Brian X. Chen, New York Times:

The iPhone is now in a precarious position. Gone is the thrill of downloading yet another app. It isn’t as exciting anymore if the screens of the gadget get bigger or the device becomes thinner. And the middle age of the iPhone is reflected in its sales, which dipped for the first time last year. It doesn’t help that Apple also faces fierce competition, especially in markets like China and India where people are flocking to cheaper smartphones that are increasingly capable and attractive.

Doomed! Why does the New York Times lead their Apple coverage in such a negative way?

But I digress.

Chief among the changes for the new iPhones: refreshed versions, including a premium model priced at around $999, according to people briefed on the product, who asked to remain anonymous because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

John Gruber’s take:

If true, I would wager that means starting at $999, with a higher storage capacity model at $1099 and maybe another at $1199.

Makes sense.

An aside, the price mention is just part of a larger article, quite positive in tone, calling out the elements that keep people buying iPhones, year after year. Weird that it starts with such a negative slant.