While the iPhone 7 Plus introduced today saw a general $20 increase compared to the iPhone 6s Plus it will replace, customers in some countries are finding prices on both the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus and other products increasing by even more due to fluctuations in exchange rates.
One country significantly affected by the changes is the United Kingdom, where off-contract prices for the iPhone 7 in the UK are £599 for 32 GB, £699 for 128 GB, and £799 for 256 GB, compared to £539, £619, and £699 for the iPhone 6s last year. With its higher price points and the general price increase, the iPhone 7 Plus is seeing even large price jumps of between £100 and £130 for UK customers.
The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus have seen more moderate price increases in euro-based countries like Germany, France, The Netherlands, and Italy. In Germany, for example, the iPhone 7 is priced at €759, €869, and €979, roughly €15 higher than the iPhone 6s was priced prior to today. With the general price increases compounding the currency adjustments for the iPhone 7 Plus, prices have increased by €45 on those corresponding models.
The iPhone isn't the only Apple product receiving price changes. For example, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro starts at £729 in the UK as of today, an increase from the previous £679. Other iPad models have seen similar increases, while the Apple Pencil has increased from £79 to £99. Accessories such as cases and cables have also seen price increases in the UK.
Top Rated Comments
The UK is by far Apple's strongest market in Europe, and perhaps the only one where they're increasing market share YOY. They have about 45% of the UK market, compared to ~20% in France/Germany, ~15% in Italy and ~10% in Spain. A weak iPhone at a significantly higher price is going to put that at risk. That is a huge difference - the iPhone is actually significant in the UK market, but has pathetic market-share in Continental Europe.
Public perception of Apple in Europe is already broadly negative due to massive tax evasion (yes, they have been investigated and fined, so we can call it that now - no more of this 'avoidance' spin BS). This isn't going to go down well with UK customers, that's for sure.
"What ruined Apple wasn’t growth … They got very greedy. Instead of following the original trajectory of the original vision, which was to make the thing an appliance and get this out there to as many people as possible, they went for profits. They made outlandish profits for about four years… What that cost them was their future. What they should have been doing is making rational profits and going for market share."
For example, say the economy contracts by 20% - where is the fear? The fear is about the future effects on prices, salaries, etc. The economic contraction itself happens and becomes fact.
No further comments? Good. Looking at the tone of your other comments on this thread I'm not much interested in debating with you.