Seung Lee, SiliconBeat:
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak defended the high price tag of iPhones, which is rumored to cost $1,200 for the upcoming 10th anniversary model, because the quality is so good and “a safe bet.”
And:
“Apple products are safe. And Apple’s pricing is high in the extreme,” said Wozniak to South China Morning Post reporters on Wednesday. “It’s a safe bet for a lot of people, and when you love Apple you are willing to pay for it.”
Wozniak also spoke highly of Chinese smartphones, which are much cheaper than iPhones.
“Here is what I admire about Chinese phones: really good, intelligent decisions about how to lower the cost but keep enough of the functionality in,” said Wozniak.
Though it’s not clear if this was planned, Woz is being a bit of an ambassador here, his China visit and comments following directly on the heels of Apple’s promotion of Isabel Ge Mahe as Managing Director of Greater China.
That’s amusing to hear. I might consider iPhones worth the price but most consumers do not. Analysts have said it many times that an iPhone is no better than a run-of-the-mill Android smartphone. They have definitely called the iPhone an over-priced commodity whose time is near the end. That’s one of the reasons Apple isn’t highly valued like the FANG stocks. I’ve come to the conclusion that the Chinese consumer no longer has much need for an iPhone, especially one that cost $1000 to $1200. As most Chinese smartphone users are completely addicted to WeChat, they can use that app on any inexpensive Android smartphone to do whatever they need. Apple might sell every $1200 smartphone they make but don’t expect those buyers to purchase another iPhone for another three years.
Apple has effectively priced itself out of every poverty-class country that will soon be needing smartphones. Android has 97% market share in India and Apple can’t do anything to change that. All of Africa and South America are already lost causes for Apple’s smartphone business. The iPhone can’t do anything more for Apple in terms of revenue. Apple had better find a new source of revenue as soon as possible. Apple let Android take over the smartphone market just like Windows did. Google will never give it up and consumers don’t care one way or another.
At least Apple still has a few loyal customers who are willing to pay good money for good products. However, there aren’t enough of those consumers to keep Apple growing. Apple’s privacy and security policies won’t sell iPhones to people who are happy to own the cheapest Android smartphones available.
too bad reality is at odds with you. consumers have annually voted with their wallets – iphone is the single best selling smartphone ever, and is the most successful product in human history generating the most revenue and profit in its short lifespan. oops.
enjoy your knockoff.
Complete logical fail.
Something on the order of a billion people have purchased iOS devices. Willingly; using actual money.