The iPhone 14 Plus faced a challenging market reception due to its price point and the proximity of strong rivals. Analytics commentary from DigitalTrends, attributed to Michael Ellison, highlights this model as one of 2022’s notable tech missteps. The analysis frames the Plus as a device whose high price created a narrow window for buyers, especially when competing devices offered similar capabilities at lower costs.
<pAt $899, the iPhone 14 Plus sat at a premium level by Apple standards. Yet in the retail lineup, it sat beside the iPhone 13 Pro Max, a model with comparable display size and capabilities but at a lower price. This proximity amplified concerns that potential buyers could either opt for the older, proven option or choose a more capable basic alternative, diminishing the Plus’s perceived value.
<pThe price differential between the iPhone 14 Plus and the higher-end 14 Pro Max further complicated purchasing decisions. Ellison notes that when customers are spending in the $900 range, a margin of a hundred dollars or so rarely softens the decision, given the incremental improvements offered by the more expensive model. In other words, the perceived benefits of upgrading to the Pro Max often outweighed the cost gap for many shoppers.
<pA second major factor contributing to the Plus’s struggles was fierce competition. As the 14 Plus entered the market, the Google Pixel 7 Pro launched, and DigitalTrends reports that it outperforms the Plus across multiple metrics while also delivering better value. This shift intensified scrutiny of Apple’s pricing strategy and feature set in a crowded premium segment.
<pIndustry observers, including Ian Strijak, deputy director of analytics at Counterpoint Research, weighed in on the device’s fate. Strijak suggested to DigitalTrends that the 14 Plus landed in a buyer’s blind spot: pricing that felt steep for what were viewed as only modest generational gains. Shoppers who were willing to spend a premium often preferred the iPhone 14 Pro or Pro Max, while those seeking savings were more likely to gravitate toward the standard iPhone 14. This split in consumer focus contributed to mixed demand for the Plus, underscoring a broader pattern in premium smartphone markets.
<pForecasts for 2023 remained cautious. Ellison predicted that the Plus would struggle to recover momentum in a tightening economic climate that encouraged price-conscious choices among buyers. The expectation was that many potential purchasers would cycle back to earlier-generation iPhones such as the iPhone 11, 12, or 13 Pro Max when price incentives and ongoing deals made those devices more attractive as long-term value plays. The narrative suggested that the Plus might fade from the mainstream conversation as consumer attention leaned toward more affordable or more compelling options within Apple’s own lineup.
<pHistorically, Apple’s past flagship introductions have reshaped the company’s product ecosystem. The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, for example, became pivotal in establishing Apple as a leader in large-screen devices, a trend that later models continued. The evaluation of the iPhone 14 Plus thus sits within a wider context of how Apple positions its non-pro models against both newer iterations and strong competitors in a rapidly evolving market.