Apple cuts 8GB iPhone price to $399

With the new heat the iPhone will be getting from the iPod Touch, Apple decided to lower the barrier of entry to a much more palatable $399, and that's for the 8GB model, which just yesterday was rocking at $599 pricepoint. It also looks like Apple is doing away with the 4GB version, which was seriously lagging behind its big brother in sales, but there's no official word yet.

[musicman @ Sep 5th 2007 2:15PM]

It's still a $400 phone, though a sweet one at that.

[rivlinm @ Sep 5th 2007 2:17PM]

are you really bitching??? THATS 200 DOLLARS!!!!!

[John B @ Sep 5th 2007 2:26PM]

@rivlinm:

You know, you sound like the stereotypical wife/girlfriend. Instead of focusing on the fact that you're still spending $400 on a phone, you're instead acting like, "Well, we were going to buy it anyway. And you should be happy! I bought it **ON SALE**!" So, why shouldn't he bitch? It's still $400 for a PHONE!

Oh, wait... You didn't happen to buy one yet, did you? That would explain a lot.

[Dave @ Sep 5th 2007 2:59PM]

Yeah, it's just a phone, that's all it does is make phone calls. Dork.

[Admiral @ Sep 5th 2007 2:32PM]

@JohnB
Unsubsidized smartphones (with wifi, music playback capabilities, and high storage) costs more than $700. Subsidized smartphones can cost up to $500 - so $400 for an unsubsidized phone is pretty good!

[rivlinm @ Sep 5th 2007 2:33PM]

in fact i bought one in the first week and dont regret it one bit! sure waiting 65ish days would have saved me 200 bucks that i could have given to att, but i love how they cut the price by 1/3 and you still have to say its pricey. this phone isnt and never will be for everyone, but for 400 this is a steal, just look at the ipod touch prices!!!

[jon @ Sep 5th 2007 2:44PM]

Actually, I believe Steve's intention is that the iPhone WILL be for everyone. This is definitely not he cheapest iPhone we will see.

[John B @ Sep 5th 2007 2:44PM]

@Admiral:

We can go round and round with cost/value benefits of various types of technology all we want and still not come to an amicable agreement. However, the simple fact of the matter is that all technology starts out to be expensive, and those who absolutely MUST HAVE the newest technology are the ones who end up paying the most. (And don't you dare deny that a lot of the iPhone purchases were little more than ego trips to have the newest Apple gadget.)

In this case, Steve Jobs dropped the price a lot earlier and steeper than expected. That's true. But the simple fact is that if you absolutely, positively COULD NOT WAIT to buy an iPhone or any new technology, this is the kind of thing that is inevitable. Those who bought it can feel short-changed all they want, but the simple fact is that this is what happens when you feel some primal urge to be on the bleeding edge.

An AMD CPU that I recently bought dropped $160 in price no more than four weeks after I bought it. I didn't go bitching about how I just "lost" $160. This is what happens with technology. As much as I hate using this cliché, it's appropriate: deal with it. Things like this just go with the territory.

[Batwing @ Sep 5th 2007 2:52PM]

I love my iPhone but Apple's lost me as an early adopter. And why the hell is Apple sticking with 4:3 screens on any of their iPods!?! I would love 160gb of space to store my movies and shows on but I'm not buying a square screen device. Bleah. I was expecting to be pumped today. I'm just bummed. And my damn flight is delayed too! Double bleah. So...how you doing?

[ej @ Sep 5th 2007 2:52PM]

That $200 was an "early adopter" tax.

[Andrew @ Sep 5th 2007 3:01PM]

I'm just wondering if Engadget could pump out any more Crapple news.

http://i10.tinypic.com/4uke2ph.jpg

Sony got like 4 stories rolled in to one post, but Crapple gets all 5 breaking news slots? I call BS. As a bonus, they get another 3 of the Featured Stories.

[justin @ Sep 5th 2007 3:31PM]

only 349 for refurb now.

