Apple leaks have revealed that the iPhone 14 Pro models will receive multiple exclusive upgrades and higher prices. But now a new report claims that the standard iPhone 14 models will also receive a price hike, despite being largely unchanged from their predecessors. Speaking to The Sun, Dan Ives, head of popular analyst group Wedbush Securities, cites supply chain prices as the driving force behind the increase. Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max concept shows expected higher price of $1199 @VadimYuryev @Shaileshhari03 “We think a $100 price increase is coming for the iPhone 14,” Ives explained. “Prices are rising throughout the supply chain and Cupertino needs to pass that cost on to the consumer in this release.” If correct, the iPhone 14 lineup will break down as follows:
iPhone 14 – $899 (iPhone 13 $799) iPhone 14 Max – $999 (iPhone 13 Mini $699) iPhone 14 Pro – $1099 (iPhone 13 Pro $999) iPhone 14 Pro Max – $1199 (iPhone 13 Pro Max $1099)
While $100 will hurt, particularly for the standard models, which will have the same design, rear cameras and chipset as the iPhone 13, the big financial hit comes with the entry point of the line jumping from $699 to $899. This nearly 30% increase is due to Apple discontinuing the 5.4-inch iPhone 13 Mini in favor of a 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Max (also called “iPhone 14 Plus”), which pushes the iPhone 14 into the mainstream position model. Update 07/16: Now that the iPhone 14 series is in production, the leaks are not only accelerating but adding a level of detail we’ve never seen before. Trusted anonymous user ShrimpApplePro – the first to reveal the new dual-hole redesign of the iPhone 14 Pro – has now published detailed schematics of the flagship iPhone 14 Pro Max via Weibo. The main news is that the schematics again support the large number of leaks that claim that Apple will do away with the notch, although it is expected to be retained for non-Pro models. That said, at this stage, the most interesting information for me is the dimensions they reveal:
iPhone 14 Pro Max – 160.71 x 78.78 x 7.85mm iPhone 13 Pro Max – 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.65 mm
While the differences are small, they dispel a popular line of thought: that Apple would use the same frame for the iPhone 14 Pro models as their predecessors. Speculation will now accelerate as to what those changes are. My suspicion is that the new 48-megapixel main camera exclusive to Pro models will be a big factor. But hopes that larger batteries are behind the increase seem unlikely based on a recent capacity leak. Leak season is well and truly open. Update 07/17: LeaksApplePro has disputed Wedbush’s pricing claims. The hacker, who has regularly provided iPhone pricing data in the past, told me that the drive for Apple in 2022 is to widen the gap between iPhone 14 Pro and non-Pro models, and price is one way the company will do that this. “The difference between iPhone 14 Max and iPhone 14 Pro is huge,” the hacker explained. “Apple is really trying to save as much money as possible with the production of the iPhone 14, so I don’t think the company is planning the $100 increase that Wedbush is talking about.” While this would be good news for buyers of standard models, LeaksApplePro warns that Apple wants to raise the prices of the iPhone 14 Pro by at least $100. $799, $899, $1099, $1199 are what Apple believes the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Max/Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max prices will be for now, but they’re not locked in: “Apple could certainly change these prices, but right now that’s what’s being considered,” the hacker added. This distribution makes a lot of sense. By removing the Mini, Apple is already raising the entry price for the iPhone 14 series to $799 from the $699 of the iPhone 13 series. And using most of the same components for standard iPhone 14 models as the iPhone 13, the company avoids significant new costs. This opens the door for higher iPhone 14 Pro pricing, greater hardware differentiation and increased sales potential. If the leaks are correct, this will be a strategy that polarizes customers at a time of high global inflation. That said, I’m guessing there will still be lines around the block when these phones go live in late September/early October. Such a gap would cause a real shock. It would also be a tough sell. Historically, Apple has kept previous-generation iPhones on sale at lower prices after their successors were released. If Apple does it again, opting for an almost identical iPhone 13 or even an iPhone 13 Mini (which could cost as much as $599) would be unthinkable. The Apple iPhone 14 series is based on multiple leaks EverythingApplePro There is a popular industry counterpoint. That is, Apple will keep the iPhone 13 pricing for the iPhone 14, and the lack of an iPhone 14 Mini will represent a $100 increase to the entry level instead of the $200 gap discussed here. However, this does not account for the increase in supply chain prices, so it may turn out to be overly optimistic. So should you upgrade? Throw in the hot rumors that iPhones will move from Lightning to USB-C in 2023 and, for me, I think this is an upgrade year to forget about unless you’re in desperate need. That said, based on supplier deposit sizes, it looks like another super cycle regardless.
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