In response to the utter failure of the iPhone 14 Plus, Apple may reevaluate its manufacturing process for the iPhone 15 Plus and add something else to the lineup. Apple launched the iPhone 14 series in September and included the iPhone 14, 14 Pro, 14 Plus, and 14 Pro Max, and while the demand for the iPhone 14 Pro models has exceeded expectations, the non-pro vanilla iPhone 14 models have underperformed.
As Apple struggles to shift iPhone 14 Plus units, it has had to rethink its iPhone lineup for 2023. Two weeks after launching the new model, Apple has already ceased production.
Also, Apple is considering altering its pricing strategy for future iPhone models. Price changes may take place in a different way than they have in the past. In the year 2023, there is speculation that the company will lower the price of the Plus model. The price of the iPhone 14 Plus starts at $800, while the iPhone 14 Pro Max starts at $999.
Due to poor sales, Apple cut iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus production last month, and Foxconn was told to focus on the iPhone 14 Pro series instead.
Pre-orders for the $900 iPhone 14 Plus were open for much of September, even though it didn’t hit stores until October 7. Apple prioritized shipping the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max last month. The iPhone 14 Plus replaces the $200 cheaper iPhone 13 mini which also performed poorly. Apple shifted gears towards selling a larger model long before the iPhone 14 Plus was announced because sales of the iPhone 12 mini were reportedly so low.
Apparently, Apple doesn’t seem confident about the demand for a larger iPhone 14. Wayne Ma reports that Apple has told at least one assembler “to immediately halt [iPhone 14 Plus] production.” Meanwhile, Ma reports that two Apple suppliers “that rely on the parts and assemble them into larger modules” are reducing production by 70% and 90%.
Possible factors at play here are inflation, a weaker-than-average global economy, and the rising cost of everyday items. Apple has also positioned iPhone 14 Plus at a logical but difficult price point; it costs $899 and has a large display–which is the same size as iPhone 14, which costs $799. However, the iPhone 14 Plus doesn’t have any other differences–it’s just one with less storage. This compares to iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, priced at $999 and $1099 respectively. These two models have more advanced camera systems and redesigned sensors.
Apple will release an iPhone 15 Plus variant next fall despite early signs of weak demand. Early reviews have favored the Plus model’s longer battery life despite being priced $200 lower than the Max model.
In a report published by The Information, it is reported that Apple has already told some suppliers to stop producing iPhone 14 Plus-specific components. Supplier sources have claimed that production will not resume until after Apple reevaluates demand. It’s also alleged that some suppliers are building only 70-90% of the originally forecasted iPhone 14 Plus units. Although it’s been said that Apple is still committed to unveiling an iPhone 15 Plus next year, alongside the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
On the one hand, the iPhone 14 Plus offers few advantages over the iPhone 14, but costs US$100 more than its smaller sibling. However, it is a much less capable iPhone than the Pro Max, but for only a savings of US$200. The price gap between the iPhone 14 Pro Max and iPhone 14 is greater than that between the iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 14. You get a newer chipset, a better rear camera, and a better display for $200 to US$899 more.
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