> It always surprises me when Apple is described that way
I realized this was true when I noticed low wage workers (McDonalds/Dunkin Donuts drive thru staff) on their iPhones and with their Apple Watches on their wrists, folks making right around minimum wage. You might not be able to afford a starter home, or a nice vehicle, or your student loans, but by god all of us could afford an iPhone on a 24 month payment plan (~$20-30/month).
I doubt that's why. They were able to get one.for what felt like cheap by signing a contract. People who don't have money generally don't buy Macs. You can get 5 Dell notebooks for the price of a single $999 macbookair. Of course I'd by the air but I know plenty of working class people that wouldn't dream of spending 5x on a notebook PC which they will basically only use to browse the net, watch YouTube and shop on amazon
It is not an oxymoron. An item can be simultaneously seen as "affordable" and "luxurious". Since it's just a phone, anyone can save up enough money given enough time and/or external sources of money (e.g. parents), but that doesn't mean it's cheap (not luxurious) - "cheap luxury" would make an oxymoron, but this is merely "affordable".
> It always surprises me when Apple is described that way
I realized this was true when I noticed low wage workers (McDonalds/Dunkin Donuts drive thru staff) on their iPhones and with their Apple Watches on their wrists, folks making right around minimum wage. You might not be able to afford a starter home, or a nice vehicle, or your student loans, but by god all of us could afford an iPhone on a 24 month payment plan (~$20-30/month).
Apple's marketing and brand is invaluable.