White iPhone "Mystique" Will Drive Sales

Nearly a year after it was promised, the white iPhone 4, that rarest of handsets, is finally headed to market, perhaps as soon as this week. Will its arrival have any material impact on sales?

Analysts seem to think it will, though it’s nearly a year old and identical in everything but color to the black iPhone 4 that has been widely available for quite some time. The theory is that the white iPhone 4 carries a certain scarcity value that will catalyze sales and drive incremental demand.

“In our view, the purchase of consumer electronic devices is not always a completely rational decision, and people buy Apple products for many different reasons, including status, aesthetics, functionality, quality and the ‘cool factor,’” says Ticonderoga analyst Brian White. “The delayed launch of a white iPhone has created a certain mystique around the product, and we believe certain demographics will find the product appealing. As such, we expect incremental iPhone 4 purchases due to this launch, driven by replacements, upgrades and/or new iPhone 4 purchases.”

An interesting argument, particularly in light of rumors of a fall iPhone 5 launch. Question is, if you’ve held out this long for a white iPhone 4, why not wait a few months more and buy a white iPhone 5?

PREVIOUSLY

QOTD: Just in Time For iPhone 5 …

Apple: No White iPhones ‘Til Spring

Steve Specifically Asked for Snowfall White and They Came Back Navajo White

What Happened to the White iPhone 4?

[Image credit: Floptech via MacRumors]

http://www.youtube.com/dfmediainc Triny D

Hard to believe a white iPhone will have any significant impact, the white bevel is quite distracting at least on iPad 2. The only reason I want a white iPhone along with my black one is because I’m somewhat fanboyish.
Anonymous

You may remember the posts by people who bought an iPad just before the “2″ came out. Other than fanbois and fangurlz in the investing community, not that many people actually read this stuff. Given that the i5 seems to be delayed till the Fall, this will surely find buyers who are not so likely to feel abused by the product cycle. Unless you are traveling overseas this year, or are affected by the antenna problem, it just may not turn out to be that big of a deal. (Heck, I’m writing this on an old iPad and feel no
need to throw it away for the latest version.)
demodave

“Question is, if you’ve held out this long for a white iPhone 4, why not wait a few months more and buy a white iPhone 5?”

The answer to tha question may be “How well is the iPhone 3GS selling at its new, lower price now that the iPhone 4 is out there?” (As an investor, I’m certainly curious about that.)

Of course, the impact of an iPhone “5″ or “4S” on the sales of a white iPhone 4 is completely immaterial until *both* a white iPhone 4 *and* a next-generation iPhone exist. So far, we ahven’t really seen *either one*. :D
Anonymous

> why not wait

Even if you know a new iPhone is coming in September, which most users don’t, that is still 5 months away. Is 5 more months of an iPhone 3G that is out of contract really worth it? That’s a whole summer of blurry photos, no multitasking, no Retina, slow performance, and likely your battery is not that great anymore, either. And the whole time you are paying a hardware charge on your bill that your carrier is just keeping. Waiting is crazy in technology purchases. The best advice is to just buy a new phone when your contract is up.

Also, for many users, a new color is more exciting than a new processor.
Anonymous

The iOS devices have 2 year working lives. The iPad 2 is meant for people who do not have an iPad. If you already have an original iPad, the iPad 3 will be a no-brainer upgrade.

The release of the white iPhone 4 is a great opportunity for people who have white iPhone 3G to get about 20 amazing new features.
Anonymous

I know I am going to buy one, for sure.

http://www.how-to-be-anon.at.tc
http://blog.macb.net macbeach

Can the fire-engine red “Aid for Japan” version be far behind?

Apple is so predictable (as are its fans).

White iPhone "Mystique" Will Drive Sales

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