[Xzavier @ Sep 5th 2007 4:12PM]

Damn... not even Bonnie and Clyde could pull of a heist that fast and get away with it! You go Steve!

[js @ Sep 5th 2007 2:16PM]

Those that bought the 8GB model in July: pwnt.

[Homeboy @ Sep 5th 2007 2:26PM]

Word!!!


Steve really f*cked a lot of people in the ass today:


*0.99 ringtone service for songs bought on iTunes.
*iPhone price decrease on the 8GB model
*iPod touch off course which is nothing but a phone-less iPod coming at 299 dollars without an over expensive contract!!!!


iPhone owners must be really pissed at the moment.

What Steve Jobs want to say: I'm Rick James Bitch!!!

[CharlieX @ Sep 5th 2007 2:30PM]

Seriously. I want my $200 back, Steve!!!!! even MS refunded me my 360 warranty repair, and they're the biggest a-holes on the block.

[Luis @ Sep 5th 2007 2:42PM]

Damn, It didn't even last the usual year before a price cut...

[Andrew Stone @ Sep 5th 2007 2:43PM]

AT&T's website says:

Return Policy

AT&T provides a 30 day return and exchange period for devices (phones, accessories, PDAs and other wireless communications instruments). One exchange of a device is allowed per wireless service activation or upgrade, and one exchange of an accessory per purchase.


The 30 day period begins on the date the equipment is purchased from a retail store/agent or the date the equipment was shipped.
AT&T must receive the returned equipment within the 30 day period.

All devices and accessories must be returned to the original point of sale. Customers purchasing via att.com should send returns to the AT&T warehouse...

[John B @ Sep 5th 2007 2:50PM]

@CharlieX:

Wait ... let me get this straight. You want Apple to give you money back because you were unwilling to wait until the eventual price drop? So, you want Apple to give you a refund because you were impatient? Uh huh. Right.

[recurr @ Sep 5th 2007 2:53PM]

http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/iphone-faqs.jsp
Return Policy
Q. Do you have a special return policy for iPhones?
A. Yes. Apple branded equipment is covered by a 14-day return policy and must be returned to the original point of purchase. If the Apple branded equipment is returned unopened and in the original shrink wrapping, it will be refunded back to the original payment method. Opened Apple branded equipment that is returned within 14 days will be subject to a 10% open box restocking fee. All products must be packed in their original, unmarked packaging including any accessories and manuals that shipped with the product.

[recurr @ Sep 5th 2007 2:55PM]

$599 * 10% + $399 = $59.90 + $399 = $458.90

[nathan @ Sep 5th 2007 3:00PM]

I just bought my iPhone 5 days ago, and I called the Apple store and they'll do a price match within 14 days. Whew... $200 out of nowhere! awesome.

[peter1.chapman @ Sep 5th 2007 5:55PM]

"Those that bought the 8GB model in July: pwnt"
THAT'S NOT FUNNY!

Ah, no, sorry, you got it right, that is funny! way to put up with all the bugs and waiting for it to be cracked rather than waiting for the price job and it to be properly opened up and decent apps become available. I will now be ordering one off ebay after this price break has filtered through ready to crack for use in the UK.

[ekwmin @ Sep 5th 2007 3:59PM]

C'mon you can't tell me that you didn't think that the price would come down by the holidays. Whenever you're the first to buy anything like this expect to pay PENETRATION price. You're helping them recoup R&D costs.

[JugoGoya @ Sep 5th 2007 2:16PM]

Waozers. I'am so glad, I've waited. So that means that the refurbished should be 299. Yikesssssss. Keep the news coming engadget.

[AlexP @ Sep 5th 2007 2:17PM]

Current iPhone owners, start bitching!

iPod Touch fails, IMO... And so does the new color palette... I don't know, I just don't dig the new iPods as much as I dug the second generation Nano.

[NaeemTHM @ Sep 5th 2007 2:19PM]

I...I can't describe the anger. I bought mine 3 weeks ago.

WHAT THE FUCK?!

