Apple fans eagerly waiting for the 10th anniversary iPhone 8 will have to shell out more than $1,000 for the device. The Cupertino company is going to justify that price tag with a radical new design, wireless charging, OLED display, facial recognition, augmented reality, and no physical home button. But how would you justify a $1,899 price tag for the iPhone 7 Plus? Give it a retro feel to drive nostalgia.
Would you pay a $930 premium for the iPhone 7 Plus Retro Edition?
Folks at ColorWare have introduced a Retro Edition iPhone 7 Plus that is going to set you back by $1,899. ColorWare has given the iPhone 7 Plus a makeover to make it look like a vintage Macintosh from the 1980s. ColorWare has transformed the iconic Apple logo into a multi-color retro rainbow logo. You can also see dark beige stripes on the edges that turn the device into “a work of art.”
They took a black color iPhone 7 Plus and gave it a slightly beige finish. It’s an SIM-free, 256GB iPhone 7 Plus that retails for $969 in the US. It means ColorWare is charging users an additional $930 for the custom paint job. The company will start shipping the Retro Edition devices in 2-3 weeks, including for international customers. It offers a 12-month warranty against any defects.
It’s for the fans of vintage Apple products
ColorWare said it was running the Retro Edition only for a limited time. The first 25 units sold would feature “a number of authenticity.” The box includes a Lightning to USB cable, EarPods, a USB Power Adapter, and documentation. Describing the process of customization, ColorWare says the product goes through disassembly, cleaning, masking, painting, and inspection. The phone then goes through the final inspection before packaging.
When Apple launched the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus in September last year, buyers went crazy for the Jet Black color variant despite Apple’s warning that it was prone to scratching. But if you are a fan of vintage Apple products, you may want to buy the Retro Edition that you won’t find in Apple stores. ColorWare specializes in customizing the color and look of gadgets.
Just a few weeks ago, ColorWare had started offering the AirPods in as many as 58 color options. It was priced at $289, which is a $130 premium over the standard price of AirPods.
iPhone 7 dominating major markets
Despite the lack of major design changes, the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus have been selling well in most markets. Research firm Kantar Wordpanel said earlier this week that strong iPhone 7 sales boosted iOS’ share in the US market to 42% in the November-January quarter from 39.1% in the same period a year ago. The share of Android declined from 58.2% to 56.4% in the same period. The iOS gained market share in almost all markets except Spain, Urban China, and Japan.
