Price history of Apple's iPhones: how did we get to €1,600?

04 November 2018
Early on, Apple hid the true cost behind carrier subsidies. Even now that that's over, it's not shy about raising the prices.

Sort by:

Chris Apple, 06 Nov 2018Well, the true about foldable smartphones, and how they cam... moreI totally agree. I also see lots of people getting hyped for foldable phones (same like with flip phones) and folding phones might become a new standard for premium.
Also, my guess is that smartphones (regular ones) will stick around for a while, even when new technology is out, same like with dumb phones. Transition always lasts for at least few years.
I also see some people never owning a folding smartphone, just the way I never had flip phone, and I don't plan on getting foldable smartphone either. Since they both do same thing and bar shaped one is cheaper while also being more durable.
However I see lots of companies upgrading their line-ups to foldable only withing few years (at least on premium end) just to seem more futuristic to customers.
No matter what, folding smartphones will be marketed heawily and I simply know that lots of people will go crazy about them.

    • ?
    • Anonymous
    • 2Au
    • 06 Nov 2018

    patrick, 05 Nov 2018i am developer of apps and what does really apple make/s it... morespecs and app run fast?? its just few seconds delay in opening apps
    reality we don't even bother that in real life

      FrankDrebin, 06 Nov 2018The only reason they keep updating their phones all the way... moreConsidering how many customers I see who have phones all the way back to iPhone 4, Apple is failing horribly with this conspiracy theory of yours.

        DiggerNicks, 05 Nov 2018Yeah absolutely they all get their fair share of hate, but ... moreThe only reason they keep updating their phones all the way back to like 5 years, is so they can keep "optimising" your iphone, and keep implementing "features" that make sure you will have to upgrade each year.

          Realistic1, 06 Nov 2018I agree. The fact with Chinese is that they invest less in ... moreWell, the true about foldable smartphones, and how they came to be a reality (not yet by the time I wrote this) is in my opinion a way to finish screen elongation initiated last year. Why you may ask, well, I believe vertical foldable smartphones will be much more frequent than horizontal or side foldable ones because this is a way, that OEMs could stretch a screen all the way up to 21:9 which is the cinema standard, while right now they reach not more than 19.5:9. Horizontal folding is an excellent way to shrink huge sized tablets into a book-like shape, which is practical in real life. Phones will continue to grow, eventually, reaching tablet territory, all the way up to 8 inches (unfolded), and indeed occupy it :D.
          Well your thought is correct because dumb phones were bar-shaped for too long, so a change in shape was needed to excite masses, because it was unique for the time, while smartphones were not just other phones because they had more advanced internals than dumb phones and their software was capable of doing things that dumb phones could not. To extend your opinion, I think that bar-shaped dumb phones lived longer along flip ones because they were similar in specs and both could do similar things, and so will be with bar-shaped smartphones which will continue to exist along foldable (flip=fold) smartphones because both are capable of doing the same thing sans for the shape.
          To finish my opinion, foldable smartphones represent only a physical change in shape compared to more conventional smartphones, pretty much like flip phones were to bar-shaped dumb phones, and I believe smartphones will vanish once a new breed of phones show up with different internals (add-ons like holographic 3D screens (a real one, not like in RED phone), or transparent phones like in Avatar movie of Spielberg) which will represent the 3rd era in the history of phones

            Chris Apple, 06 Nov 2018Yes this is it, world will be introduced to foldable smartp... moreI agree. The fact with Chinese is that they invest less in research and development. So with less investment, they can afford to sell their phones for lower price. Samsung will launch folding phone by next year's spring. Huawei will soon follow, and within 2 years many Chinese manufacturers will have their folding phones, which will again be much more affordable than ones made by companies such as Samsung. Exactly how you said you think it will happen, it'll take around 2 years for folding smartphones to become more frequent. And more and more manufacturers will follow the trend.
            I personall think regular smarphones will likley hold out better than dumb phones. Since they will have same functions. Similar with standard dumb phones holding out on dumb flip phones, they were holding out pretty well, and they were significantly cheaper aswell. This is what I'm hoping for, and currently it looks like there are good chances for such outcome.

              Realistic1, 05 Nov 2018I think you are correct. I also see that folding phones cou... moreYes this is it, world will be introduced to foldable smartphones most likely around spring next year, and, also most likely, chinese makers will see this as an opportunity to increase their sales by dropping prices of their regular smartphones. Personally I think that this will occur in 1-2 years from now once foldable phones become more frequent thus regular smartphones lose their reign same as transition from dumb to smartphones, which you explained correctly about dumb phones around 8-9 years ago. Well dumb phones still exist but are quite rare, mostly in india and china. hahahaha and yes I entered in smartphone world late, same as you. Also, if you watch closely, you'll notice that only by 2016 smartphones got matured to the point of becoming lag-free and indistinguishable as belong to performance, with minor differences between generations.

                S6 User, 05 Nov 2018All top brands have their fair share of haters from competi... moreYeah absolutely they all get their fair share of hate, but don't you think Apple threads have so much more than any other thread type?

                And when I was referring to the security/OS updates, I should have clarified I meant that they get timely updates, lol. But you're right.

