You are on page 1of 2

The iPhone is no exception to the rule that luxury products are a symbol of wealth and status.

It's one of the most sought-after luxury goods available, with a dedicated following of buyers’
eager to shell out top cash. So why do individuals have such a mania for these devices?
Social status, benefit-driven social reasons, adaptive luxury consumption, the desire to
assimilate as opposed to stand out, luxury and social capital, and other factors are all at play.
Let's investigate each of these in greater depth.

Social Status: Owning a luxury item like the iPhone is a means to demonstrate one's riches
and success to others in today's culture, when status is frequently decided by one's material
goods. People frequently work to amass status symbols in an effort to be recognised and
admired by their peers. In modern culture, the iPhone has spread like wildfire, and many
individuals are prepared to pay a premium to own the most recent model. In rising countries
like China, where the emergence of a wealthy middle class has resulted in an increase in
demand for luxury items, the significance of social status is particularly clear. Owning an
iPhone is considered a prestige symbol in China, where many users are willing to pay
substantially more than the retail price because there want to be the first one who own newest
version

Benefits-Driven Social Motives: Although social status plays a significant role in luxury
purchases, customers also value the advantages that these goods provide. Luxury goods like
the iPhone are frequently thought of as having superior build, functionality, and longevity.
Because they believe they are superior to the alternatives, consumers are willing to pay more
for luxury items.In addition to the obvious advantages of possessing a luxury object, such as
the iPhone, there are also psychological advantages. When consumers own luxury products,
they report feeling more capable, self-assured, and content, which can improve their general
wellbeing.

Adaptive Luxury Consumption: The process of modifying one's purchasing patterns to suit
their current situation is known as adaptive luxury consumption. This could entail deciding to
splurge on a luxury item at a time of success or opting to buy a less expensive luxury item
during a time of financial insecurity. An outstanding illustration of adaptive luxury
consumption is the iPhone. When they have the money, customers can choose to buy the
most recent model of the iPhone, but if money is limited, they can choose to buy a less
expensive model or an older model. This enables customers to keep their social standing and
sense of self without going above their means.

Luxury as an Instrument to Assimilate versus Differentiate: Luxury goods can be utilised to


either fit in with the crowd or stand out from it. Customers might decide to buy a high-end
product like the iPhone in order to blend in with a group of tech-savvy people, or they might
choose a special or customised iPhone in order to stand out from the crowd. The preference
for assimilation over differentiation might change based on the person and the situation.
Having the most recent iPhone can help certain customers fit in with their friends and prove
that they are a part of a certain social group. Others use a customised iPhone as a method to
stand out and express their uniqueness.

Luxury and Social Capital: The resources and connections that a person possesses within
their social network are referred to as social capital. By introducing people to others who
share their interests and values, luxury products can be utilised to boost social capital. The
iPhone is a fantastic illustration of a product that can contribute to raising social capital. The
newest iPhone models frequently attract early adopters and tech enthusiasts, and possessing
an iPhone can serve as a point of connection for those who have a similar love for innovation
and technology.

In Conclusion: The extraordinarily high level of demand for luxury items like the iPhone is
influenced by a variety of variables. There are many reasons why people choose to buy
luxury goods, from the desire to flaunt social position and amass status symbols to the
benefits-driven social objectives and the capacity to tailor one's luxury consumption to one's
current circumstances. The desire to fit in or stand out from a group, as well as the chance to
gain more social capital, are additional important factors that influence luxury purchase. In
the end, the attractiveness of upscale products like as

You might also like