Yet the average selling price for phones actually rose 5% last year, according to one estimate.
These two rivals have a lot in common. Between them they command around 40% of the industry, by units, and posted narrower declines last year than the rest. It’s no coincidence that they also dominate the premium segment. Apple’s cheapest offering, the iPhone SE2, retails at US$429 : its lowest price point is still higher than where most others dare venture.
But we ought not forget that with models costing as much as US$1,599 apiece – more than the gross domestic product per capita of the world’s poorest 35 nations – the iPhone 14 is about as opulent as you can get. For a mere US$1,199 , the Galaxy S22 Ultra may lack the gimmicky clamshell but does boast an unfathomable 108MP wide angle camera.