Apple’s Making Another ‘Budget’ iPhone That’s Not Really Cheap

The post Apple’s Making Another ‘Budget’ iPhone That’s Not Really Cheap appeared first on Android Headlines.

May 6, 2025 - 10:44

When Apple debuted the iPhone 16e, many questioned the need for the device. It was cheap by Apple standards, but definitely not cheap in the grand scheme of things. Considering what you were getting for the price, it felt like a ripoff. However, Apple’s marketing machine once again managed to pull off a miracle. This is why it doesn’t come as a surprise to learn that according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, he says that Apple’s iPhone 17e is still on track and coming in 2026.

iPhone 17e coming in 2026

According to Kuo, the iPhone 17e represents Apple’s new marketing strategy. Typically, Apple releases a new iPhone every year. However, the time in between iPhone releases gives Apple’s competitors more time to flood the market with their devices. By releasing a new iPhone in the first half of the year, Apple could close the gap.

We’ve already seen how based on the numbers, the iPhone 16e actually saw an increase in iPhone shipments in the first quarter of 2025 versus the first quarter of 2024. This is particularly important, especially since the first half of the year is where companies like Samsung make the headlines with the launch of its flagship phones. So, if Apple can steal a bit of the market and spotlight from Samsung, why wouldn’t they?

Cheap but effective

Let’s not forget that while flagship phones like the Galaxy S25 and iPhone 16 make the headlines, it’s usually the budget and mid-range phones that rake in most of the money. This is because these phones typically have a wider appeal due to their lower costs. It allows companies like Samsung to move more units, and more units sold means more money made. Plus, margins on these lower-end devices tend to be higher since their components and tech have already matured.

It is how smartphone makers eventually bring tech from high-end flagship phones to lower-end devices. Think features like fingerprint scanners, facial recognition, faster screen refresh rates, and better cameras. It is also how Chinese OEMs like Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo managed to carve out a huge chunk of the market for themselves.

Those companies, who got their start selling cheap phones, rose quickly through the ranks and now compete in the same space as Apple and Samsung.

The post Apple’s Making Another ‘Budget’ iPhone That’s Not Really Cheap appeared first on Android Headlines.