A FAMILIAR MEME. A NEW CONTEXT.

iPhone X: Make the Right Choice

What this meme means

A meme series that compares the price of Apple's new iPhone X with absurd purchases. In the classic version the phone costs $999, while 83 Blu-ray copies of Shrek the Third cost about $996.

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What's depicted

The image is split into two parts. On the left, against a white background, is an iPhone X with a price tag of $999.99; on the right, 83 boxes of "Shrek the Third" on Blu-ray are neatly laid out with a price tag of $996. The comparison is built on visual contrast: one single item versus a large, densely packed stack.

The whole idea rests on the numbers. The prices are almost identical, but the items themselves are incomparable in purpose and in how it feels to pay for them. The joke lands the moment the viewer realizes that one expensive purchase could instead buy a whole collection of discs, and that the collection looks far bulkier and far less useful.

Origin

The iPhone X was unveiled by Apple in 2017 and went on sale with a base price of around a thousand dollars, making it one of the most talked-about gadgets of the year. The high price became fertile material for jokes, and images comparing the iPhone to absurd purchases soon appeared online.

The author of the specific image with "Shrek" could not be identified, and the exact date it appeared wasn't recorded. The "make the right choice" caption format relies on the general device of parodic comparisons, where an expensive item is set against cheap items bought in bulk. The meme evolved on social media, where users quickly reworked it for new products and new price tags.

How it's used

A typical joke in the series compares a piece of new tech to a purchase that seems strange or useless. In place of the cartoon boxes, you might see toy sets, bags of grain, stacks of books, or any goods that are easy to count and pile up. The caption usually keeps the same structure: one expensive item and several cheap items with a total price.

The meme is often used in discussions of tech prices, in jokes about spending on gadgets, and in arguments about whether it's worth paying extra for a brand. The format is convenient because it needs no text: a picture with two items and two price tags is enough, and the point registers instantly. That's why the series moves easily from one topic to another.

Why the meme works

The meme's main comic mechanism is based on an absurd comparison. Two items with almost the same price turn out to be incomparable in meaning, and that draws a smile. The viewer first believes the comparison is serious, then realizes they're being played with.

The meme also takes a jab at consumer culture. The high price of a flagship smartphone is seen as a status symbol, while the picture of a pile of discs is a reminder that money can be spent pointlessly too. Thanks to that irony, the series stays relevant: it can be applied to any new release with a headline-grabbing price and plenty of fans.