Haha... this conversation on Apple again.
Well, it is a fact that Apple delivers top-notch quality with their products. But the question for me is, "How much value can they really add (or be adding) within quite short time intervals?"
I mean, we all know there's this discovery curve where the rate of discovery implementation in tech will decrease with time. There will only be drastic changes when big discoveries are made. An example would be the LIDAR technology in the newer iPhones. The LIDAR scanner embedded with their cameras helps improve the cameras' range. This helps a whole lot with AR (Augmented Reality).
Now, with no big changes to implement, why the extravagant pricing?
I just wonder for what purpose a mobile phone should be worth so much. In the end, like you have expounded, people may just be getting them for external validation.
It's everyone that goes for the new iPhone that would do so for "validation." Some may just be tech enthusiasts. I am also a tech enthusiast. But if I really do not see the "use-case" for the iPhone 14 (if I can actually afford one), I may as well just skip it. They are only bringing in features that are already available on other brands of phones anyway.
These features aren't groundbreaking. The LIDAR technology for instance only improves the aspect of photography and nothing else really. If I want better photography I could just buy a DSLR. While these techs are good for advancement, I just feel that it takes too much money. One cannot pay beyond value they're getting irrespective of the durability, there's going to be an elasticity limit at one point in time.
Well, there will always be the conversation on Apple and this is because it's always in the limelight for one reason or another. The last time it was software vs hardware. This time, it's essentially the value it has to offer.