Apple will smile as mid-range Android prices climb

Another reason the future seems brighter for iPhone than Android is coming into view, and ironically something some describe as a strength for Google’s OS. You see, with an eye on AI, Google’s Android 15 update effectively demands at least 32GB storage inside new smartphones. 

Now that doesn’t sound like a huge amount given even the iPhone 17e ships with a basic 256GB for just $599. But many Androids offer far less space than that and the economics for low end manufacturers is both highly competitive and price sensitive. Someone’s going to have to pay for that storage, and that someone will be the customer.

The thing is, this isn’t the only component driven price increase to look forward too. Memory costs are also spiralling, and those hikes will also hit Android, most particularly at the low- and mid-range of the market. 

Both these factors mean low cost $200 Android devices, such as the Samsung Galaxy A15 5G, are likely to increase prices so they reach $300 and beyond, leaving a much slimmer margins between those lower value devices and the temptation of a $599 iPhone 17e. The latter, of course, is a much better device with whistles and bells the low cost Androids, at least, the ones likely to see these price bumps, cannot match. 

That’s just how it’s going to be.

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