The tenth anniversary event for the iPhone is approaching, and it looks like the next model will start at just under a thousand dollars, according to The New York Times. Of course, we also expect Cupertino to announce redesigned and updated versions of the iPhone 7. What we’re really anticipating, though, is the radical new design and features of the “iPhone 8.” That’s got me thinking about what the device specifications will need to be for me to upgrade to a thousand-dollar iPhone. It turns out, John Martellaro and I are pretty much on the same page in our analysis of the rumors.
The Current State of Affairs for iPhone Pricing
I won’t try to fool you into thinking the current models of iPhone are inexpensive. They’re not, and I’m not foolish enough to think the next model would be less expensive. As things stand now, a current-model iOS handset will cost you $649 for a 32GB iPhone 7.
From there, you can go up as high as paying $969 for the 256GB model of the iPhone 7 Plus. If you decide to go with a lease plan instead, you’re looking at $32.41 for the base model, up to as much as $45.75 per month for the top-of-the-line iPhone 7 Plus. My own iPhone 7 Plus falls somewhere in the middle, since I opted for just 128GB of storage.
The Thousand-Dollar iPhone
Based on that pricing, one might expect a thousand-dollar iPhone would match, gigabyte for gigabyte and inch for inch, the 256GB larger current handset. I don’t really see that happening, and I think that’s okay. It’s almost a given that Apple would offer options beyond the $999 price point NYT suggests.
So, what should we expect from the “base model” of this upcoming premium iPhone? Assuming the anonymous sources who spoke to The New York Times are correct, I’d expect to see another bump in the starting storage capacity for the iPhone 8, along with at least two new major features and a screen size approximating that of the iPhone 7 Plus.
Will the New iPhone Meet That Mark?
I think it likely will. Granted, we don’t know for certain what the device will look like or be capable of. However, if the sources are correct on the price, they’re probably right about other details, too. The folks who talked to The New York Times indicate the size won’t be an issue. Apple made room for a bigger screen on the iPhone 8 by reducing the bezel, according to rumors. The edges around the screen should be narrower. With that, we’re thinking Cupertino has managed to incorporate the size of the iPhone 7 Plus in a handset not much larger than the iPhone 7.
The sources also reported that facial recognition will be included, which corresponds with many of the other rumors we’ve been hearing. That’s New Major Feature Number One, and the sources have more in store.
We’ve heard some speculation that the next-generation iPhone will charge wirelessly, much the way the Apple Watch does. NYT’s sources say the new feature, called magnetic induction, will be included. That would make New Major Feature Number Two, leaving me to worry only about the storage capacity.
I don’t see Apple charging a thousand bucks for a device that only has 32GB of storage. I get that Cupertino might need to increase the price of the device to more than $769. That’s the price of the base model iPhone 7 Plus. I don’t think Apple would leave us scrambling for storage with an increased price tag.
Final Thoughts on the Thousand-Dollar iPhone
In closing, the possibility of the iPhone 8 starting at $999 doesn’t bother me. The feature set, storage capacity, and innovation in the device will make the higher price worth every penny. The anniversary edition of the iPhone might end up being a premium device. With that said, it will certainly come with premium features and capabilities to warrant its increased price.
We’ll just have to wait to see if I’m right. Apple is expected to hold the tenth anniversary event on September 12.
Yup