Should Apple Release Midrange iPhone Alongside ‘Pricey’ iPhone 11 Lineup?

Will it make sense for Apple to release a midrange iPhone along with the upcoming (and expected to be expensive) successors to the iPhone XR, iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max? An analyst thinks so.

While Apple is known for the top-quality tech products that it releases, it’s also known for selling these topnotch devices, like iPhones, at a high price. The iPhone XS fetches at least a $999 selling price, while the iPhone XS Max is even more expensive and sells for at least $1,099.

The iPhone XR, meant to be the “lower-cost” model, even sells for at least $749 apiece. The upcoming 2019 iPhones are likely to cost as much, too.

Obviously, Apple’s devices aren’t designed for the budget-conscious consumer, Tom's Guide noted. The high-end features that come with every iPhone really aren’t enough to justify the expensive costs of buying one, and aren’t enough to convince budget-minded shoppers to part with their money.

So will it be a good idea for Apple to create midrange smartphones and release them along with their pricier iPhones? Let’s take a look at what some people think.

Never an objective

In an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek years ago, Apple CEO Tim Cook said Apple never thought of selling cheap iPhones.

"We never had an objective to sell a low-cost phone," Cook said. "Our primary objective is to sell a great phone and provide a great experience, and we figured out a way to do it at a lower cost." Indeed, the Cupertino tech giant has never built an iPhone it meant to sell at a low price.

They’ve been doing it already

An analyst, despite Cook’s words, believes that Apple sells lower-priced models alongside expensive ones. In fact, for this analyst, Apple has been doing it for quite some time now.

"Apple has long had lower-priced models in its line," Avi Greengart, lead analyst for Techsponential, told Tom’s Guide. "They're the previous years' flagship models, now reduced in price.”

Greengart explained that Apple isn’t really creating midrange iPhones meant to be sold at a lower price. The Cupertino tech company instead sells older models then supports them with software updates for a long period of time. Simply put, older models with continued support equals lower price.

So, should Apple create midrange models?

So, should Apple continue to sell older models and provide support for them, or should it create new midrange smartphones instead? Of course, the answer lies with Apple. But if one of the tech giant’s products -- the iPhone SE-- is any indication, it should.

The iPhone SE continues to be one of the most celebrated iPhone models in smartphone history. Experts believe it would be good for Apple to release a follow-up to the beloved smartphone.