[masklinn]

> iPhones where historically really expensive devices.

No. Smartphones are historically really expensive devices. Year before the iPhone was released, I had a Eseries Nokia phone, it was something like 500€ out of carriers (and few carriers had it, Eseries are enterprise/corporate phones), unsubsidized Nseries phones ("comsumer" smartphones, usually with a 10key and more multimedia features instead of the full qwerty keyboard of Eseries) were the same price.

When the original iPhone was released, it was not expensive, it was unsubsidized.

[rdtsc]

> When the original iPhone was released, it was not expensive, it was unsubsidized.

Which made it 'seem' expensive to an average consumer. Yes, they end up spending that money by being locked into a contract for 2 years, but they at least see it as a cheaper option.