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Paying $1000 For An iPhone Is Kinda Stupid When You Think About It

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Paying $1000 For An iPhone Is Kinda Stupid When You Think About It


Richard Goodwin

08/05/2017 – 12:52pm

The price of flagship smartphones has skyrocketed in 2017… but are these increases in prices justified?

Are phones getting too expensive? I’d argue, yes.

Do you need a flagship phone for your daily driver? I’d argue in the negative – no, you really don’t; there are many, many awesome phones out there and a lot of them can be acquired for less than $400/£300

Should you get the latest iPhone every year? Probably not.

But people do – millions of them, each and every year. Apple, Samsung, Google and whoever else you care to name have ALL increased the price of their flagship offerings in 2017.

Apple is expected to unveil the first $1000+ phone later on this year in the form of the iPhone 8.

Samsung’s Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus, which are both fine, fine handsets, arguably the best Android phones available right now, retail for just shy of $1000 unlocked.

Back in the day, the Samsung Galaxy S4 retailed for £589.95 in the UK.

This is a dramatically lower figure. So what’s changed? Samsung’s upped its game, of course, improving the specs, hardware and design of its phones. But to the tune of over 300/400 quid? Not a chance.

Each Galaxy S8 handset costs Samsung $307 (or £240) to build, meaning the company is making a very tidy profit margin – around $45 more than it cost to make the Galaxy S7.

Apple’s even worse: its iPhone 7 costs $224.80 to make and it sells them for $649 (and that’s for the base model).

Costs will have increased with 2017’s iPhone 8, which is now scaling up, but Apple will still be making the same HUGE profit margin on each phone, as all it has to do is increase the price per unit accordingly.

Hence the $1000+ iPhone 8.

Which brings me back to my original point: Paying $1000 For A Phone Is Kinda Stupid When You Think About It.

First, $1000 is A LOT of money. Second, are you getting THAT much value from your phone, or could you get just as much using a lower-cost model? Third, why are you buying this $1000 over a $600 or even $500 phone like the OnePlus 3T, which is just as good and has similar specs/performance.

Seriously: why are you (and millions of other people) limbering up to pay $1000+ for a new phone in 2017? Couldn’t that money be used elsewhere?

There are a myriad of cheaper options out there. Some, like the OnePlus 3T are actually better – I’d take that handset over a new iPhone any day of the week.

Don’t believe me? Check out this guide to the best, brilliant-yet-affordable Android phones I put together. All the handsets on this list are superb, so be sure to check them out.

But What If You Like The iPhone?

You mean: what if I have expensive tastes? Simple: get an iPhone – but don’t buy the latest and greatest; go for last year’s model and you will save a fortune (even more so if you buy reconditioned).

Apple supports its iPhones for A LONG TIME, meaning those running an iPhone 6 will still probably get at least another two solid year’s worth of updates from Apple before it is consigned to the rubbish heap.

Moral of the story? If you’re looking to save money, don’t by a new iPhone – buy it reconditioned from somewhere like Gazelle. The phone will look new, get software updates for years to come, and cost you A LOT less than a brand new one.

Once you’ve done this you’re free to shop around for the best data and minutes packages on the web.

Android’s a little different, in that ALL Android phone makers are terrible at supporting their handsets with consistent, timely updates. Case in point: some Galaxy S7 models are ONLY just receiving Android Nougat, an update that came out almost 12 months ago.

This is a big downside. You can get around it by rooting your Android phone, though this isn’t something everybody is comfortable doing.

Still, with Android you have WAY more options when it comes to getting your hands on cheaper phones that are very impressive. The OnePlus 3T is my ultra recommendation, followed by the Google Nexus 6P if you can find one. Beyond this you have the Xiaomi MI5 and handsets like the one’s listed here.

If you’re looking to save some bucks in 2017, you might want to check out some of the phones I’ve mentioned above. They’re all superb and, best of all, retail for WAY LESS than $1000.

Richard Goodwin 08/05/2017 - 12:52pm

The cost of flagship smartphones has skyrocketed in 2017... however are those will increase in costs justified?

