The new iPhone 14 (pic) will start at US$799 (from RM4,199 in Malaysia) and the iPhone 14 Plus at US$899 (from RM4,699) and be available for preorder locally starting Sept 16. The iPhone 14 Pro will cost US$999 (from RM5,299) and the iPhone 14 Pro Max US$1,099 (from RM5,799) and be available locally on Sept 23, with preorders also starting from Sept 16. — Reuters
Apple Inc on Sept 7 avoided price hikes of its best-selling iPhones during its biggest product launch of the year, focusing on safety upgrades rather than flashy new technical specs with the exception of a new adventure-focused watch.
The iPhone maker leaned into safety technologies like the ability to detect a car accident and summon a rescue from a remote mountaintop to add allure to its devices. Apple positioned itself as the brand to allow users to pursue excitement and adventure – with a safety net.
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Such intangible features “are the things that make you not just want the products for yourself, but also for loved ones”, said Ben Bajarin, head of consumer technologies at Creative Strategies. “Ultimately, the increased emphasis on safety – safety as a service – is super interesting as a value proposition.”
The iPhone lineup that generates half of Apple’s sales got tweaks to cameras and battery life, though only the iPhone Pro lineup got an upgrade to a completely new processor chip.
Prices of the high-end iPhone 14s are the same as last year’s iPhone 13 models. But Apple dropped its cheapest option, the iPhone Mini, meaning its lowest-priced model now costs US$100 (RM450) more than last year.
The iPhone 14 will start at US$799 (from RM4,199 in Malaysia) and the iPhone 14 Plus at US$899 (from RM4,699) and be available for preorder locally starting Sept 16. The iPhone 14 Pro will cost US$999 (from RM5,299) and the iPhone 14 Pro Max US$1,099 (from RM5,799) and be available locally on Sept 23, with preorders also starting from Sept 16.
“They decided to essentially maintain pricing despite inflationary pressure,” said D.A. Davidson analyst Tom Forte.
Nintendo and T-Mobile have also said they will hold off on price increases.
Apple said its satellite SOS feature will work with emergency responders. It also said that users will be able to use its FindMy app to share their location via satellite when they have no other connectivity.
The service will be free for two years with the iPhone 14. Apple did not say what would happen after that period.
Shares in Globalstar Inc jumped 20% on Wednesday after the satellite services firm announced it will be the satellite operator for Apple’s emergency SOS service.
The Cupertino, California-based company also showed a trio of new Apple Watches, including a new Watch Ultra model aimed at extreme sports and diving and designed to challenge sportswatch specialists such as Garmin and Polar.
“Apple is competing for a consumer segment that already has high loyalty towards their existing products and vendors, and it will need to prove itself over time," said Runar Bjorhovde, an analyst at Canalys.
On the watch front, the Ultra has a bigger battery to last through events like triathlons and better waterproofing and temperature resistance to operate in outdoor environments, as well as better GPS tracking for sports.
All of the watches – which include a Series 8 priced the same as last year and an updated, cheaper SE model – and new iPhones will have the ability to detect when a user has been in a serious car crash and call emergency services.
The Series 8 with cellular will start at US$499 (from RM2,299 in Malaysia) and the SE will start at US$299 with cellular (from RM1,399). The Ultra, which includes cellular in its base model, will start at US$799 (from RM3,799) and be available Sept 23 in the US. Local availability has yet to be announced.
The new Series 8 watch has a temperature sensor that will retroactively detect ovulation. The company emphasised the privacy approach of its cycle tracking. Privacy and reproductive health data has become a focus for tech companies in the wake of a US Supreme Court decision that ended a constitutional right to abortion in the United States.
But while accessories like the Apple Watch have driven incremental sales from Apple's existing user base, the iPhone remains the bedrock of its business with 52.4% of sales in its most recent fiscal year, and investors continue to wonder what, if anything, will be the company’s next major product category.
Analysts expect that category to be a mixed reality headset that could come to market as soon as next year, but Apple gave no hints at those potential products on Wednesday.
Apple’s stock closed up 0.9%, lagging the S&P 500’s gain of 1.8% for the session. – Reuters
