Gadget price cuts are always good news for consumers, and it seems the iPhone 15 could be one of them if the latest leak is to be believed: apparently Apple is considering a price cut on the iPhone 15 Plus due to its launch in September.
This comes from reputable internet source Yeux1122 on the South Korean social network Naver (via Macworld (opens in a new tab)). Apparently, the move is being seriously considered and will be made in response to the disappointing sales of the current Plus model.
The iPhone 14 Plus, which was unveiled alongside the rest of the family earlier this year, has a starting price of $899 / £949 / AU$1,579 for the 128GB version, but it doesn’t seem to be attracting buyers with the numbers Apple would like.
A Tale of Four Telephones
While canceling the Plus model would be an option for Apple, it’s likely that iPhone 15 development is too far behind for that to happen. Reducing the price of the phone that replaced 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, Dynamic Island and an always-on display for another $200 / £250 / AU$320 – making it a better deal.
So far, there is no indication of how big the price cut could be or how it could affect the prices of other models in the series. We’ve also heard that Apple may introduce a more powerful, more expensive iPhone 15 Ultra next year.
Analysis: setting the right prices
Pricing is always crucial for any smartphone: the best cheap phones may not have the fastest chips or the best screens, but they cost significantly less than the premium flagships on the market, so they still offer good value for money.
When it comes to Apple’s iPhone series, the Pro models have been the most attractive phones in the last few years. This is even more so with the iPhone 14 Pro, as the cheaper models feature last year’s A15 Bionic chip.
iPhone 14 buyers get a slower phone than the Pro, with a camera system that isn’t quite as good, and no other nice features. Okay, it’s cheaper, but there aren’t many other reasons to prefer it over the Pro.
We’ll have to wait and see what Apple does in 2023, bearing in mind that it also has a budget iPhone SE (2022) on sale. Next year could be the year Apple’s flagship phone moves closer to the mid-range than ever before.