The iPhone 17e and iPad Air with M4 cost the same as last year. Somehow, that’s a victory.
The iPhone 16e was an alright deal for a mid-range phone. The iPhone 17e is a much better buy, and not just because of a few upgrades.Apple is winning with its latest gadgets over the competition by doing the bare minimum.
On Monday, the tech giant dropped its first details about its new. One thing about both announcements stuck out—mostly because Apple rarely remarks on price. Each new device was “the same starting price” as last year’s model.. This time, it comes with more base storage—256GB instead of 128GB. It packs in a few extra upgrades as well, including MagSafe charging and improved wireless and cellular connectivity. The M4 iPad Air has an upgraded chipset and improved connectivity chips for the same $600 starting price as the. It has the same starting 128GB storage and 12GB of unified memory. While the inclusion of MagSafe on the iPhone 17e is very welcome, it’s the additional base storage for the same price that was truly unexpected. © Apple In any other year, these relatively minor refreshes would feel more blasé. The iPhone 17e still has relatively large screen bezels, a 60Hz refresh rate screen, and a camera notch rather than the newer Dynamic Island. However, with the cost of memory and flash storage spiking across the board, tech companies have largely inflated prices of their gear. Laptops especially took a hit. I’ve seen devices from, and more companies besides drive up prices compared to previous laptop models from past years. Apple is making it clear it’s not changing its pricing structure just yet despite the ballooning cost of DRAM and SSDs . When you compare the iPhone 17e to Google’s latest midrange phone, the difference is even more striking. Gizmodo went hands-on withwas the reduced camera bump. The Pixel 10a uses the same Tensor G4 chip and features some minor software features first introduced in the. The new phone costs $500, the same as last year’s model. You can find a Pixel 9a for cheaper in 2026., they don’t seem like the kind of major upgrades that demand a markup. Google and Samsung have made their respective choices. Either they hike prices, or they keep the hardware virtually the same.The iPad Air with M4 is a basic refresh of the M3 iPad Air from 2025. © Apple Apple is making a statement. It’s proclaiming its intent to keep prices the same as before the start of 2026, despite the mess of global RAM costs. The major memory manufacturers Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix have all dedicated nearly all of their semiconductor manufacturing to piecing together the high-end memory needed for. Just half a year ago, RAM was one of the cheaper components that went into any computing device, whether it was a phone or a PC. Now, major tech companies are practically begging the top three memory makers for any and all RAM allocation. It’s clear based on Samsung’s latest phone price hikes that its mobile division can’t secure any better deal despite living under the same proverbial roof as its semiconductor arm.reported Apple agreed to a 100% increase in RAM prices from Samsung for its iPhone 17 series. However, Samsung laterthose claims, telling several outlets the report was “baseless and not true.” DealSite later amended its story to remove any mention of Apple. Either Apple has managed to mitigate the RAM crunch at the start of this year, or it’s eating the cost. Apple normally relies on its higher-end devices to make up losses from its more affordable offerings. The tenor may change later in the year when Apple finally offers details of its It feels like we’re in topsy-turvy land. It’s not as if Apple is making things affordable. The company’s devices have never been cheap. Now, suddenly, PCs, phones, and laptops are inching closer to Apple’s baseline costs while the Tim Cook-led company is keeping prices steady. Apple normally makes customers pay through the nose for RAM upgrades for its devices. Now, practically every other tech firm is forced to do the same. It seems like the term “value” now translates to not hiking prices through the roof.If You’re More Google Than Samsung, the Pixel 10 Series Now Comes With a Year of Unlimited at an All-Time Low From Mint MobileThis 15.6-Inch Portable Monitor Sets a New Pricing Floor on Amazon, No Need to Wait for Black Friday or Prime DayApple’s iPad Air Gets an M4 Upgrade for the Same Starting PriceApple Reportedly Warns Retail Workers About Deluge of Customers as It Releases Unusually Cheap Gadgets Don't call it a recession indicator, but leaks say Apple is releasing low-end iPhones and MacBooks and expects them to be popular.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Why “just be yourself” might be keeping you stuck.Does “just be yourself” keep you stuck? Learn why authenticity doesn’t mean staying the same, and how personality science supports intentional change.
Read more »
New research explores the impact keeping secrets has on us, for good or ill.We all have secrets, including secrets from ourselves. They are a source of mystery and even excitement. Researchers are now exploring what keeping secrets costs.
Read more »
Rams Rival Losing Ground In Keeping Super Bowl MVP Kenneth WalkerThe Los Angeles Rams have no issue with Kenneth Walker exploring financial opportunities in the AFC
Read more »
Automatic Dog Feeders: A Guide to Keeping Your Canine Companion Well-FedDiscover how automatic dog feeders can simplify your life and ensure your dog eats on a consistent schedule. Explore different types, from gravity-fed to smart feeders, and learn about features, maintenance, and selecting the best option for your furry friend.
Read more »
Escondido City Council made the right call in keeping ICE contractWho is better off with less well-trained officers?
Read more »
Steph Curry's Knee Injury: Unpredictable and Keeping Him Out LongerStephen Curry provides an update on his knee injury, describing it as 'unpredictable' and indicating a longer recovery period. He has been out for ten games with runner's knee and is still not cleared to return to practice, impacting the Warriors' performance and playoff hopes.
Read more »