Rumor: Apple supply chain looking to cut iPhone X costs in 2018, reducing consumer prices
A new report from the Chinese supply chain suggests that Apple has been developing the 2018 model-year iPhones to include many if not all of the iPhone X technologies, in new models said to be codenamed "Lisbon" and "Hangzhou."
A report from the Chinese-language Economic Daily published on Thursday cites unnamed sources within the supply chain for the codenames, and Apple's intent. The primary driver for the migration to less expensive phones is said to be price sensitivity in the Chinese market -- but presumably the migration would assist sales figures elsewhere as well.
Should the "Lisbon" and "Hangzhou" code names be accurate, they would be the first city name-based ones for the iPhone. The iPhone 8 was said to be called Ferrari, but most iPhones have alphanumeric code names like D22 for the iPhone X -- and D20 for the iPhone 8.
Japanese site Macotakara believes that a 10,000 yen price decrease ($90) is possible with the new model -- generally consistent with year-over-year model refreshes. Not discussed in either report is the fate of the iPhone X itself if the technologies are migrated to the lower-end models.
This is the first year that Apple has introduced two families of phone during the same event. While there is a main difference between the iPhone 8 and the iPhone X in the camera systems, the iPhone X has a much larger evolutionary gap with the Super Retina OLED screen and the Face ID system supplanting Touch ID.
Apple's iPhone X starts at $999 with 64GB of storage. Peorders begin on Oct. 27 with the first shipments arriving on Nov. 3.
A report from the Chinese-language Economic Daily published on Thursday cites unnamed sources within the supply chain for the codenames, and Apple's intent. The primary driver for the migration to less expensive phones is said to be price sensitivity in the Chinese market -- but presumably the migration would assist sales figures elsewhere as well.
Should the "Lisbon" and "Hangzhou" code names be accurate, they would be the first city name-based ones for the iPhone. The iPhone 8 was said to be called Ferrari, but most iPhones have alphanumeric code names like D22 for the iPhone X -- and D20 for the iPhone 8.
Japanese site Macotakara believes that a 10,000 yen price decrease ($90) is possible with the new model -- generally consistent with year-over-year model refreshes. Not discussed in either report is the fate of the iPhone X itself if the technologies are migrated to the lower-end models.
This is the first year that Apple has introduced two families of phone during the same event. While there is a main difference between the iPhone 8 and the iPhone X in the camera systems, the iPhone X has a much larger evolutionary gap with the Super Retina OLED screen and the Face ID system supplanting Touch ID.
Apple's iPhone X starts at $999 with 64GB of storage. Peorders begin on Oct. 27 with the first shipments arriving on Nov. 3.
Comments
Apple does this every year...
Am I reading this wrong?
When the devices get cheaper the price goes down and Apple adds features to it for
the next model to sell at a higher again.
Will we all have neural engine phones capable of augmenting our reality; or some phones like the SE that are capable
but clearly less than; or will all of Apple
move upmarket and Samsung will take care of the low-end.
Apple likely will move up-shelf with everything. Actually, I am surprised they have all these phones that they sell. It's confusing for people and it confuses the brand as well, especially with the likes of Mr 10 OLED.
Really, i think in the US, over the next few cycles, this company will offer less options but all being in upper price ranges.
Like I said in a previous post, it will be interesting to see the future of these phones and there different offerings.