[David McGraw @ Sep 5th 2007 2:29PM]

And you still have time to return that bitch, don't you?

[Jason Carroll @ Sep 5th 2007 3:00PM]

I just got off the phone with AT&T where I bought the phone. Per Apple's regulation, there is a 14 day return policy. I am on DAY 15!!! Seriously...day 15. I might shoot myself in the face...it was nice knowing you all.

[John B @ Sep 5th 2007 3:12PM]

@NaeemTHM:

Who are you pissed at: Apple for bringing the inevitable price drop sooner and deeper than was expected, or yourself for not being able to wait until the inevitable price drop to purchase one?

Technology prices drop. That's not an "if"; that's a "when". You know damned well that early adopters have always and will always be the ones to get hit the hardest at any price drop, yet you bought an iPhone anyway. So why exactly are you angry for buying an iPhone when you were fully aware that its price would eventually drop?

[jessy @ Sep 5th 2007 5:03PM]

@Jason Carroll


"I might shoot myself in the face"


let us know how that goes.

[Alan Partridge @ Sep 5th 2007 2:17PM]

Wow I'd be pissed if I bought one recently, or ever

[djgadjet26 @ Sep 5th 2007 2:17PM]

wow, if I had an iphone I'd be PISSED!!!!

[Concura @ Sep 5th 2007 2:17PM]

glad i waited!

[Levi G @ Sep 5th 2007 2:17PM]

do any of you early adopters of the iPhone feel a little bit shafted now?

[Tyk @ Sep 5th 2007 2:17PM]

AHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAAHHAAA!!!

Steve Jobs to you: F*ck you early adopters!

Cha-CHING!!


LMAO!

[Jacob Magnusson @ Sep 5th 2007 2:17PM]

How typical, I just bought one a few days ago...

[AlexP @ Sep 5th 2007 2:19PM]

You should be able to get part of your money back, if that's truly the case.

[LiQuiD_FuSioN @ Sep 5th 2007 2:21PM]

Can't you just take the receipt and get the $200 cash back?

I'd rather get an iPhone over the new iPod Touch now. It has tons more features, anyway. I guess it pays to wait, eh? ;)

[SKI @ Sep 5th 2007 2:30PM]

"I'd rather get an iPhone over the new iPod Touch now. It has tons more features, anyway."

What does the iPhone have over the iPod Touch other then being a phone?

[jakep_82 @ Sep 5th 2007 2:49PM]

"What does the iPhone have over the iPod Touch other then being a phone?"

How about a camera and bluetooth.

[Matt @ Sep 5th 2007 3:21PM]

yeah, and it still doesn't have 3G or a GPS... ZING!

[Fredsterific @ Sep 5th 2007 2:18PM]

any chance that they'll lower the refurb iphone as well?

[hello @ Sep 5th 2007 2:19PM]

H?ahahahahahaha

[Jason @ Sep 5th 2007 2:19PM]

This is way bigger news than Touchy Feely iPods.

I guess those rumors about the $300+ profit margin on the iPhones were true!

[ml12 @ Sep 5th 2007 3:17PM]

Yeah, what happens if you return one you just bought for $600?? And what is the length of the return period? 1 month?

[eEric @ Sep 5th 2007 2:19PM]

Wow, they are going to crush the competition. I paid $599 on launch day, and don't care that it's cheaper now. I've loved every minute of ownership. The market share is going to explode. Time to buy more AAPL!

[h0mi @ Sep 5th 2007 2:19PM]

holy shit... does this mean 4gb is $299?

[Mike @ Sep 5th 2007 6:21PM]

Well put! I've had two months to enjoy my iPhone.

To all the jealous pr!cks out there: TFSU!!! Have fun with your RAZR, KRAZR, E95 bricks, snore-o-bore-o phones.

[Ben Nolen @ Sep 5th 2007 2:23PM]

No, it means you can't read.

"It also looks like Apple is doing away with the 4GB version, which was seriously lagging behind its big brother in sales."