Welcome to our Weekend Apple Breakfast column, which includes all the Apple news you missed this week in a handy summary. We call it “apple breakfast” because we think it goes great with a morning cup of coffee or tea, but it’s great if you want to read it during lunch or dinner as well.
False economy of cheap products
I have written about Vimes’ theory of socio-economic injustice, which demonstrates the surprisingly high cost of poverty in caring for leather shoes. But you probably haven’t heard of Cook’s sister Anti-Value Theory, which claims that consumers are more likely to buy expensive products than cheap ones, and explains much of Apple’s behavior this decade.
Apple products are notoriously expensive: ask someone outside the industry to describe the iPhone in 10 words or less, and you’re unlikely to hear the word “cheap.” But for most of its history, the company has still managed to deliver decent value by living up to the old adage that you get what you pay for. Those who can afford an Apple product can look forward to beautiful design, best-in-class build quality and reliability, a user-friendly interface, and great features. You pay a premium price, you get a premium product.
From time to time, Apple has flirted with the other end of the market, hinting that it wants to offer something more affordable. But this never seems to work. The 2013 iPhone 5c, which was hailed as a great budget iPhone before launch, is simply watched cheap, and completely failed to provide the desired lifestyle aspect that is so important to the iPhone. (Our reviewer said the design was praised by a toddler, which isn’t exactly the kind of evidence Apple was looking for.) And the later iPhone SE line, which had a more promising start, fell silent because Apple had absolutely no idea what it was all about. device that people liked.
According to reports, Apple has informed suppliers that the iPhone SE 4 will not be as planned, suggesting that the company has decided to abandon the budget smartphone market rather than remove the restrictions that affected the most recent model. The company also reportedly scrapped the idea of a budget Apple Pencil last year that would offer almost none of the premium features that made the original model (and especially its stellar successor) such a success. Even the popular $329 9th-gen iPad was replaced by the $449 10th-gen iPad in 2022, giving the impression that Apple would rather cannibalize its own iPad Air sales than properly focus on the budget tablet market.
It makes perfect sense that Apple prioritizes the premium segment of the market, because that’s where it’s been most successful. High-yield, premium products can make huge profits if you have the right image, and image is Apple’s trump card. Conversely, a premium brand operating in the budget market can undermine its image and in turn reduce the appeal of its flagship devices. In difficult times, companies return to their core business, and Apple’s core business is expensive, high-quality technology.
What makes it even more confusing is when we hear persistent rumors about other cheap products. For example, the so-called AirPods Lite, for which, according to a reliable source, we can pay $99 in late 2024 or early 2025. with a less ambitious device that still bears the coveted AirPods brand. (Apple already sells the $70 Beats Flex, but it’s not exactly the same.) Will the AirPods brand remain desirable after consumers try a discounted model that lacks high-end features, is weaker in sound quality, and likely with a flamboyant design to highlight the curmudgeons who won’t pay the highest hit yet to be seen.
Anyone who studies Apple’s history can see that the AirPods Lite are unlikely to be successful. In fact, it seems likely that development will stop before it even gets to that point, and instead we’ll get a price cut for the AirPods 3 when the fourth generation comes out. The real mystery is why the most successful manufacturer and marketer of premium tech products in history still expects different results.
IDG
Trending: the main news of the week
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rumor mill
Your next macbook pro may be touch screen.
New AirPods Max and $99 AirPods are under development, according to a new report.
Silicon Apple Mac Prowhen it finally lands could be the biggest disappointment in years.
The 15-inch MacBook Air will go on sale save the 2023 Mac line.
January 2023 is likely to be a quiet month for Apple, but big releases loom.
Apple is ready to finally upgrade micro LED displays in 2024.
iphone 16 pro can have a dynamic circle instead of an island.
Apple AR headset may get its own event this spring.
apple just canceled iPhone SEsources say.
Podcast of the week
What can we expect from Apple in 2023? Well, judging by recent reports, the whole point is that Apple will invest in AR, VR, headset and operating system to make it all work. The future is near and we’re talking about it in this episode of the Macworld podcast!
You can watch every episode of the Macworld podcast on Spotify, Soundcloud, the Podcasts app, or our own website.
Software updates, bugs and issues
best iOS 16 feature that you don’t use will make your iPhone 14 Pro much better.
There may be “fewer major changes” in iOS 17 and macOS 14 this year. What could be good news for reliability front.
That’s where we ended up this week. If you would like to receive regular news updates, subscribe to our newsletters. You can also follow us on twitter for breaking news. See you next Saturday, enjoy the rest of the weekend and stay Eppley.