I know we have been hearing this particular rumour for ages now – but for some reason, it has never materialized. This time though, this is being reported by usually trustworthy sources. So what are we talking about? Well the iPhone – it’s gonna get a cheaper cousin soon according to fresh reports.
What makes this rumour a tad more compelling to believe is the fact that Apple while still doing good, has seen its grip on the market loosen a bit in the past few quarters. The iPhone 5 is no doubt, a huge success – but even with its success, Apple is still playing catch up to Samsung which by far leads the smartphone pack – that too by a huge margin.
Reports flying in now seem to point towards a strategy that is aimed at increasing the market share of Apple further. One of the ways it plans to achieve that is to come up with a more affordable version of the iPhone. New versions of the iPhone are prohibitively expensive in many markets and that has put off many users from buying one. The idea seems to broaden the target audience for the iPhone and thereby increase its presence in the market.
As of now, the buzz is that this phone might see the light of the day later this year. This phone would closely resemble the current iPhone – but would sport a different, less expensive body. Currently, the iPhone gets an all-aluminium shell. This should be replaced with a Polycarbonate shell – made famous by Nokia. Internally, the specs too might change – but not very considerably.
That said, the source who reported this news also add that Apple could also go ahead and scrap this plan should they feel.
Do you think it would be a good strategy on part of Apple to come up with a more affordable iPhone model?
[Via WSJ]
Always stay up to date? Then subscribe to our RSS-Feed!
“Do you think it would be a good strategy on part of Apple to come up with a more affordable iPhone model?”
No.
They’re gonna kill their brand by diluting it with non-premium devices.
In customers’ minds Apple = premium. That’s it. THAT’s what makes Apple, Apple.
If you confuse the message, you’re gonna lose customers (those who ACTUALLY buy the high end phones) because of loss in your image (Apple’s gonna become an OEM like any other in the mind of customers).
So, at first and with the launch of these midrange iPhones, it’ll seem to be a success as they’ll gain market shares and sell more phones but on the long run I predict they’re gonna sell pretty much ONLY these midrange phones.
I understand that they want to grow but there are plenty other (and better) ways to do so without compromising the very core of their image.
Apple’s cheaper iPhone is the the 3GS which is still selling is decent volumes…I agree this report is crazy