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Business Insider

Apple has always been known for the steep prices of its products. From phones to computers, tablets to cases, if it’s coming from Apple, it will probably be one of the priciest options available.
This reputation for being expensive has spawned a nickname that has become popular with critics of the company: “Apple tax”.
The thinking went that customers were willing to pay more to have the famous Apple logo adorn their products.
It seemed that Apple may have been moving away from that image, when its Apple Watch and AirPods were being sold at more affordable prices.
However, its newest line of iPhones cost more than US$1,000, bringing back the idea that Apple is becoming a luxury brand once again.
Check out the 19 most expensive products that Apple has ever offered.
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19. Apple III (1981) – US$3,815

The Apple III provided an update to the company’s lucrative Apple II line of computers.
It was advertised as being twice as fast as – and having twice the memory of – its predecessor.
The Apple III sold for US$3,815 with the monitor included.
This line of computers was discontinued in 1984, with only 65,000 units sold in total.
18. Macintosh XL (1984) – US$3,995

The Macintosh XL was first named the Lisa 2/10, because it borrowed much of the technologies from the Lisa computer.
Yet when it went on sale, the Mac XL was branded as the “first high-end Macintosh”.
The Macintosh XL was made available as a free upgrade to owners of the first-generation Lisa, but those who didn't own a Lisa model paid up to US$3,995 for the Macintosh XL.
17. Macintosh SE/30 (1989) – US$4,900

The SE/30 was the second generation of Mac's compact computers, providing a smaller version of the Mac IIx, but with more power. With a hard drive, the SE/30 cost US$4,900.
It was discontinued in October 1990.
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16. Macintosh IIcx (1989) – US$5,369

This Mac IIcx was a successor to the Mac IIx model, except the IIcx was smaller than the previous model.
The IIcx had a modular design so the Mac could be more easily manufactured and put together, which Apple executive Jean-Louis Gassée showed by assembling one live on stage.
At the time the Mac IIcx cost US$5,369.
15. Macintosh II (1987) – US$5,498

The Mac II was actually the first Apple computer with a modular design. It was also the first Mac offering colour, which could be added using a graphics card.
Although the version running a floppy disk system was lower in price at US$3,898, the Mac II with a 40 MB hard drive cost US$5,498.
14. PowerBook G3 (1997) – US$5,699

Nicknamed “Kanga”, this portable computer helped to launch several generations of G3s to come (such as the Wallstreet and Pismo models).
It was only on the market for six months before it was replaced by its more powerful successors.
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13. Macintosh Quadra 700 (1991) – US$5,700

The Quadra 700 was the first Apple computer to be housed in a tower-like, vertical-situated case.
Before, Apple’s computers had stuck to a form where the computer would be positioned as a base for the monitor to stand on.
The new-and-improved desktop model cost US$5,700 when it was first sold.
12. PowerBook 3400c (1997) – US$6,500

At the time of release, the PowerBook 3400c was advertised as the world's “fastest notebook computer”.
Its speed was comparable to some of the desktop Mac computers at the time, which was a rarity.
The PowerBook 3400c cost US$6,500 fully loaded.
11. Apple LaserWriter (1985) – US$6,995

The attraction of the Apple LaserWriter was that it could be shared by more than a dozen Macintosh computers.
This ability made the US$7,000 price tag – nearly US$16,000 today – a bit easier to accept for businesses that ran on Macintosh.
The LaserWriter was one of the very first laser printers available on the mass-market, and it helped usher in the desktop publishing revolution.
Still, though, it was a really expensive printer.
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10. Mac Pro (2013) – US$6,999

As we wait for Apple to unveil its new Mac Pro in 2019, the model currently being sold is from 2013. Still, the Mac Pro is a powerful workstation designed for creatives that need professional video and photo editing.
The Mac Pro starts at US$2,999, but maxing out its built-in features – a 12-core processor, 64GB of memory, 1TB of storage – will cost you US$6,999.
9. MacBook Pro (2016) – US$7,049

