A Simon-Kucher & Partners study of 10,250 representative US consumers identified significant opportunity for higher priced iPhones from those considering the upcoming Fall 2019 models. This was primarily driven by high willingness-to-pay for monthly financed plans, and demand for large screen devices from younger and less affluent consumer segments. The study showed that future price increases and higher priced models are likely to be profitable, with an iPhone priced at $2,400 possible in the short to medium term via a $99/month payment plan for 24 months.
The study found room for further price increases – and that Apple should be planning ahead for a $2,400 iPhone
The study showed that 10 percent of those consumers considering the new iPhones were willing to pay more than $2,000 for their device, and 15 percent would be willing to pay more than $1,800 – significantly more than the $1,549 expected price of the top of the range device (assuming a $100 increase from 2018 device prices as has occurred historically), indicating Apple has room to grow prices even further with some customers.
This was primarily driven by consumers that opted for 24 month zero percent financing over those willing to purchase up front. Consumers were willing to pay on average 50 percent more for the same device if they were paying monthly over 24 months versus up front – the study showed 10 percent of those consumers that prefer to pay monthly, would consider paying over $99 per month for 24 months ($2,400 in total), versus only one percent of those that prefer to pay up front would consider paying over $1,999.
The study also found that the revenue optimal price point for the new iPhones will be similar to what they are priced at today, given that many consumers were willing to pay less than others. Analysis of the study data showed that revenue dropped by three percent on average for prices $50 higher than the current price, five percent for $100 more, and nine percent for $200 more, and volumes dropped by nine, 15 and 25 percent respectively. However, Apple’s high margins meant that despite these volume losses, profits remained broadly flat at higher price points, indicating that if consumers switched to lower priced models rather than to competitors’, higher prices would be profitable.
“There is clearly a segment of customers that are willing to pay whatever it takes to access the latest and greatest iPhones. This segment is big enough to warrant Apple’s attention on its own, much as the original iPhone X was likely targeted at this segment,” says Nick Zarb, technology expert and Senior Director at Simon-Kucher & Partners, in a statement. “The study showed that consumers are clearly thinking more about the monthly cost than the total cost, so Apple need only move customers from their top price of $60.99/month today, to the next psychological thresholds of $69.99 or even $99.99 a month.”
Younger consumers will drive demand for larger, more expensive models, which Apple can continue to serve with highly segmented pricing
Despite not yet having been announced, reasonable demand was seen for the upcoming iPhones, with five percent of consumers over 18 considering the new, as yet unannounced, models. Of those considering, 34 percent were primarily considering a top of the range large screened model (XS Max upgrade equivalent), 18 percent an XS equivalent, and 48 percent an XR equivalent. As the Apple marketing machine goes into full swing after the September 10th launch, many more consumers are likely to consider the upcoming devices as they become more familiar and desirable and their specifications are provided in more detail.
The trend for larger screens was strongest with younger and less affluent consumers, with 60 percent of 18-24 year olds, and 37 percent of those with household incomes below $100k, considering an XS Max upgrade equivalent, versus 60 percent of over 55s, and 21 percent of those with household incomes above $100k, considering the smaller screened XR upgrade equivalent.
“Apple smartly offers several versions of each iPhone model at $100 increments based on storage capacity, allowing consumers to self-select based not only on size, features, and functionality, but also their willingness-to-pay. This results in 16 different available price points to consumers from $450 to $1,450 today, capturing a larger segment of the market,” says Zarb.
An anchor pricing strategy is key to Apple’s continued success in growing Average Selling Prices (ASP)
“Apple is the master of anchor pricing. Even if Apple didn’t sell many Gold Edition Apple Watches when they were launched at more than $10,000, they shifted the entire conversation on just how much someone should pay for a smartwatch. $349 looked cheap in comparison, when actually it was significantly higher than competitor products,” says Madhavan Ramanujam, Partner and Board Member at Simon-Kucher & Partners and co-author of ‘Monetizing Innovation – How smart companies design the product around the price’ (Wiley), in a statement. “Similarly the iPhone X made the iPhone 8 look attractive and affordable in comparison when they were launched. A customer may walk into an Apple store to check out their latest model, and walk out with a device that suits their budget, probably spending a little more than they might have originally planned to. The power of anchor pricing on an entire portfolio should not be overlooked.”
The study “Willingness-to-pay for upcoming 2019 iPhone models” was conducted by Simon-Kucher & Partners in August 2019 in the US. In total, 10,250 US consumers were sampled, and 400 identified with propensity to purchase the upcoming 2019 iPhone models were asked about their willingness-to-pay for new models as well as their consideration set.
Source: Simon-Kucher & Partners
MacDailyNews Take: This is great news for Apple, obviously, and for Apple iPhone users as continued high margins drive innovation by fueling R&D while less affluent consumers can choose lower priced older models – it’s a win-win for everybody!
$2400? No. Maybe… with Halle Berry attached. For the evening. But just the phone? No. Not gonna happen. Be smarter to go SKYPE or some other VOIP service for general conversations, and buy a Satellite Phone that will work anywhere for less than $1000. When the apocalypse hits, everyone will be your friend.
$2400 for looking at legos on a table top through geek glasses ? Seriously?
In all seriousness, what feature could make you spend $2400 on an iPhone. Outside of an iPhone that runs macOS and wirelessly connects to a 5k monitor + keyboard + mouse +5G.
