Apple's Beats brand in April unveiled the Powerbeats Pro, a redesigned wire-free version of its popular fitness-oriented Powerbeats earbuds.
Ming-Chi Kuo Returns With 2018 iPhone Details: Lower Pricing, September Launch for All Models
Well-known Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has returned today with his first Apple-related research note for his new firm TF International Securities. According to Kuo, Apple's pricing strategy will be "more aggressive" for the three iPhones rumored for September 2018, an effort to boost shipments of the models this year.
Renders of the 2018 iPhones
One of the main reasons Kuo says is behind the aggressive pricing strategy is Apple's "concern over the negative impact of a higher price" for its 2018 iPhones. Last year, the company received some blowback on the top-tier pricing of its iPhone X, which began at $999 in the United States for 64GB.
Now, Kuo states that the 6.5-inch OLED "iPhone X Plus" will be $900-$1,000, the second generation OLED iPhone X will be $800-$900, and the new 6.1-inch LCD iPhone will be $600-$700. Kuo reiterates that all 2018 iPhones will have a full-screen design and Face ID. The analyst also outlined more reasons behind Apple's new pricing strategy:
This is Kuo's first research note since departing KGI Securities in April. At the time, it was believed he would lessen his focus on Apple to look at other emerging industries, but it seems we can still expect reports on Apple and its supply chain from Kuo.
One of the main reasons Kuo says is behind the aggressive pricing strategy is Apple's "concern over the negative impact of a higher price" for its 2018 iPhones. Last year, the company received some blowback on the top-tier pricing of its iPhone X, which began at $999 in the United States for 64GB.
Now, Kuo states that the 6.5-inch OLED "iPhone X Plus" will be $900-$1,000, the second generation OLED iPhone X will be $800-$900, and the new 6.1-inch LCD iPhone will be $600-$700. Kuo reiterates that all 2018 iPhones will have a full-screen design and Face ID. The analyst also outlined more reasons behind Apple's new pricing strategy:
We forecast that Apple will adopt a more aggressive price policy for the following reasons: (1) concern over the negative impact of a higher price in a mature smartphone market on selling momentum, (2) improved cost structure, which is mainly attributed to assembly yield improvements of end product & 3D sensing and cost reduction of components, and (3) increasing users of Face ID benefiting the promotion of the Apple service and ecosystem.Secondly, Kuo believes that Apple will announce all three new iPhone models at an event in September. Furthermore, all three iPhones will launch in September, including the LCD model which some reports have previously pegged for a November debut.
This is Kuo's first research note since departing KGI Securities in April. At the time, it was believed he would lessen his focus on Apple to look at other emerging industries, but it seems we can still expect reports on Apple and its supply chain from Kuo.
Related Roundup: iPhone XS
Tag: Ming-Chi Kuo
Buyer's Guide: iPhone XS (Don't Buy)
[ 171 comments ]
Top Rated Comments
(View all)
16 months ago
Today might as well be Christmas! WWDC in a few hours and Ming-Chi Kuo returns!
16 months ago
Don't get it why people don't like this guy here, his reports are always spot on.
16 months ago
Can we please have at least just 1 small phone model... It's annoying how phones keeps increasing in size... 6.5 inch what the .......
16 months ago
I think this is definitely accurate, and great news for all of us consumers. Apple is giving all price points some relaxation, AND giving us curvy screens with Face ID on all of the newest models. Christmas in September!
This is what a former employee had to say about this article:
This is what a former employee had to say about this article:
16 months ago
Makes sense. Last year a lot of the tech was bleeding edge. Combine that with a new iPhone X Plus model and you'd end up with that model starting around $1199 which is a bit crazy. By introducing the iPhone X Plus model at $999 you can still help keep the average selling price high while pushing more volume at the low end. If that price turns out to be true then I'd expect the lineup to look like this:
* iPhone X Plus: $999
* iPhone X: $849
* iPhone (new edge-to-edge): $699
* iPhone SE (new edge-to-edge): $499
Additionally they could add a storage capacity option of 512GB on the two X models to bump ASP by a bit.
* iPhone X Plus: $999
* iPhone X: $849
* iPhone (new edge-to-edge): $699
* iPhone SE (new edge-to-edge): $499
Additionally they could add a storage capacity option of 512GB on the two X models to bump ASP by a bit.
16 months ago
This is like when apple lost its mind with the over 10k price for the first watch trying to be of the likes of Rolex.
Hardly anyone bought it.
Now for those that went and bought the first X will be a little upset if the price for the newer X is way cheaper than what they paid for for the first edition of their X. This would anger me if I paid for the phone full price instead of a monthly payments.
Hardly anyone bought it.
Now for those that went and bought the first X will be a little upset if the price for the newer X is way cheaper than what they paid for for the first edition of their X. This would anger me if I paid for the phone full price instead of a monthly payments.
16 months ago
By “concern”, you mean record sales? First time in iPhone history the top-tier model is also the best-selling model. Oops.
I'd be shocked if there wasn't some concern within Apple as unit sales failed to grow in the holiday quarter - but overall revenue was propped up by extremely high ASP of the X. Apple would much prefer 5-10% unit growth PLUS slightly higher ASP, and this 2018 strategy will probably achieve that. It's a solid adjustment, if true.
[ Read All Comments ]
For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Vessel to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win a Signature 2.0 Backpack.
Vessel makes all kinds of backpacks, briefcases, and bags, but...
Discounts on the latest iMacs remain ongoing this month, with Amazon and B&H Photo now offering a new all-time-low price on the 27-inch Retina iMac with 8GB RAM and a 1TB Fusion Drive. This model...
Google and Apple calendars are not playing friendly right now.
As alerted to us by multiple MacRumors readers, there appears to be a syncing issue with Google Calendar and Apple's...
Apple Music today launched a new curated playlist called "New Music Daily," which as the name suggests, is updated every day with fresh songs.
Made up of "new music you simply...
Taylor Swift revealed today on Instagram that she will be the next partner in Apple's "Music Lab" sessions, which are available in Apple retail stores.
The Music Lab session will...
Satechi today announced the Type-C Dual Multimedia Adapter, which plugs into two of the MacBook Pro's USB-C ports to offer a handful of add-on ports.
In total, this includes: one 4K HDMI...
Spotify today announced that it is extending its free-trial period for Spotify Premium to three months, up from the previous one month that users would have to try out the paid service. With this...
OtterBox today announced a new expandable wireless charging system that it calls "OtterSpot," which includes one charging base that can power up multiple batteries and a smartphone...
