more expensive device iPhone 15 Ultra next year too.
Analysis: The right pricing
Pricing is always key for any smartphone: the best cheap cell phones may not have the fastest chips or the best screens, but they cost significantly less than the premium flagships out there, so they still offer good value for money.
In Apple’s line of iPhones, the Pro models have been the phones with the most appeal in recent years. This is even more true for them iPhone 14 probecause the cheaper models are equipped with last year’s A15 Bionic Chip.
Buyer of iPhone 14 get a phone that’s slower than the Pro, with a camera system that’s not quite as good, and without some other cool features. Okay, it’s cheaper, but there aren’t many other reasons to choose it over the Pro.
We’ll have to wait and see what Apple does in 2023 considering it has the budget iPhone SE (2022) also in sale. Next year could be the year that Apple’s flagship phone moves closer to mid-range pricing than ever before.
