October 17th, 2014
Nicole Ciesielczyk
Reuter B4
Is the iPhone 6 Worth it?
There is always an iPhone craze. Apple this, Apple that, millions of people own many different products. Every year around September the iPhone craze increases as Apple releases their newest and most up to date iPhone, causing thousands of Americans and millions of people worldwide to ditch last years version and purchase the newest product. But the question is, is the new iPhone 6 worth ditching last years model?
The new iPhone 6 comes with many different and enhanced benefits that differ from last years phone. The display screen size of the phone is 0.7 inches larger than any of the 5 versions, and the new 6 plus outnumbers both. The camera has many new features that increase picture quality including a dual flash and new focus features. As well the battery life longer than last years phone at an average 10.4 days worth of power if not in use. Sure, all of the benefits sound attractive, but personally I don’t think they outweigh the marginal cost. The retail price of the iPhone 6 is more than $600, but that cost changes with the various service providers.
Last year the 5’s were released in three models, the 5c, 5s, and 5. All these phones have the same services as the 6, just without the special upgrades. They might not have as great of a camera, and the lock button isn’t on the side like the newer ones, but are these features worth an expensive upgrade? If a consumer had an upgrade, personally I would say use it, but for those of you stuck with a 5 hold on to it, because the opportunity cost of $600 cost isn’t worth the few extra features.
As well, the iPhone 6 did run into problems. Some consumers were reporting a bend in the phone when it was being placed in the back pocket. Consumers stated that the phone began to take a curved shape every time the user bent over and the phone was in the back pocket. Apple released a statement claiming that the bending was extremely unusual. But, would you want to pay over $600 and risk having the phone take on a new shape?
<iframe width="560" height="340" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/znK652H6yQM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
iPhone 6 Plus Bend Test Video
While I don’t think that upgrading to the iPhone 6 or 6 Plus is an economically wise decision, the 10 million customers who purchased the new phone in the first three days thought that the benefits outweighed the costs. The new phone topped last years sales by an increase of demand, selling a total of one million more iphones during the first three days of sales.
Apple has increased it’s supply in hopes of having the new iPhone 6 in over 115 countries by the end of this year. But, what does next year bring? Each year a new iPhone is released and rumors are being spread about the new 7. Personally, I say hold on to your 5’s because the 7 will surely top the 6, and most phone contacts last two years, so when the 7 rolls around it will be time for an update which will most likely cost between $100-300 rather than dropping over $600 for the retail price. So, is the iPhone 6 worth it? I say no way.
Works Cited
"10 million: Record number of iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus sold in launch weekend." Tech Times RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2014. <http://www.techtimes.com/articles/16231/20140923/10-million-record-number-of-iphone-6-and-iphone-6-plus-sold-in-launch-weekend.htm>
Would the i6 be worth it? I don't think so. The price is way to high for a devise that you use use for calling or texting people on. If they lowered the price to something more likable, then maybe, yeah. Its just the " I need" factor of so many people wanting the best or the newest that they are selling all of these phones. Whats wrong with being happy with what you have?
ReplyDelete(Abby Brodbeck):
ReplyDeleteNicole, I like how you take a luxury good, like an Iphone, and show how many people craze over the updated versions, even though their old ones are still very nice. I agree that the marginal cost does not out weight the benefits, but Apple also has ways of making you feel like you have to update. Like who honestly has the iphone 2 anymore? I personally have a 4S, but this model isn't even shown on the iphone website anymore. When I want to buy a new case for my phone, top sellers in the market, like Otterbox for example, ( a complimentary good to iphones) rarely release new cases for Iphone 4's. All of these things, combined with the fact that in our society to be cool you have to have the newest hottest thing, helps Apple make ridiculous profit. Nice Job Nicole.
Good job Nicole. This writing probably made everyone in the economics class that has a new or old iPhone rethink about the choice that they have made. Personally I'm more of a android guy, so I go with the galaxys, but iPhone does have some pretty cool features. The only problem I have with it is the small amount of changes that happens. Like so what if they added .7 inches and put the lock button on the side. I like phones that I'm able to customize more but overall this piece is really good.
ReplyDeleteIphones and smartphones are all the rage and almost everyone has one. And, yes, with every new release of the iPhone, there is new features and sometimes those features aren’t as amazing as they could be. I’m part of the 9 million people who got their iPhone 5S’s in the first week since I wanted the newest software, and it was pretty expensive, too. But, since the new features on the 6 and 6 Plus aren’t that great, I’ll be getting an Android for my next upgrade. The “new” things that Apple release aren’t worth having to buy a brand new phone, even if it is a little bigger.
