It seems Apple itself might have realized that its iPhone X is just a tad bit too expensive at $1,000.
Apple is poised to unveil three new iPhone X models this year, rumors say, turning the iPhone X design into an entire lineup. Now, RBC Capital analyst Amit Daryanani has shared his predictions about the cost of the forthcoming models.
3 New iPhone X Models
KGI and Bloomberg also have corroborated rumors that Apple is going to release a new iPhone X lineup this year. The first one is a 5.8-inch iPhone X, which is the same as the one originally released in 2017. There's also going to be a 6.5-inch iPhone X Plus model. Both these models will feature an OLED screen, but there's a cheaper 6.1-inch variant that will only sport an LCD display.
Cheaper iPhone X
Daryanani predicts that the base 5.8-inch iPhone X with OLED display is going to cost $899 — $100 cheaper than the existing model. The 6.1-inch LCD variant will start at "$700+" and the 6.5-inch iPhone X Plus will cost $999 — the same price as a standard iPhone X now.
If true, this new pricing scheme implies that Apple may not be meeting sales expectations for the current iPhone X. It was reported back in January that demand for the iPhone X was declining. Perhaps that's why it needs to slash its price down a bit.
Some analysts have voiced their concern about Apple's price increases over the years, arguing that as the company inflates the cost of its flagships, people in turn become less willing to throw that much cash for smartphones.
Thus, adjusting the price of the iPhone X to accommodate three new models may help retain its customers and attract new ones, too. More importantly, provided the LCD iPhone X variant is true, it could be a great way for consumers who don't care much for an OLED display to get their hands on an iPhone X at a lower price.
iPhone X 2018 Unveiling
As always, however, be cautious about rumors. It's not clear where Daryanani sourced his data about the lineup's pricing, or if his estimates are an educated guess based on Apple's previous pricing strategies. Apple will likely announce the new batch of iPhones this coming September, if its typical annual release patterns holds. The question is whether Apple will drop its main iPhone series — the current model are the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus — and focus on the iPhone X lineup exclusively moving forward.
What do you think about the three rumored iPhone X variants? As always, feel free to sound off in the comments section below!
