Why Customers Prefer Older iPhone Models

Published Date: 30 Sep 2022Posted byImran Shafi

With a series of releases from various tech companies, the smartphone industry is becoming more and more competitive every passing year. Despite stiff competition, Apple phones manage to rise to the top.

What’s the deal?

Apple has been one of the most prolific developers when it comes to the research, development, and release of state-of-the-art phones, making it a tech giant. Moreover, its electronic products have become a status symbol, whilst offering a simple interface that any technology enthusiasts and ordinary users might find accessible.

However, with the release of the iPhone X in 2017, followed by the iPhone XS, XS Max, and the iPhone XR, the huge gaps in prices between the X family and the previous releases are highlighted. Brand-new X, XS, iPhone XS Max and XR came with $1,579, $, 1629, $ 1,799 and $1229 price tags, respectively. Whilst the second hand iPhone 11 series breach the one thousand line, the 7 and iPhone 8 series are priced optimally at much lower costs.

Surely, these high prices for the newer models warrant-newer and more exciting features, making customers prefer them to the older units. However, sales show that a lot of users prefer getting older models. Let’s find out why:

Apple iPhone Old and New Models

Old and New Models

· Specifications

Perhaps the largest difference between early and recent devices rests on the specs. Those that were out this year sport an A12 Bionic Chip. However, the X and the 8 families are only one generation behind the A11 Bionic Chip. Cameras, battery and memory capacity, as well as body and screen size also differ depending on the model. The iPhone 8 still performs like a beast and lasts a whole day at a relatively low price, people who prefer gaming and media consumption prefer the Plus variant for the bigger screen size and battery.

· Build

When it was first released, one of the most defining qualities of these devices is their sleek and ergonomic build. They are able to combine visual appeal with durability. From the old to the new iPhone, the company was able to put high quality and premium builds.

· OS

All iPhones are capable of running iOS 12, complete with new features. This means that even the 5s selling at $169 can have iOS 12, the same software powering the X family.

· Price Points

One of the most notable differences between new and old models is the price. As we mentioned, the X series cost more than $1,000, which is a huge setback when it comes to customers’ decision making. Comparably, older units are priced at $249 for iPhone 6, $299 for the 6s, $349 for the 6 Plus, $399 for the 6s Plus, $479 for the 7, $599 for the 7 Plus, and the refurbished iPhone 8 price in Australia starts at 369 AUD. Samsung and Apple had tough competition with its Galaxy S10.

What We Learned

The huge gap in price points between new and older units made earlier releases a more attractive option for users. Save for the processor, these devices are packing the same build quality and OS support. Because of this, customers are going for the next viable option that offers the same quality, but with a much more accessible and friendly price tag. Check out our other blog where we discuss Refurbished Unlocked iPhones.