In the midst of weak iPhone XS and XS Max sales, Apple is reportedly forced to resume production of its yesteryear model, the iPhone X, according to a new report by The Wall Street Journal.
The move is apparently an agreement the Cupertino brand made with Samsung to buy a certain amount of OLED displays. Samsung makes the displays found on Apple's latest iPhones. But with this year's models failing to sell in the quantities needed to fulfill the terms of the deal, the report says Apple is reviving iPhone X production as a solution — to use the excess OLED orders, in other words. The company officially halted iPhone X sales once it unveiled the latest models.
iPhone X Production Continues
As per the report, the iPhone X may be cheaper to produce than its successors thanks to it being a year old, meaning components and manufacturing equipment are both cheaper. It's worth noting that this isn't the first time Apple will resume production of an older device. In the past, "legacy" devices have been produced as long as there's enough demand for them in certain markets.
It's not clear if the iPhone X will go back on sale worldwide, however. As 9to5Mac mentions, it is unlikely the company will fill its brick-and-mortar stores with new iPhone X stock. It might, on the other hand, sell it through carriers and authorized resellers.
iPhone XR Price Cut
Apple is also set to make the iPhone XR cheaper in Japan by offering subsidies to Japanese carriers, the report claims. The price drop will take into effect as soon as next week, apparently. The device currently sells for $750 in the region, but it's being overshadowed by the older yet still-popular iPhone 8. It's not clear just how much Apple is going to cut off iPhone XR's price point.
It should be noted that price cuts from Apple are rare. They do happen, of course, but only in dire situations. The company has used the tactic especially in markets where its products underperform. But such cuts are often available in select regions only and aren't reflected worldwide because iPhones perform better in some places than others.
A price cut in Japan is particularly notable, however, as the iPhone currently enjoys dominance in the country's overall smartphone market share. It appears the Japanese market simply prefers the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus over Apple's glitzier, more expensive models.