ReplyDeleteNicole, great job on a really informative and relevant post. I too agree with you on the all the unnecessary craze the iPhone 6 brings forth, and don't really believe that the 6 is worth much more or is "better" than the 5. Obviously, there's new enhancements like you mentioned, in addition to varied sizes, but other than that, it's the same device that can be used for texting, calling, internet, games, social media, etc - and all those qualities stay constant on every phone. Those people with certain service providers, as you said, get various discounts and end up paying a lower price than the rest, but ultimately, it's inevitable that a new iPhone will be released next year that will probably be way better than the 6, and people will always find a way to get their hands on the next newest thing.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting how apple is still able to attract buyers despite changing very little. A 1 million increase in buyers in the first three days compared to the iPhone 5 is surprising as there were more new features in the iPhone 5 than the iPhone 6. It will also be interesting to see what apple will do in the future to continue to attract this massive group of people. Will demand still remain the same in the future?
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with you that the iPhone 6 isn’t worth its price. Ever since the iPhone came out, the general public has been obsessed with anything that has the Apple logo on it, and will, oddly enough, buy it even if it’s overpriced. This means that Apple can charge whatever they want, and people will still buy it, just to have the brand. I used to be in the Apple craze, but now I have a new phone, and I can see how crazy people truly are over iPhones.
ReplyDeleteThe Iphone 6 and 6+ has become one of the top selling phones that Apple has every made. With the price reaching a staggering $600 dollars customers think that they are getting a whole bunch upgrades come paired to the Iphone 5, 5c,5s. Even though the software that you get on the Iphone 5 is going to be the same on Iphone 6 since you can update the software on Iphone 5. People should really just wait for at least years to get a new phone because the benefits don’t out way the cost.
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ReplyDeleteIt's insane the amount of money people spend on the new iPhone models, money that could be used to necessary things. For me, the iPhone seems to be the one that's worth its cost. And i bet that most people that bought the new iPhone just did it to be trendy, because the differences from both iPhone5s and the newest don't seem that big, just the size. Who wants a bigger phone? I mean phones are used to carry around, and larger the size more difficult it is to carry. If the iPhone is that great how did it bring problems right in the first days? Also, if people want to have always the better iPhone they could for example instead of buying the 6 waiting one more year for the 7, because buying the 6 for after a year buying another is a huge waste.
ReplyDeleteIf people are basically receiving the same benefits between both the 5's and the 6 phones, then I completely agree on saving the $600 and using it for when your contract is up and ready to get the 7. However, people will do what they can to keep themselves updated with what society thinks is our 'perfect' technology. There may be small differences that may seem cool, but if your spending $600 on minor changes, why wouldn't you wait until your contract is up and not spend all the money when it could be around $100-$300. I feel that people just want to be updated on what could be real, but in all reality they are paying more for minor changes, than they think they should be paying.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the Iphone craze goes, I have to agree with you in terms of it being blown out of proportion. Is the Iphone 6 really that big of a deal? I believe one thing consumers see in Apple, and a reason they're willing to pay such high prices for the product, is the familiarity of its navigation. I've had the Iphone 4s for three years, and have grown very accustomed to the phone's template and organization. I originally had an Android before it, and instantly fell in love with the Iphone when I got my hands on it. I'm willing to pay 600$ for the new Iphone, but not every year. This is why I believe it's kind of annoying how much press Apple gets annually. The new Iphone isn't that big of a deal every year. Especially when considering the amount they change the phone from year to year.
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree in saying that the iPhone 6 isn't worth it. Personally, the size is way to big for me. As a girl our jean and half the things we wear don't have pockets so having a phone that is bigger really isn't beneficial for us. Not only that but the ridiculous price makes it even less appealing to me, because $600 dollars is very unreasonable. My friend has a 6, and honestly the money that you are paying for isn't worth the new gadgets it has. And I still like my 5s much better.
ReplyDeleteAs the new release for this incredible new smart phone, the newer model just makes people needy of the "newest" iPhone available. A phone is a phone. As long it has the necessary features that I would love to enjoy, there's really no need to upgrade to the newest because I already have everything I want in the phone I have now. That's why I picked it out! I enjoyed reading your blog post because I was really thinking about upgrading to the iPhone 6. But I only thought about it for approximately, 5 minutes. I can't get rid of android. Especially because it has so many more different features than iPhone's. But, that's my theory.