                  Chris Apple, 05 Nov 2018I got your point, and I agree with it. Apple's aim has alwa... moreI think you are correct. I also see that folding phones could be a novelty at first. With price tags around 2 thousand dollars. Then again - Chinese will most likley come to rescue, and most likley drop the prices. Especially since with time - as technology moves forwards, production costs will fall aswell.
                  Same how some people had touchscreen smartphone in 2007. or 2008. while rest of us got their first touchscreen phone in 2013. or even 2014. Dumb phones certainly held out for long time after first modern smartphone was launched. I was also "late bloomer" and kept using dumb phone for years after smartphones were out. I kept spending money on other stuff I found more interesting, so out of 30 of us in the class, only me and another guy had dumb phone.

                    Realistic1, 05 Nov 2018Yeah, market is getting satiated. All phones are pretty mu... moreI got your point, and I agree with it. Apple's aim has always been to be a novelty among androids, something not everyone is able to buy with pretty much similar specs with other androids sans for the software. Foldable smartphones won't be as convenient as regular ones for sure, but I foresee foldable tablets as a thing in the future more than foldable phones. One more thing, Apple won't go for this foldable phone idea (granted, Apple never goes revolutionary for a concept coming from other OEMs), also they admitted that iPhone X is what they'll make for the next decade. Regular smartphone price will drop only if phone makers treat foldable as a flagship feature not a novelty.

                      • ?
                      • Anonymous
                      • 4QP
                      • 05 Nov 2018

                      How? Apple's greed and their buyers naive following. Article done

                        • S
                        • S6 User
                        • nw}
                        • 05 Nov 2018

                        DiggerNicks, 05 Nov 2018I love these threads about iPhones. Majority of comments on... moreAll top brands have their fair share of haters from competing brands, haters gonna hate ;)

                        I'm glad that you're still getting receiving security updates and OS updates on your 4 year old iPhone, this is the way it should be for all brands to have a MINIMUM of 5 years of software & especially security updates.
                        ANY brand failing to do this should be named & shamed, any brand exceeding this should be praised.

                        I still get security/ software (not major OS) updates on my S6, the most recent is September 2018-09-04 G920FXXU6ERG1 & before that I got the June 2018 G920FXXU6ERF5 software/ security update.

                          • ?
                          • Anonymous
                          • vju
                          • 05 Nov 2018

                          Prices will continue to sky rocket because it's s toy🤳😂😂😂😂

                            • T
                            • Trueheart
                            • ijs
                            • 05 Nov 2018

                            Interesting to see the jump in price in graphical form.

                              • S
                              • S6 User
                              • nFX
                              • 05 Nov 2018

                              Anonymous, 05 Nov 2018All apple devices have 2 years warranty! Check your fac... moreI was referring to what Apple has written on their website, where the header clearly states:

                              Apple One (1) Year Limited Warranty – (UK and Ireland)
                              For Apple Branded Products Only:
                              https://www.apple.com/uk/legal/warranty/products/uk-ireland-universal-warranty.html

                              It's great that EU law & Australia (& maybe others) protects it's consumers for 2 years.
                              The U.K. is scheduled to exit the E.U. in March 2019, so I don't know if U.K. consumers will be protected or not.
                              As far as Apple is concerned it's a 1 year warranty.

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • dWg
                                • 05 Nov 2018

                                Anonymous, 05 Nov 2018Android phone price are also in the steady increase. Look a... moreis this another "you are poor to buy iPhone, and that's why you hate it" argument ?!

                                  • O
                                  • Operation_Blitz
                                  • 3Jn
                                  • 05 Nov 2018

                                  How did we get to the extreme prices for phones that cost under 500-600 dollars to make, The answer is easy my friends.....Fools and there money are easily parted.......

                                  No the market is opening up to competitors expect to see profits fall and people choose better and cheaper alternatives!

                                    • D
                                    • Dan
                                    • m5b
                                    • 05 Nov 2018

                                    patrick, 05 Nov 2018i am developer of apps and what does really apple make/s it... moreYou can pick any system as a virgin and get used to it and say it is perfect. It's just marketing.

                                      • p
                                      • patrick
                                      • 2Am
                                      • 05 Nov 2018

                                      Anonymous, 05 Nov 2018Android phone price are also in the steady increase. Look a... morei am developer of apps and what does really apple make/s it/them won, because of its operating system. it is more fluid than the android custom os. the only android that can be closed to ios is the stock android. i am a developer for almost 12 years now.

                                        Chris Apple, 04 Nov 2018Because, not only Apple but the whole smartphone industry i... moreYeah, market is getting satiated.
                                        All phones are pretty much the same with minor differences.
                                        But they all do same tasks with pretty much same efficiency.
                                        Apple and Chinese OEM's are 2 forces dragging in opposite directions, Apple aiming to be status symbol, and Chinese brands like Xiaomi aiming to be absolute best buy.
                                        Currently I see Chinese winning in long term, since there's not much to excite the people, and more and more people will just buy cheap thing that will serve them for what they need.
                                        Folding phones could change the game, but I don't see a point in it, and don't even want to own one. I just root for them to be success because that would mean "normal" smartphones will get even sharper price drops.

                                          3 of 7