Who Needs Apple's $1,000 iPhone X? Not Me

Mobile phones first emerged in the mid-1970s, but it took most a decade for the business to brainstorm in earnest, starting with 1983'southward Motorola DynaTAC 8000X, a humorous clunker that looked like a brick and cost around $four,000.

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As is often the case in the tech globe, mobile phone prices brutal rapidly, even equally functioning increased and devices grew ever more portable. Today, a state-of-the-art mobile phone with every gimmick runs most $400 to $700 unlocked.

But if nosotros're going past Moore'south Law, which forces down price while boosting functioning, these phones should be half that price and getting cheaper. Then what'due south the deal with the iPhone X, which starts at $999 thanks to its OLED console and facial-recognition tech? Today'due south smartphones should be closer to $99.

This might await like agony by Apple, which wants to ignite a premium phone market for people with too much money who ever want the best. It's actually a long-term strategy to become the only premium brand in tech.

I have mixed feelings most this. Offset, previous attempts to make a luxury production out of a pocket phone—which largely entailed adding diamonds to smartphones—take failed miserably over the years; merely enquire Vertu.

Second, people similar getting a deal, or the most "bang for the buck." Is an border-to-edge OLED display and Face ID really worth $1,000+? If not, those with iPhone Ten risk being labeled show-offs or as having more money than brains. Become back to me when you develop a truly revolutionary product that won't max out my credit menu.

Until then, my take on today's sociology says the luxury iPhone will be a bust, though clever marketing could prove me wrong. Only I'thousand not holding my jiff.

About John C. Dvorak

John C. Dvorak

John C. Dvorak is a columnist for PCMag.com and the co-host of the twice weekly podcast, the No Agenda Show. His work is licensed effectually the world. Previously a columnist for Forbes, PC/Calculating, Computer Shopper, MacUser, Barrons, the DEC Professional also as other newspapers and magazines. Sometime editor and consulting editor for InfoWorld, he also appeared in the New York Times, LA Times, Philadelphia Enquirer, SF Examiner, and the Vancouver Sunday. He was on the commencement-up team for C/Net as well as ZDTV. At ZDTV (and TechTV) he hosted Silicon Spin for iv years doing yard live and live-to-record TV shows. His Net testify Cranky Geeks was considered a …