ReplyDeleteI believe that at some points the Iphone 6 is somewhat worth it because some of the new enhancements that it has come out with. With that being, I don't see how the Iphone 6+ is worth it whatsoever. I think what apple should have done is release the Iphone 6 and then in later time the Iphone 6+ after making sure that it would not cause as many problems as it did. In general I think that this "craze" is going to be going on forever with every brand new thing of technology that is going to be coming out.
ReplyDeleteThe iPhone 6 and 6 plus are just to overrated. The iPhone 6 is just to easy to break, The outer aluminum casing is easy to bend, also the screen isn't as durable as android devices. Apple is just to overrated for their iPhones. Some android devices have a high price but they are worth the high pirce, when iPhones are no were near the price of $600.
ReplyDeleteNicole I definitely agree with you, people are too obsessed with having the latest product on the market, that they often time overestimate the benefits of it. I am perfectly content with my iphone 5s, since it has all the applications that I need and use on a daily basis. Sure it would be nice to have a nicer camera, but what am I going need such high camara for? It’s not like I want to be a photographer or anything of that sort, and for me regular cameras get the job done just fine. I also think that part of the main reason as to why the iphone 6 is such a desirable object for many people around the world, is because of the brand Apply represents. Apply has made an image of itself that symbolizes elegance, and style. Celebrities, models, musicians, politicians, all sorts of people publicize and glorify this phone! Although I am not so easily influenced, I definitely get why people are so obsessed with getting the latest iphone- they want to keep up with society.
ReplyDeleteNicole, I really enjoyed reading your post. I think that this is a great topic because we can all relate and should actually consider the facts before purchasing a new phone. I agree that buying a 6 without an upgrade is not worth the cost. Everyone wants the newest phone, but it truly is not worth the price. The features on the 5 and 6 are not that much different. Having a larger screen and a better camera are not worth $600. We should all consider the facts and think like an economist when considering purchasing a new phone.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on this because I personally don't think the benefits outweigh the marginal cost for the iPhone 6. If you already have an iPhone, why buy a new one that hardly has better technology? I have an iPhone 4s currently, and I find it to be just as efficient as the new iPhone 6. If you don't already have an iPhone, I could see why it would be a rational decision to buy one. All in all, good article! (some grammatical mistakes)
ReplyDeleteNicole, I agree with you that it is ridiculous to pay the $600 to upgrade from an iPhone 5, to an iPhone 6 if you have a perfectly fine working phone. However, I had an old iPhone 4 that was starting to shut down on me and an upgrade available in my phone contract so I decided to purchase the iPhone 6, and it was definitely worth it! I love having that slightly bigger screen because it helps me see the otherwise small text a lot better. Also, the difference in quality of the pictures that the new camera takes is amazing! So for me, the marginal benefit outweighed the marginal cost.
ReplyDeleteThis was a great topic to talk about, because of how much attention the iPhone has been receiving lately. I personally believe that dropping over $600 on a new phone, that only has a few different features than the last, is quite ridiculous. Sure, it's great to have the newest and most improved phone on the market, but the opportunity cost is far too high. $600 dollars is a lot of money, especially for a product like a phone, that's not necessarily needed. I would love to have an iPhone 6, but I would rather wait until my contract is up, rather than paying that large amount of money. Which is also surprising, because there aren't many differences besides the size and camera quality, so I almost don't even know if spending that much money is even worth it. Overall, great job on this post and relating it to current events!
ReplyDeleteI think that this was a great topic to relate to especially around this time of the year, when new technology is being released before the holidays. I personally think that dropping $600 on the iPhone 6 is ridiculous, speaking that it is not very different from the 5s. Just because it is new does not mean it is necessary to have, and why would someone buy the six, that has little difference from the 5s, when they could buy the 5s for much cheaper? I think that one would be crazy to.
ReplyDeleteInteresting topic. While iPhones tend to be the hottest selling item on the cell phone market by a landslide, there hardly ever seems to me improvements worth noting. In ten years, we'll go from the iPhone 6 to the iPhone 20, and how large will that be? It's like Apple is slowly finding the perfect medium between the iPad Mini and the iPhone 6+, which is an odd and expensive way to test the waters of your already-popular market. I wouldn't drop $600 on a new one unless it came with retina-detecting locks or three-dimensional hologram Skype calls, but that's obviously an outrageous request. Even then, it would cost more than $600 at retail for one of those things. Apple has a shallow and dull business model, but hey, if it sells, it sells.
