With the release of the iPhone X in 2017, Apple normalized the price of a smartphone to $1,000.
Seven years later, the basic flagship iPhone 16 Pro is sold for the same money, the dollar has lost* its value by almost 30%, the smartphone has become much more technologically advanced.
This means that it actual value for the end user has dropped significantly, and the model seems to have become more accessible.
Below I’ve looked at two large copies.
1. I found out why powerful modern firmware now costs as much as the less technologically advanced iPhone 6 Plus.
2. And I calculated that a Russian would need less (or more) to buy a top-end smartphone in 2024 compared to the level of development 10 years ago.
*All calculations were carried out on the basis of an open density calculator and courses: 1, 2, 3.
The first $1,000 iPhone cost more than the iPhone 16 Pro Max
I would sell it for that kind of money
Like any other currency, the dollar also changes in value relative to its past performance.
In 2017, when the first $999 iPhone was released, the official prices in the US and Russia were as follows:
iPhone 8 64 GB: $699 (56,990 rubles)
iPhone 8 plus 64 GB: $799 (65,990 rubles)
iPhone x 64 GB: $999 (RUB 79,990).
At that time, the dollar to ruble exchange rate was approximately 58 rubles, and the dollar itself was 28.7% relatively more expensive than itself.
As a result, taking into account the measurement while maintaining the real cost, we would make the following prices:
iPhone 8 64 GB: $899 (112,990 rubles)
iPhone 8 Plus 64 GB: $1028 (128,990 rubles)
iPhone x 64 GB: $1285 (161,990 rubles)
In brackets, the amount is formed in rubles at the current exchange rate, following the logic according to which Apple prices are set: a dollar number in euros plus 20% VAT.
This was close to the value of the iPhone lineup if they came out now.
The question arises, how much would the iPhone 16 line cost if it came out in 2017, taking into account dollar dynamics.
iPhone 16 Pro Max in 2017 would be cheaper than iPhone X
The top-end iPhone has been sold for seven years at the same price (even Max, memory capacity)
Looking at the comparison above, it’s clear that the iPhone 16 was much cheaper in 2017.
If we take the current prices of the current line, we get the following grid:
iPhone 16 128 GB: $829 (86,980 rubles)
iPhone 16 plus 128 GB: $929 (97,980 rubles)
iPhone 16 pro 128 GB: $999 (112,980 rubles)
iPhone 16 pro max 256 GB: $1199 (134,980 rubles)
The minimum amount in rubles for which you can find each model on free sale at the end of December 2024 is indicated in brackets.
Taking into account voltage dollar and ruble relative to themselves in 2017, the models cost:
iPhone 16 128 GB: $644 (54,400 rubles)
iPhone 16 plus 128 GB: $721 (61,300 rubles)
iPhone 16 pro 128 GB: $776 (70,670 rubles)
iPhone 16 pro max 256 GB: $931 (84,430 rubles)
In parentheses I translated rubles for 2024, taking into account the exchange rate of rubles relative to myself. Over seven years it amounted to 59.9%. If you convert dollars into rubles of that time, it would be even cheaper: iPhone 16 would start at 37,500 rubles.
The real cost of the iPhone 8 Plus when it performed better worldwide than the iPhone 16 Pro on its launch day
There are two interesting results here. The iPhone 16 Pro would cost less ($776) than the iPhone 8 Plus once cost ($799), the iPhone 16 Pro Max with 256GB of storage would actually cost less ($931) than the iPhone X with 64GB of storage at the time exit ($999).
At the same time, the cost of components has increased. Apple spent only $357 on the iPhone X package, and $523 on the iPhone 15 Pro.
But I dug a little deeper. Apple rarely changes prices, which means that models from earlier years were even more expensive than the iPhone 8. That’s what the headline concluded.
iPhone 16 Pro costs as much as iPhone 6 Plus
Before the release of the iPhone X, Apple only released two top models every year.
