14 DAY TRIAL // The closer we get to the official launch date of the 2018 iPhones, the more expensive the lower-cost model gets.
A new investor note published by Goldman Sachs indicates that the configuration supposed to hit the shelves at a lower price may end up costing no less than $849.
While few expected an iPhone to be truly affordable given Apple’s strategy regarding its premium products, an $849 price tag means the other two iPhones launching this year could be substantially more expensive.
In other words, the iPhone X successor wouldn’t get more affordable, as some people suggested earlier this year, but retain the price tag of the original model. This means the new iPhone X (possibly called iPhone Xs) could be priced from $999 in the United States, while an upgraded version with more storage may get well beyond the $1,000 milestone.
The existing iPhone X with 256GB storage is available for $1,049, but rumor has it that Apple could launch a 512 GB version this year, so the price could be increased by approximately $100.
iPhone Xs Max to cost a small fortune
The bigger question is how much the iPhone Xs Max is going to cost. iPhone Xs Max is expected to be a Plus-sized version of the new iPhone X, coming with a 6.5-inch display and other hardware upgrades, including the said 512GB storage.
Given the larger display, iPhone Xs Max could thus start at more than $1,000 for the base configuration, making the top-of-the-range version truly expensive.
Goldman Sachs says it doubts Apple will “go for lower price points,” and the company highlights that despite reports of low iPhone X sales due to the high price, the device turned out to be a good selling product.
All details will be shared by Apple on September 12 during the company’s press conference, with pre-orders expected to begin for at least two models on Friday.