Article 2 (Dec 2020): Smartphone prices rise buyers retreat

The Apple iPhone remains beloved among smartphones, but some predict the new version will be adored from afar.
              
An estimated 1.5 billion iPhones have been sold since 2009.  With 100 million units alone in the United States, it controls nearly 45 percent of the domestic smartphone market, according to Statista.
              
Its newest offerings, the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro, are also the highest priced smartphones in the company's history--phones begin at $799 for the base model and $999 for the 12 Pro.  The most expensive version, the 12 Pro 512GB, will set consumers back $1,299, according to Engadget.
              
In addition to the high price, the new phone offers fewer accessories than ever--no wired earbuds and no USB charging brick.  Consumers receive a single cable and must purchase all other accessories separately.  According to Gizmodo, these moves come as Apple makes an aggressive bid to cut back on e-waste.
              
According to Business Insider, the newest, most expensive generation of smartphones--including phones from other industry leaders Google and Samsung--are simply too expensive for most consumers.  As prices continue to climb for smartphones, consumers are more likely to hang onto their smartphones for longer before upgrading.