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iPhone 14 Pro's "added functionality" may come at a hefty premium over current models

By Anam Hamid

Published: Aug 17, 2022, 11:37 AM

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iOS Apple

iPhone 14 Pro's "added functionality" may come at a hefty premium over current models

Premium smartphones are expensive as-is and with a good many of us already grappling with economic frustrations caused by the pandemic, we are really not looking forward to a price increase for the iPhone 14, but it looks to be on the cards.

The iPhone 13's price starts at $699 for the 5.4-inch iPhone 13 mini, the base 6.1-inch iPhone 13 goes for $799, the entry-level iPhone 13 Pro costs $999, and the iPhone 13 Pro Max retails for $1,099.

The mini model will not be refreshed, meaning the opening model this year will be the 6.1-inch iPhone 14, so the starting price will likely increase to $799. Conflicting rumors have been flying about the iPhone 14 family's price, with some saying they will be increased, and one claiming they will remain intact.

Prepare to pay $1,099 and $1,199 for the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, respectively

Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives (via MacRumors) believes that the 6.1-inch iPhone 14 Pro and the 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Pro Max will be $100 more expensive than their predecessors.

While the base iPhone will stay at the same price we believe a $100 price increase on the iPhone 14 Pro/Pro Max is likely in store given component price increases as well as added functionality on this new release."

This partially aligns with the picture painted by a couple of earlier leaks, of which one said to expect a $100 price hike and the second one indicated that the average selling price would rise by 15 percent because of the costlier Pro models.

As some reports had cautioned, Apple is going to pass on the higher cost of producing phones to consumers. Another reason is that the Pros are expected to feature a higher resolution main camera and a new front design with pill-shaped and hole cutouts and apparently Apple has decided this warrants a price increase.

Despite what a leak had suggested, the iPhone 14 Pro will likely still start with 128GB of storage, so it doesn't look like Apple is planning to do anything to soften the blow.

The Pro models will allegedly be armed with the new A16 Bionic chip and could feature faster RAM and always-on display tech.

As for the 6.1-inch iPhone 14 and 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Max, Apple will apparently only make minimal updates to them and the highlights will presumably be an improved selfie camera, which will be standard across the lineup, and more base RAM.

It is looking increasingly likely that the standard models will start at $799, and per an earlier report, declining smartphone shipments are the reason behind this decision. Apparently, Apple thinks that entry-level price has a bigger impact on demand, so it doesn't want to mess with it.

If you read between the lines, a clear pattern has emerged after the pandemic: the rich class is still splurging on luxuries, but regular folks are getting squeezed and cutting back on spending. It goes without saying that the Pros will be geared at well-to-do consumers and Apple is actually expecting strong demand. So, despite their higher prices, they will likely still make it to the best phones of 2022 list.

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Anam Hamid is a computer scientist turned tech journalist who has a keen interest in the tech world, with a particular focus on smartphones and tablets. She has previously written for Android Headlines and has also been a ghostwriter for several tech and car publications. Anam is not a tech hoarder and believes in using her gadgets for as long as possible. She is concerned about smartphone addiction and its impact on future generations, but she also appreciates the convenience that phones have brought into our lives. Anam is excited about technological advancements like folding screens and under-display sensors, and she often wonders about the future of technology. She values the overall experience of a device more than its individual specs and admires companies that deliver durable, high-quality products. In her free time, Anam enjoys reading, scrolling through Reddit and Instagram, and occasionally refreshing her programming skills through tutorials.