Apple retains fragmenting the iPhone as a result of it pays

To start with, there was the OG iPhone approach again within the 2007 fiscal yr, and it appeared as Apple’s sole handset warrior all the best way to the iPhone 5 in 2012. Then it was joined by the primary iPhone 6 Plus mannequin with bigger display screen in 2013.

Apple fragments the iPhone franchise

Nonetheless, it was a harbinger of the fragmentation to come back for Apple’s telephones. Not solely did the lowly iPhone 14 and 14 Plus include sluggish screens and worse cameras, but additionally with final yr’s processors. This was one thing exceptional within the Apple realm, the place followers had been used to get the most recent and biggest processor annually with each new iPhone, even the tiny 13 mini which was powered by the identical chipset because the mighty Professional Max model.

Apple Intelligence will fragment the iPhone even additional

Apparently sufficient, even the arrival of the iPhone 16 collection might not change that, regardless of the rumor that the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus might be powered by an Apple A18 chipset identical to their dearer Professional siblings.

– Ming Chi-Kuo, Analyst, Medium, June ’24

Not the processing energy, as a result of the M1 chip on which Apple Intelligence will run is slower than the 17 TOPS of the A16 within the iPhone 15. The gadgets with the M1 chip, nonetheless, in addition to these with the A17 Professional within the iPhone 15 Professional and 15 Professional Max, include at the very least 8GB RAM.

We aren’t holding our breath that Apple will splurge on the iPhone 16 with its sluggish show and paltry twin digital camera, to equip it with 8GB RAM. It could shock us, however to date Apple has been very stingy with the specs of its cheaper iPhones. Except it raises the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus costs, in fact, then Apple Intelligence may have finished its fragmentation function even higher.

Apple fragments the iPhone for revenue

The truth that Apple’s relentless iPhone fragmentation spree will solely improve with the iPhone 16 collection, every of whose 4 members won’t solely differ by specs, worth, and software program options, but additionally now by display screen dimension for the primary time, comes to point out that the technique works.

Apple is setting its iPhones to date other than one another as a result of this method is bearing fruit, and individuals are more and more shopping for the most costly iPhones whereas scoffing on the cheaper fashions.

By now, it has develop into clear that Apple will proceed fragmenting its iPhones to nudge folks in direction of its most costly tiers, just because it really works. 

Fragmentation paid off, and the exclusivity of Apple Intelligence will solely exacerbate that development to squeeze additional income from the iPhone’s already document common promoting worth.