Apple debuted iPhone 16e last year at its $599 price, and it’s been a good phone ever since. It was updated this year with an A19 chipset, more storage, and MagSafe, but for the most part, its market positioning hasn’t really changed. It’s a good phone at a good price.
It’s been selling decently, but it hasn’t really been a big draw for Android users in the same way that macbook neo has been for PC users. I think that could change.
There was something magical about macbook neo release earlier this year that was never felt with the iPhone 16e launch a year earlier. As I said before, iPhone 16e It’s just a good phone at a good price. In contrast, the MacBook Neo is a good laptop at a great price.
macbook neo shattered expectations about what Apple could do, meanwhile the iPhone 16e/17e has been exactly in line with what you’d expect from Apple. They haven’t been great value, just cheaper iPhones.
If Apple really wanted to break into the Android market, I think it could do something more radical… and The leadership of John Ternus could get us exactly that.
An even cheaper iPhone
Instead of taking a parts container approach like iPhone 16eI think the iPhone 18e (or maybe this could be positioned as an iPhone Neo) could be built from the ground up to be a cheaper iPhone, like macbook neo.
Perhaps instead of using an older OLED screen, you could use an LCD panel to save costs. Maybe it would include Face ID instead of Touch ID, and maybe it would feature a 12MP camera instead of 48MP. It could even come with a smaller 5.8-inch screen to appeal to fans of small phones. Instead of an A20 chip, it could include less, perhaps an A18.
I think Apple would want to continue to maintain an aluminum and glass build, but either way, I think if Apple could figure out how to package a phone at the magic price of $399, it could convince a lot of Android users to switch, especially in markets with weaker economies. In the United States, the price of the device doesn’t really matter, as most people finance it with some type of carrier deal, but in many places, iPhones are simply too expensive.
In all likelihood, I don’t think this device should necessarily replace the iPhone 18e. It could probably slot in below it, and both devices would probably still have a clear market. However, I think it would be incredibly interesting to see Apple take a macbook neo-Like a swing into the Android market, just like they did with the PC market.
My favorite Apple accessory recommendations:
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