14 DAY TRIAL // Apple’s 2018 iPhone lineup will include three different models, one of which would be a bit more affordable than the others in an attempt to entice existing iPhone owners to upgrade to the latest generation.
And while the price difference between the top iPhone and this lower-cost model wouldn’t be as substantial as expected given the $700 rumored tag, analysts expect Apple to set new sales records in the next 12 to 18 months.
GBH Insights believes Apple’s iPhone shipments could reach no less than 350 million iPhones after the September launch, a substantial increase from the 220 million units that were originally expected for the company’s next financial year.
In an investor note obtained by 9to5mac, the analyst house explains that part of this figure is represented by owners of older iPhone models that skipped the previous generation, including the iPhone X, who device to upgrade.
Technically, if this figure is accurate, the 2018 iPhone series can finally generate a super-cycle, helping Apple push more customers to latest-generation hardware, an objective that the company has had in mind with every new model release.
A more affordable iPhone
Apple itself expects the more affordable iPhone to sell in high volumes, and sources familiar with the matter said it accounts for more than half of all orders for the 2018 lineup. However, market reception of a new lower-cost iPhone will be a thing to keep an eye on, especially as the device is by no means supposed to represent a budget alternative.
Previous leaks have indicated that this device could hit the market at $700, while the new-generation iPhone X may be only $100 more expensive. A third model with a 6.5-inch OLED screen is expected to become the most expensive iPhone ever launched, as it’s likely to go beyond the $1,049 price tag reached by the top iPhone X this year.
The debut of the new iPhones will happen next month, while sales should begin later in September. The more affordable iPhone is expected to hit the shelves in October.