The MacBook Pro is a super high-powered, high-performance laptop that can run complex photo and video editing software.
Instead of a row of function keys, the keyboard has a Touch Bar so you can control certain apps right from there.
Selecting the bigger 15-inch model, and picking the best customisable features – 2.9GHz processor, 4TB of storage, 32GB of memory, Vega 20 graphics – will cost you US$7,049.
8. Macintosh Portable (1989) – US$7,300

In September 1989, Apple unveiled its first “portable” computer: the world “portable” is in quotes because although the computer wasn't connected to the wall by a cord, it still weighed a back-breaking 16 pounds (7kg).
For the privilege of being able to lug around this machine, the company asked only that you write it a cheque for US$7,300 – about US$14,300 today.
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7. Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh (1997) – US$7,499

The Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh – or TAM, as those in the know called it – was a truly unique piece of technology.
It was released in March 1997, but despite not fitting into any Apple product line, it was the prehistoric ancestor of the modern-day iMac, with all the components held in a slim body behind the screen.
What set it apart from the pack was that it was significantly more expensive than any other Apple offering at the time.
The TAM cost US$7,500, which would be about US$11,200 today.
However, in a little less than a year, the price got slashed to US$1,995 to clear stock. When the TAM was finally sold out, it was discontinued.
6. Macintosh IIci (1989) – US$8,800

The Mac IIci followed the IIcx, providing more power and RAM to the desktop computer.
The design was also a bit sleeker than its predecessor.
With a 40MB hard drive, the IIci cost US$8,800 when it went on sale in 1989.
5. Macintosh IIx (1988) – US$9,369

The IIx came out in 1988 as an update of the original Macintosh II, meaning that this computer powered a colour display as well.
At the time of its release, Apple lauded the IIx as a computer that would “reinforce our position in key business and higher education markets”.
With a 80MB hard drive, this computer cost US$9,369.
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4. Apple Lisa (1983) – US$9,995

If you saw Aaron Sorkin's 2015 biopic Steve Jobs, you'll likely remember the Apple Lisa. Jobs, played by Michael Fassbender, spends most of the film saying the computer wasn't named after his daughter Lisa, until he finally admits it was.
What the film doesn't spend too much time on is the fact that the Lisa cost US$9,995 in 1985. For those keeping score, that means the Lisa would cost just over US$24,000 today, after inflation.
For that price, buyers in 1985 were getting a true technical pioneer – the Lisa was the first mouse-operated computer to have a graphical user interface system.
3. Macintosh IIfx (1990) – US$12,000

By the time the IIfx was released in 1990, Apple had been making computers for 14 years and had sold 15 different models before this one.
Apple marketed the computer as an ultra-fast system that could make an impact in the “workplace market”, but the IIfx lagged behind other PC computers in existence at the time.
Its intention to be a computer for the workplace led Apple to price the IIfx at US$9,780, running upwards to US$12,000.
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2. iMac Pro (2017) – US$13,199

Apple's most expensive computer is aimed at those who need huge amounts of computing power – such as audio and video editors, and software developers.
The iMac Pro with its default configurations is already impressive, and costs US$4,999. But maxing out the computer’s upgraded features will put the iMac Pro at US$13,199.
1. Apple Watch Edition (2015) – US$17,000

The Apple Watch hit stores in 2015 with the somewhat reasonable price of US$349 for the baseline model.
Watch collectors, however, are not usually known for paying somewhat reasonable prices for things: a nice watch is as much a statement piece as it is a time-telling device.
Apple was more than happy to scratch that itch for collectors, announcing a version of the Apple Watch, called “Edition”.
The price started at US$10,000 for a watch with rose gold casing, and went as high as US$17,000 for one that came with an 18-carat yellow or rose gold case and clasps.
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It soon became apparent to Apple that most people – other than Beyoncé – had no interest in a smartwatch that cost as much as a car.
By the time the Apple Watch Series 2 rolled around, the Apple Watch Edition was given a ceramic casing, was being marketed as a fitness device rather than a style piece, and topped out at US$1,300. Apple discontinued the Edition altogether last autumn.
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This article originally appeared on  Business Insider .


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Check out the computers, watch and laser printer whose high prices helped the electronics giant gain the nickname ‘Apple tax’



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