ReplyDeleteSince the IPhone 6 just got released this is very current topic and a great choice to write about. I agree with you, the retail price apple charges for the newest IPhone is always absurd especially when very few things have been changed about it. It is also not necessary for people to get the newest phone each year it comes out when waiting one more for the next IPhone and your contract to be up would save hundreds of dollars. This was an interesting article and overall good job choosing a side of the argument.
ReplyDeleteI agree that this topics was a great one due to all the new technology that's brought out during the holiday season. I also agree with the previous comments that spending $600 on an iPhone 6 is completely ridiculous, especially because it is not very different from the iPhone 5. Personally, I would never spend that much money on something solely because it was 'new', unless it was a necessity. Overall, I don't think the marginal benefits of having the iPhone 5, outweigh the marginal costs of the phone.
ReplyDeleteWith the release of the newest iPhone, this topic is very relevant. I personally agree with your opinion that people should wait until their contract is up to get the latest version of Apple phones, this is because, like you said, it is not worth the cost. In every upgrade of the iPhone there are only a few new additions that are not worth $600. However, if you wait until you can upgrade on your phone plan, it is $50 or free to get the latest phone and by this time there will be vast improvements.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it doesn't seem worth it to get the iPhone 6, especially if you are paying full price. I question some of the changes that they made to the new phone, especially the size and button positioning. Many people still want to have a smaller phone, and they are taking away this option. Those who are still considering whether or not to get this new phone, probably shouldn't as I have heard about multiple issues with the phone, especially it bending and no one wants their phone to bend.
ReplyDeleteThis was a really great topic to pick, especially since teenagers are so attached to their phones now-a-days. I don't see what all the fuss is about when it comes to the iPhone 6. No way am I paying $600 to upgrade from an iPhone 5 when the only noticeable differences are a better camera, longer battery power, and a new button to press for the lock screen. In this case, the marginal cost definitely outweighs the marginal benefit. Sorry Apple.
ReplyDeleteI agree completely. What is different from this iphone 6, the iphone 4 and the galaxy s5: price and size. How creative! Neither of those things is worth the new phone. The small technical changes do nothing new for the consumer. I predict in the next 10 years the only thing Apple will change about their phones is camera and screen size. Without Steve Jobs the company is hopeless, and the demand they have only has to do with their stature. People however will begin to realize that nothing innovative has been released and they will close their wallets and go somewhere else. Apple invented the ipod -a mind blowing idea. No one had ever thought that you could have music at the touch of your finger, and that is the kind of product people are looking for now. Something bold and different that quite frankly none of us could of come up with over night. Unless Apple produces said product I believe that anything they produce will not be worth it. Show me a phone that does something that no other phone can do.
ReplyDeleteTrue that! and the iPhone has hidden costs such as the bending of the screen, which can cause the phone to become inoperable. I also find that because apple doesn't supply anything (other than iOS) that other systems don't provide (eg. Android) the marginal cost of an iPhone is greater than the marginal cost of an Android device.
ReplyDeleteI think that people should wait until their contract is up for a new phone. Who wants to pay $600 for a new IPhone that has had so many problems and chance that it won't happen to yours. Each year apple comes out with a new IPhone with new features and better quality camera. If the same features change and improve every year, then I think people could wait until their contracts are up to buy the newest IPhone.
ReplyDeleteAs a fan of Apple products myself, I also agree that the marginal costs are not worth the benefits or prestige of having the iPhone 6 or 6 Plus. If you own an iPhone 4, 5, 5s or 5c, there is no difference between them. Yes the screen is larger and there are some camera updates, but as for software, it is compatible with all of the phones and does not limit you in any way other than maybe space on your phone. But with upgrading to more space comes higher cost which is ridiculous. Even though we use our phones on a daily basis, I do not think it is worth the extra money to upgrade to the 6 and pay an outrageous amount of money when an older version of the iPhone is probably working exactly the same.
ReplyDeleteIs the Iphone 6 worth it
ReplyDeleteThe iphone 6 if you ask me is not worth it because all the iphones have the same inter components with just a different design. Apple makes people believe that there is so many cool new features but in reality the only change is the camera and screen size. Apple makes so much money for just a little change that costs under an eighth of what we pay for it.
This blog post was very helpful for me since I was considering getting an iPhone 6. The only thing I would say would make it better would be if you'd make a table comparing the 5 (or 5s) and the 6. Other than that it was great!
ReplyDeleteThe iPhone 6 is a beautiful phone; however, the distinction is only with the size, display, and camera. The Nexus 6 from Google is approximately the same price but with a much better display, camera, and has a lot more power.
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