Understanding Apple: Why They Can Make a $2,000 Phone
Today, September 11, 2019, Apple officially announced the anticipated annual line of iPhones (right in time for the 2019 holiday season). And although this year’s Apple event seemed pretty tame and routine compared to past years, their iPhone announcement appears to have been worth the wait; however, is this phone truly worth $2,000? And also, why is Apple able to ramp up their prices and still dominate the market?
Getting into the iPhone Pro, it turns out the months of rumors were true; Apple’s new flagship iPhone has been revealed as the “iPhone Pro”! The name, in my opinion, is very fitting, with the MacBook Pro being out for years and the iPad recently also going Pro. So what features have made this particular iPhone worthy of the Pro title?
The new iPhone has three cameras—yes, not one, not two, but now three (bulky and pretty unattractive) cameras. There is a telephoto lens, a wide lens, and an ultra wide lens. It may not look pretty, but it is powerful, and now there is support for slow-motion selfies, or “slofies” and now a dark camera mode that takes better photos in dark lighting, so those two features alone must bump the price up of the phone at least $500. But we will get into why people buy into this later.
4K video footage now makes the iPhone have (at least on paper) the highest video quality on any smartphone in the world. And now Apple will finally allow users more editing freedom with their videos (yes, you can now crop a video—it’s about time!).
The A13 chip. Ah yes, this is the bad boy processor that warrants the Pro name. This iPhone will be almost too fast to handle. It also is giving users an extra five hours of battery life.
Pictured above: images of the three cameras included with the iPhone 11 Pro. Courtesy of apple.com
Now, all of these features are great, but nothing is really new or groundbreaking. So why on earth, many would ask, would anyone spend money on this particular iPhone, going upwards of $2,000?
The question of how Apple continues to charge ridiculous prices and still come out on top is perhaps one of the greatest economic (and psychologic, in my opinion) wonders of the twenty-first century. But the answer is quite simple: Apple is just that good.
Before all the Android lovers attack, I am not saying that Apple, specifically iPhones, are objectively superior to other smartphones. Other smartphones brand often create features that Apple adapts later on, or never adapt at all. Apple remains superior for two simple, yet critical reasons: the look and the ecosystem.
The Look
When you pick up an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or any other Apple product, you instantly know it is Apple. The sleek designs of their products have become iconic, and no other tech company even comes close to the beauty of Apple products. From the logo, to the stunning stock wallpapers, to the vibrant and playful app icons, Apple’s “look” is something that sucks consumers in, and that beauty is absent when looking at its competition.
The Ecosystem
While typing this on Safari, I could scroll up to the top right corner of my browser, select the share button, hit AirDrop, and within seconds share the link to this post to my phone, and whatever other iPhones, iPads, or Macs in my general vicinity. That is just one example of the highly advanced and unparalleled experience that Apple provides its consumers with. The Apple ecosystem makes everything in life easier; it connects all Apple products so seamlessly and efficiently, that living with any other tech would seem like more of a hassle than an assistant.
Apple products are simple. They’re simple to use, simple to love, and simple to sync together. And while other companies may boast bells and whistles that Apple can’t, the way that Apple has built its brand makes it almost impossible for Apple consumers to look back. Apple products truly make life easier, so yes, the iPhone 11 Pro is not the revolutionary phone Apple has ever made, not even close. And no, it’s not one I would say is worth Apple’s highest price tag. But it doesn’t matter; Apple has the liberty to charge $2,000 for a phone. And why? Because they’re that good, and they know it too.
Emma