The Dude Abides
The iphone 14 pro max costs $464 to make and retails for $2000
I think this in particular is a spurious claim to make. First of all, that was for a phone that retails for $1,099.
Second, a bill of materials is not the cost of a device. There’s research and development, user testing, patents to license, logistics, and of course, software development, unless you think all of those things are done for free.
Apple’s actual profit margin is ~25%.
The direct alternatives to Apple products aren’t better in any philosophical way.
I suppose that depends on whether you consider things like Linux and GrapheneOS direct alternatives.
Given that it’s less than 100 feet across and traveling quite fast, I doubt it. But it’s cool to know about.