When a phone costs north of 1000USD something is terribly wrong. 99% of "modern" phone use is basically (doom) scrolling, browsing the web, using core apps (like maps) for directions, taking pictures and finally communicating with whatsapp and making the odd/rare old school phone call.

This should not require spending 1000-1500USD on a phone.

Im doing all of the above with a iPhone SE for what i paid like 300-350USD for.

Second hand phones are even cheaper, just change the battery and you are good to go.

Okay, if your use case doesn’t require it, then don’t buy it…? You aren’t the only person in the world and some people might actually make use of this phone’s features(?)

You can hate Apple for it, but the phone costs $1000+ because people will buy it. Apple has been proven right year after year since 2017 (iPhone X)

You can still do everything you mentioned on a $150 phone, which exists in parts of the world. If anything, one could complain that the $150 phone still takes pictures worse than an iPhone 5

As you point out, it doesn't require it.

Your comment is like complaining about luxury handbags when cheap ones exist too.

I don't know what you're suggesting. Companies shouldn't make expensive versions of things even when there are consumers who want to buy them?

You should also realize that it's people buying the expensive versions of things that helps subsidize the cheaper ones made by the same company. And it's the quality Apple is providing that even makes a secondhand market viable, because their devices last much more than other brands.

In Turkey, iPhone Pro 17 costs $2,610, yet there are still queues outside Apple stores. Considering that the average income is much lower than in the United States, people are still willing to pay more for this phone than you might expect.

People pay for how they look (which is fine) not what they do.

im on an SE too and i have no idea what ill buy when this phone dies… i would rather buy an android than get a 16e

Recession indicator handset