Phil Schiller, senior vice president of worldwide marketing of Apple shot down reports that Apple would be selling a cheaper version of the iPhone. Reports from reputable sites Bloomberg News and The Wall Street Journal had said that Apple is working on a cheaper smartphone for emerging markets in addition to a new high-end iPhone that it releases annually. But Schiller told Shanghai Evening News this week that cheap smartphones will "never be the future of Apple products".
What Else You Need To Know
- Bloomberg's report said that the world's most valuable tech company is weighing retail prices of $99 to $149 for the low-cost model, which would peg the device around 80% cheaper than the $649 current-generation iPhone.
- Selling an entry-level iPhone at $99 would allow Apple to match the pricing of low-end and mid-range handsets that are flooding emerging markets.
- A $99 iPhone is un-Applesque as Apple is known for its pricey devices, selling them at industry-leading profit margins.
Other sources
Apple creates premium products–can we really expect them to launch an unlocked $200 iPhone?- Gary Ng, iPhone In Canada Blog
If this is accurate, it isn’t really that surprising. However, while it might not be in active development, it’s likely that Apple is at least thinking about a less expensive iPhone.- Joseph Keller, iMore
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