byronl

charlesn said:

We have been here before with the 12 Pro models when new camera tech was available but required the additional room of the Pro Max to implement. I lived with the 12 Pro Max for a year and while I enjoyed the camera system improvements, I hated the form factor. Too big for comfortable carry in a jeans pocket. too much weight when carried in s sport or suit jacket pocket--not too heavy to carry, of course, but you're always aware of the phone anchor you're carrying in one pocket or the other. Thankfully, by the time the 13 Pros launched, this tech has been sufficiently miniaturized that camera systems returned to equal features for both models and I switched to the smaller Pro. 

I'm disappointed that the periscope lens will apparently be a Pro Max only feature this year, but I get it. The iPhone Pro's short optical zoom range is seriously dated at this point among its premium phone competitors and Apple likely had to decide between a Max-only launch this year or waiting another year to launch in both models. If the difference between the Pro models--other than screen and battery size--is limited to the periscope lens, I would be surprised to see an additional price premium on the Pro Max. People always assume higher prices with Apple, but remember that all the rumors were pointing to the Apple Watch Ultra costing "at least" $1,000. That didn't happen even though the Ultra delivered on many premium features. 

I think it would be a huge mistake if Apple were to go further in additional features for the Pro Max model, relegating the regular Pro to "Pro-lite" status. Everyone buying a Pro model wants "the best" iPhone and for most people, the decision between Pro and Pro Max isn't a price issue, it's a form factor issue. I think the $100 upcharge for the Pro Max delivers outstanding value considering the increased screen size and battery life alone--I just don't like the size and weight of that form factor in an everyday carry item. But if the regular Pro becomes ProLite, Apple is going to have a very pissed off and vocal user base on its hands. 

JP234 said:

And why not? Because MicroLED tech is expensive. Witness the FROM $3,499 price for the VisionPro. An Apple Watch with MicroLED would likely price it out of the middle class consumer market, and put it squarely into the luxury watch market.