Apple, the $1 trillion US company, is the manufacturer of the most popular high-end smartphone in the world. The iPhones are all expensive products and they have been the center of attention for a long time now. But recently, Apple made a major shift in its approach to business. The company launched the iPhone XR, a low-end product targeting the budget buyer. The XR is remarkably similar to the more expensive and fancier iPhone XS and the XS Max. For instance, you get the fast A12 bionic chip, a high-end front-facing camera, the wireless charging, and many other great features including the Face ID. But there’s just one big difference, it’s cheaper. Yes, the iPhone XR gives you all the high-end features of the other iPhone models for $250 less.
For Apple, the decision to launch this low-end phone was entirely by design. First, the company realized that it could leverage on its brand power to increase device revenue by targeting budget customers. After all, it’s trendy to have an iPhone and most people have often been put off by the high price of these devices. If they can get an iPhone at a cheaper price, they will most likely buy it.
There’s also a second reason. Recent studies have shown that it’s taking longer for existing Apple iPhone owners to upgrade their devices. The explanation for this is simple. Every year Apple has released an iPhone, the cost has gone up. The iPhone X, Apple’s futuristic smartphone, opened at $1,000, the most expensive phone ever made at the time. Some analysts have argued that even with these high price tags, the features that new releases have offered haven’t been very exciting for users to upgrade. That’s why the old iPhone users have held on to their devices for years.
The XR is supposed to change this. It’s expected to give people a less costly way to upgrade and enjoy the new features that the new devices are bringing to the table. This will likely push sales higher. Also, let’s not forget the screen size. The XR features a 6.1-inch screen and we all know the demand for bigger screens among consumers is very high. The display features the low-end LCD technology as opposed to the higher end OLED technology. This is where the savings come from actually. The LCD screen has made it possible for Apple to offer a bigger version of its fancier models with new features at a lower price tag.
The iPhone XR is also heavier in its design. The device is thicker and the aluminum frame does add to the durability. The high-end XS and XS Max feature a far more durable steel frame. But that’s not all. The XR delivers a wide range of color options to choose from, more than the XS and the XS Max. The colors are in fact a very big selling point because they offer variety.
iPhone XS is retailing at $749, and it’s one of the cheapest phones that Apple has released in a while but it has so much to offer.
