Your Next Phone Will Probably Cost You $1,000

When U.S. wireless carriers started winding down their heavy smartphone subsidies a few years back, many Americans kicked the new-model-every-two-years habit that had become routine early in the iPhone era. Those who didn’t have had to accept prices ticking slowly higher as Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. try to outdo one another with cooler features. But both companies have been loath to cross one price barrier in particular—until now.

On Tuesday, Apple Inc. will introduce its latest top-of-the-line iPhone, and even the cheapest model is expected to cost about $1,000. A few days later, Samsung’s Galaxy Note 8 goes on sale for a comparable amount. The iPhone is expected to be made from glass and stainless steel, while the Note has an exceptionally large, bright screen with a metal-and-glass case. New features for the iPhone will include upgraded cameras and the ability to unlock your phone with a 3D scan of your face. All that stuff has pushed up prices, and there’s a risk that even many longtime early adopters will balk at laying out four figures, including tax.