Apple To Challenge Huawei With Lower-Cost iPhone

To retake ground lost in China to Huawei and competitors, as well as to win emerging market shoppers, Apple will reportedly roll out a lower-cost iPhone model next spring. The new device would be the company’s first low-cost smartphone since the iPhone SE’s launch in 2016, Nikkei Asian Review reported.

The price and name of the new device has not yet been determined, but it is reportedly seen as the iPhone SE’s latest generation. The less expensive iPhone could bolster Apple sales in the spring of 2020, at which point the lifecycle of the new flagship iPhone would likely start to slow down.

In 2016, the original iPhone SE sold roughly 30 million units, with another 10 million sold from 2017 to 2018, per Yuanta Investment Consulting. Jeff Pu, a GF Securities tech analyst, told the outlet, “The cheaper iPhone SE could serve as a sales momentum kicker the first half [of] next year, if the new premium iPhones do not perform well in the coming months.”

In the latter half of August, Apple bolstered the mass production of its newest flagship iPhones. Two unnamed sources noted that the manufacturing process was smooth, as there weren’t many new functions introduced this year.

In separate news, Apple will reportedly unveil its next generation of iPhones as well as other products at a Sept. 10 launch event at the company’s Cupertino headquarters. The company said it will live-stream the event on its site at 10 a.m. local time. Apple is not expected to change the basic design of the iPhone. Three new models are forecasted, replacing the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR with the anticipated iPhone 11, 11 Max/11 Pro and 11R. This year’s event will take place two days earlier than the one held last year.