14 DAY TRIAL // Apple is working on an anniversary iPhone, one that would bring a new design and feature OLED displays for the first time. Therefore, analysts have predicted that the smartphone’s price would surpass the $1,000 mark.
However, analyst Steven Milunovich from UBS believes that Apple will make sure that the new smartphone’s price won’t surpass $1000, as it would affect purchase volumes, according to Apple Insider. In fact, the analyst believes the price for the 64GB iPhone 8 could start at $850-$900, while the 256GB model might feature a price tag of $950 or $1000.
This would mean that the base model will sell for a price just slightly over iPhone 7s or Samsung’s Galaxy S8+. Milunovich adds that the 5.8-inch iPhone 8 will compete at a smaller screen size against the 6.2-inch Galaxy S8+, which could convince Apple to set a more competitive price tag for the anniversary iPhone.
The other two smartphones that Apple is expected to announce this year, iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus, could feature prices that start at $649 and $749, respectively.
iPhone 8’s price by $90 higher that iPhone 7 Plus
The analyst also says that Apple prefers to price its products competitively; entry-level devices are positioned at the mid-market, while Pro/Plus products compete against high-end products.
The research note cites hardware analyst Arthur Hsieh, who estimates that the iPhone 8 production cost could be just $70 to $90 higher than the iPhone 7 Plus, which has a price tag of about $769. At this point, the price of the new iPhone is based on predictions, considering that rumors regarding the phone’s specs continue to surface.
The upcoming iPhone 8 is expected to feature an edge-to-edge OLED display with narrow bezels and have some similarities with the Galaxy S8. All iPhones to be announced this year are rumored to come with wireless charging, but Apple is still perfecting the technology. Aside from this, 3D facial recognition and True Tone display are expected on the new phone.