Are telephones getting too pricey? I’d argue, sure.

Do you wish to have a flagship phone on your day by day motive force? I’d argue within the damaging – no, you in point of fact don’t; there are lots of, many superior telephones in the market and a large number of them can also be got for not up to $400/£300

Will have to you get the most recent iPhone once a year? Most certainly now not.

However folks do – tens of millions of them, each and every and annually. Apple, Samsung, Google and whoever else you care to call have ALL higher the cost of their flagship choices in 2017.

Apple is predicted to unveil the primary $1000+ phone later in this yr within the type of the iPhone 8.

Samsung’s Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus, that are each effective, superb handsets, arguably the most productive Android telephones to be had presently, retail for just shy of $1000 unlocked.

Again within the day, the Samsung Galaxy S4 retailed for £589.95 in the United Kingdom.

This can be a dramatically decrease determine. So what’s modified? Samsung’s upped its recreation, in fact, making improvements to the specifications, hardware and design of its telephones. However to the music of over 300/400 quid? Now not an opportunity.

Each and every Galaxy S8 handset prices Samsung $307 (or £240) to construct, that means the corporate is making an overly tidy benefit margin – round $45 greater than it charge to make the Galaxy S7.

Apple’s even worse: its iPhone 7 prices $224.80 to make and it sells them for $649 (and that’s for the bottom type).

Prices may have higher with 2017’s iPhone 8, which is now scaling up, however Apple will nonetheless be making the similar HUGE benefit margin on each and every phone, as all it has to do is building up the fee in line with unit accordingly.

Therefore the $1000+ iPhone 8.

Which brings me again to my unique level: Paying $1000 For A Telephone Is Kinda Stupid When You Think About It.

First, $1000 is A LOT of cash. 2d, are you getting THAT a lot worth out of your phone, or may just you get simply as a lot the use of a lower-cost type? 3rd, why are you purchasing this $1000 over a $600 or even $500 phone like the OnePlus 3T, which is just as good and has similar specs/performance.

Significantly: why are you (and hundreds of thousands of folks) limbering as much as pay $1000+ for a brand new phone in 2017? Couldn’t that cash be used somewhere else?

There are a myriad of less expensive choices in the market. Some, like the OnePlus 3T are actually better – I’d take that handset over a brand new iPhone any day of the week.

Don’t consider me? Check out this guide to the best, brilliant-yet-affordable Android phones I put together. All of the handsets in this listing are very good, so you'll want to test them out.

However What If You Like The iPhone?

You imply: what if I've pricey tastes? Easy: get an iPhone – however don’t purchase the most recent and biggest; opt for remaining yr’s type and you are going to save a fortune (much more so if you purchase reconditioned).

Apple helps its iPhones for A LONG TIME, that means the ones operating an iPhone 6 will nonetheless almost definitely get no less than some other two forged yr’s value of updates from Apple ahead of it's consigned to the garbage heap.

Ethical of the tale? In case you’re taking a look to economize, don’t by way of a brand new iPhone – buy it reconditioned from somewhere like Gazelle. The phone will glance new, get tool updates for years yet to come, and price you A LOT not up to a brand spanking new one.

Whenever you’ve accomplished this you’re loose to buy round for the most productive knowledge and mins programs on the internet.

Android’s a bit other, in that ALL Android phone makers are horrible at supporting their handsets with constant, well timed updates. Working example: some Galaxy S7 fashions are ONLY simply receiving Android Nougat, an update that got here out virtually 12 months in the past.

This can be a giant problem. You can get round it through rooting your Android phone, although this isn’t one thing everyone is comfy doing.

Nonetheless, with Android you've WAY extra choices relating to getting your palms on less expensive telephones which are very spectacular. The OnePlus 3T is my extremely advice, adopted through the Google Nexus 6P if you'll be able to in finding one. Past this you've got the Xiaomi MI5 and handsets like the one’s listed here.

In case you’re taking a look to avoid wasting greenbacks in 2017, you may want to take a look at one of the most telephones I’ve discussed above. They’re all very good and, best possible of all, retail for WAY LESS than $1000.

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