14 DAY TRIAL // Apple reportedly wants to test the waters before jumping head-on with its “budget” iPhone, a claim that sounds improbable, considering the company’s modus operandi.
Not surprisingly, the tidbit stems from Taiwan’s DigiTimes, which cites unnamed sources in the supply chain as saying that “Apple plans to launch an inexpensive model targeting emerging markets with initial quarterly shipments of only 2.5-3.0 million units to test market response.”
The report does note that this is mere speculation circulating in the iPhone supply chain in Taiwan.
The sources also dished out some specs, saying the phone will employ a cost-effective plastic chassis, a 4-inch LTPS display, and an A6 applications processor (probably the same one used in the current-generation iPhone 5).
While the rumored “cheap” iPhone may eventually pan out, Apple isn’t the type of company to do experiments. Setting a 2.5-million cap on shipments just isn’t the company’s thing.
They do have at least one product in their portfolio that fits the profile – the Apple TV.
However, unlike its TV business (which is still labeled as a hobby internally), Apple’s iPhone business doesn’t need any more sustaining pillars.
What it needs is a killer new version of the notoriously pricey smartphone they’ve been selling with immense success year after year.