Only they stood at the start and, taking into account the current, they would be asking for them now:
2014 inflation USD 33.3%
iPhone 6 US$649 → $864
iPhone 6 plus US$749 → 998 US dollars
2015 inflation USD 33.1%
iPhone 6s US$649 → $863
iPhone 6s plus US$749 → US$996
2016 inflation USD 31.5%
iPhone 7 US$649 → $853
iPhone 7 plus US$749 → $984
We look only at flagship models, we don’t take variations of the iPhone SE.
2017 inflation USD 28.7%
iPhone 8 US$699 → US$899
iPhone 8 plus US$799 → US$1028
iPhone x US$999 → US$1,2852018 inflation USD 25.6%
iPhone XS US$749 → US$941
iPhone xs US$999 → US$1,255
iPhone xs max US$1099 → US$13802019 inflation USD 23.4%
iPhone 11 US$699 → US$863
iPhone 11 pro US$999 → US$1,233
iPhone 11 pro max US$1099 → US$13562020 inflation USD 21.9%
iPhone 12 mini US$729 → US$889
iPhone 12 $829 → $1010
iPhone 12 pro US$999 → US$1,218
iPhone 12 pro max US$1099 → US$13992021 inflation USD 16.4%
iPhone 13 mini US$729 → US$849
iPhone 13 US$829 → US$965
iPhone 13 pro US$999 → US$1,163
iPhone 13 pro max US$1099 → US$12792022 inflation USD 7.8%
iPhone 14 $829 → $894
iPhone 14 plus 929 USD → 1001 USD
iPhone 14 pro US$999 → US$1077
iPhone 14 pro max $1099 → $11842023 inflation USD 3.5%
iPhone 15 US$829 → US$858
iPhone 15 plus US$929 → US$962
iPhone 15 pro US$999 → US$1034
iPhone 15 pro max US$1,199 → US$1,241.
Here it becomes clear that the grass is actually became greener.
If the price is now $999, we can buy an iPhone 16 Pro in 2014 for the same money Apple sold us an iPhone 6 Plus. At the same time, the equivalent of the same amount could be spent first on the basic iPhone 12, and then on the iPhone 14 Plus.
But the newly launched iPhone 6 was now supposed to cost $864, that is, more than the base iPhone 16 at $829.
Or here’s an interesting fact. In 2024, the iPhone 12 mini will cost $889, very close to the $929 iPhone 16 Plus.
Now let’s get back to the Earth theories and see how real prices in Russia at that time compared to real wages.
What’s in Russia. How many salaries do you need then and now on the new iPhone?
According to SberIndex, in October 2024, the average salary in Russia was 61,602 rubles.
In 2017, it was 28,300 rubles, which, taking into account the dynamics, would be 45,121 rubles in 2024.
In 2014, the average salary in Russia was approximately 25,500 rubles; in 2024 it would be approximately 51,320 rubles.
Very roughly, taking into account and not ignoring other factors, it turns out that real wages in Russia increased by 36.5% over 7 years and by 20% over 10 years (in that order). We can’t talk about purchasing power here; this is a more complex parameter.
Let’s check how our ability to buy a new iPhone has changed at that moment, based on real prices at that time and now:
◆ In 2014, a Russian would have to work on an iPhone 6 Plus in September 1.45 monthsand in December sharply after the price increase already 2.4 months.
◆ In 2017, iPhone X already 2.8 months.
◆ In 2024 you can earn money on iPhone 16 Pro 1.8 months/span>, on iPhone 16 Pro Max for 2.2 months.
As a result, although Apple’s flagships remain expensive, and prices in rubles indicate them, even when they do not change in the United States, iPhones have become more affordable.
Not much, but definitely not more expensive.
◈ Review of iPhone 16 Pro Max. Apple, why are you doing this with this key?
◈ How the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max actually grew compared to other iPhones. Apple fooled everyone again
Source: Iphones RU
I am a professional journalist and content creator with extensive experience writing for news websites. I currently work as an author at Gadget Onus, where I specialize in covering hot news topics. My written pieces have been published on some of the biggest media outlets around the world, including The Guardian and BBC News.
