Prices hold steady in new iPhone lineup
Apple’s latest lineup of iPhones will boast better cameras, faster processors and a longer-lasting battery — all at the same prices as last year’s models, despite inflationary pressure that has driven up the cost of many other everyday items.
That pricing decision, revealed Wednesday during Apple’s first in-person product event in three years, came as a mild surprise. Many analysts predicted Apple would ask its devout fans to pay as much as 15% more to help offset rising costs for many components.
For several years, Apple’s new iPhones have mostly featured incremental upgrades to cameras and battery life, and this year’s models were no exception. Pricing for the standard iPhone 14 will start at $799; the deluxe iPhone 14 Pro Max will start at $1,099.
Among the latest improvements is a 48megapixel camera in the Pro and Pro Max models that Apple said will produce especially crisp photographs.
Beginning in November, all iPhone 14 models will be able to send SOS messages via a new satellite feature — a safety measure intended to let users request help when in remote areas without a wireless connection.
All the iPhone 14 models also will include a motion sensor capable of detecting serious car crashes and automatically connecting to emergency services.
By keeping iPhone prices the same, Apple faces the risk of undermining its profits if inflation drives up its own costs. It’s a hit that the company could easily afford, given it has reaped $44 billion in profits through the first half of this year.
Apple’s shares rose 0.9% to $155.96 on Wednesday.
The company’s Apple Watch Series 8, meanwhile, will include a new temperature sensor intended to help women retrospectively track their ovulation cycles in addition to the crash detection feature also making its debut on the iPhone 14. The price for the latest Apple Watch, available in stores Sept. 16, will start at $399, the same as last year’s model.
The Watch Ultra, available in stores Sept. 23, will carry a premium price of $799.