Immidiate “NO” without even knowing what the deal is looks a bit rushed.
and Halle’s fake boobs aren’t that great either
I don’t think the word “deal” applies here. In the context of what an iPhone is, I am never going to pay more for an iPhone than a MacBook Air. I’m fairly sure Apple hit the limit with the $1000 smart phone and the sweet spot with the 300 cheaper model. At a certain point the price becomes an insult.
I sure would love to see a $2400 iPhone though.
A win win for everyone!?! I can’t imagine what planet you or the surveyor might live. It seems Apple is also living in a dream world if they believe consumers will pay upwards of 2k for an IPhone.
No way in Hades I’m going to pay Apple $2400.00 for an iPhone! They can Stick It where the sun doesn’t shine!
Study is wrong
Quite frankly, this smells like propaganda, wishful thinking by Apple shareholders.
Quite frankly, this smells of propaganda, wishful thinking and fantasies of Apple shareholders.
Nope, I’m a long-term Apple shareholder and I don’t want Apple to sell high-priced smartphones. If Apple has to make more revenue they should start selling more desktops, laptops and wearables. I don’t want Apple to keep trying to extort money from iPhone users. It’s stupid for Apple to continue to depend on a single product line as a major revenue source. If the smartphone market is saturated, then they should redirect their focus to a less saturated market.
I certainly don’t believe Apple can sell much higher-priced iPhones than they already are unless its some robust and nearly perfect folding smartphone for just under $2,000 and that would be for only a very small number of consumers. Just for the record, I wouldn’t even consider buying one.
$2400? In what billionaire’s club or asylum did they take that poll?
Calling BS on this.
Ridiculous, never.
Apple likely funded this one.
I’m SO cheap… LOL 😆 My current 📱 is an iPhone 5S (64GB), paid about $140 TOTAL for it (refurb) last year. My “plan” currently costs me about $30 per YEAR (not month) because it’s voice only (no data). I also use an iPad mini with cellular. T-mobile has this amazing data deal just for iPad. It’s $10 pre-paid for 5GB of 4G LTE, good for FIVE months.
I carry iPad mini in 🎒💼 with iOS WiFi hotspot turned ON. For Internet access away from secure WiFi network, iPhone connects to iPad mini hotspot. Or, if I need larger screen, pull out iPad mini itself. If I have my 💻, I can use it with iPad mini hotspot too.
It’s not about “affluence” (the ability to spend money). It’s more about being smart, spending money on things I really need. My next new (to me) 📱 will probably be an iPhone SE. I do most of my iOS stuff on my iPad… Don’t need no $2400 iPhone 😏
“Study reveals consumers willing to pay up to $2,400 for new iPhone”
“MacDailyNews Take: This is great news for Apple”
MDN is Apple’s lapdog.
Exactly! MDN is completely out of their minds as well. There is absolutely nothing that they can put into a Phone any company that would justify a $2400 price tag in a telephone. Don’t tell me about it being a computer at the end of the day it’s a small screen device and exactly why there will never be much that can be done with the Apple Watch from where it is today other than perhaps medical.
thats because MDN is some white racist white fuck laughing at everyone who uses this sight without the 20 ad blockers required to make it readable.
To deny there is room for a $2400 iPhone is to utterly fail to understand human nature and niche marketing. How else to explain Virgin Galactic one time $250k one-off trips and the $18.7m Bugatti La Voiture Noire hypercar?
If the perceived value is affordable then the more outrageous – the more attractive.
what the study shows is that there are always people who claim they would buy the greatest most exclusive amazing thing. a few of them actually do purchase too.
let’s look at a real exotic market though. in reality, Bugatti is a tech lab that doesn’t make any money. luxury companies seldom have staying power.
my recommendation: go buy a gold Apple watch if you feel the need to flaunt your wealth and stupidity.
Please add “some” to the title to have veracity. Even then, so what? I just read that a David Hockney painting (fairly recently) sold for a bit above than $90m. It first sold for 18k many yrs prior. Inflation, excitement, increased credibility, irrationality, habituation? Humans are interesting.
Spending $2400 for an iPhone is not a win for me by any stretch of the imagination.
Did anyone read the article? No one would buy a 2K phone. But 10% of iPhone buyers would pay $99 per month with zero interest for two years for an iPhone.
Come on! 99 bucks a month? Some of you spend more than that at Starbucks. We can tell. 🙂
I’m having trouble swallowing the “expected $1,549” expected price tag of the next set of phones. I used to be “buy a phone every year.” Then it became “every two years.” I’m sure I’ll keep using my iPhone X (which cost too much) until it completely dies. The only thing that would cause me to switch sooner would be the release of an SE2 (or similar, small, device).
No words..
To the “apple-sells-premium-products-at-premium-prices-to-premium-customers” crowd, I think you just gave the green light to Apple to rise the price on their phone. Thanks a lot! Apple was already bringing a “premium” price. You just told them, because I’m not very money conscious, you can be greedy. Like it or not that’s the reality.
The same study reveals consumers are willing to pay $10,000 for Mac Pro machines.
The participants in the survey are the same folks who bought the “I am Rich” app from the iTunes store.
Uh huh. People say a lot of things. That doesn’t mean they are capable of affording a $2,000 phone. I doubt most people have any idea how much their phones actually cost, they just look at the plan, this is how markets collapse. Studies combined with modern communications technology are pretty much useless. You might as well just make something up, and sometimes, people do.