4 ms·

You're talking as if there are only a few categories and we only care about "middle class." There are spectrums. I guess you don't see it, but I see many people

You're talking as if there are only a few categories and we only care about "middle class." There are spectrums. I guess you don't see it, but I see many people; those who drive taxis, work in variety stores, are low income retired, etc who would definitely consider an iPhone a luxury item. There is a very low chance that anyone from those groups who needs basic smartphone features is going to buy an iPhone unless someone offers them a used one. Especially when you consider how much Apple wants to be an ecosystem, a device for every category that is expensive for every category. If you really want to compare phones to cars, the iPhone is a BMW, it's still affordable to the middle class but that's about it. But the market is quite different than cars, by proportion and features the others you mentioned aren't luxury, they are exotic. Along with the inappropriate image-conscious choice of materials, there is also the glowing Apple logo. It's a beacon to club members. Apple just doesn't cater to the cost conscious consumer. Ikea does. They have $19 tables. There's absolutely no comparison in the Apple world, they don't even want to try to address that kind of market.

dagw 9y ago
the iPhone is a BMW I don't know about the US, but here in Sweden you can get a brand new iPhone SE for $30-35/month on a contract. That, while not completely trivial money to many people, is very far from BMW territory.
- davidy123 9y ago
  I guess you don't understand people who don't have money (which isn't surprising considering you're in Sweden). To such people, $30 a month, $360 a year is not justifiable or sometimes attainable (for example having a contract plan). For some it's not the most rational decision, since their cheaper alternative may not last well or have shortcomings in its quality, but that's how people without money are forced to act, and saying they should have the mindset of someone who feels confident in long term choices is not realistic. For some, it really is the decision between having a "better" device (which is arguable, AR is one way Apple wants to avoid being part of a mature commodity market where everything basically just works), feeding or buying their children a gift, or some other more highly valued thing. I would also like the point out the market reality, that while Apple dominates in some areas, primarily cheap Androids are the main element for these reasons, along with factors such as more expensive and proprietary accessories. This is because people make choices relevant to their situation.
  - dagw 9y ago
    I get and agree with what you are saying. But we're still talking about people who can afford to go to IKEA and pick and choose among new sofas and kitchen counter tops. That is a relatively affluent group already.
    - davidy123 9y ago
      They really don't have any choice, and Ikea has some really cheap (in both senses of the word) items. Apple does not.

dagw 9y ago

the iPhone is a BMW I don't know about the US, but here in Sweden you can get a brand new iPhone SE for $30-35/month on a contract. That, while not completely trivial money to many people, is very far from BMW territory.

davidy123 9y ago
I guess you don't understand people who don't have money (which isn't surprising considering you're in Sweden). To such people, $30 a month, $360 a year is not justifiable or sometimes attainable (for example having a contract plan). For some it's not the most rational decision, since their cheaper alternative may not last well or have shortcomings in its quality, but that's how people without money are forced to act, and saying they should have the mindset of someone who feels confident in long term choices is not realistic. For some, it really is the decision between having a "better" device (which is arguable, AR is one way Apple wants to avoid being part of a mature commodity market where everything basically just works), feeding or buying their children a gift, or some other more highly valued thing. I would also like the point out the market reality, that while Apple dominates in some areas, primarily cheap Androids are the main element for these reasons, along with factors such as more expensive and proprietary accessories. This is because people make choices relevant to their situation.
- dagw 9y ago
  I get and agree with what you are saying. But we're still talking about people who can afford to go to IKEA and pick and choose among new sofas and kitchen counter tops. That is a relatively affluent group already.
  - davidy123 9y ago
    They really don't have any choice, and Ikea has some really cheap (in both senses of the word) items. Apple does not.