[radialstub]

> Of course, like literally every other time this has played out in computing history, the companies focused on price performance will end up with more economic resources, and get to turn the upgrade crank more often and for longer.

The iphone is the best selling computing device in history and is among the most expensive in its category.

[palata]

Most smartphones being sold are Android, though.

[radialstub]

True, however apple makes the overwhelming majority of the profit in the smartphone market.

[tancop]

profit only matters for investors. if anything its a sign that apple is selling overpriced products and underpaying workers and you should avoid them.

[dietr1ch]

For most people Apple's main selling point is about showing off the cute devices and battery life, but that's not going to play a role when users are free to choose the tool that will call the models.

[swingboy]

You might be vastly overestimating what a majority of phone owners use their phone for.

[rootusrootus]

I’ve never seen anyone show off an iPhone. What a weird take.

[dietr1ch]

I was talking more about laptops, but haven't you seen people sms bubble colour-shaming?

[coldtea]

That Apple serves as a "Veblen goods" lifestyle brand is well established. Your amusement is what's weird.

Of course people show off their iPhone. It's a big reason of owing one, it's also a big reason behind slight/major redesigns (people are able to show they have the latest model).

Perhaps you take "show off" literally, like someone going "hey, look, I have an expensive phone"?

It's way more subtle than that, only someone totally crash would do it that way. It's done the same way people buy expensive sneakers and clothes, or how people buy Teslas (or used to) and similar stuff. As a consumer identity that signals you afford a higher cost lifestyle.

[1over137]

Really? What country are you in?

[hedora]

It's also one of the better performing. Is the value line (currently, the 17e, I guess) typically much more expensive than an android with comparable battery life, CPU performance, and OS support lifespan?

This year, things look pretty comparable according to this shopping guide. You can get slightly worse or last year's line for about $100 less, or something with comparable specs (some better, some worse) for about the same price:

https://www.androidcentral.com/phones/apple-iphone/4-android...

The thing with price/performance is that it doesn't dictate high end or low end. It just says you need to be competitive at some price points.