Apple stops selling iPhone SE, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and iPhone 6S Plus in India: Report

Apple maybe done chasing volumes in India, even as it looks at driving value – and in turn, profit – in world’s second largest smartphone market – a market that it has failed to crack so far. According to a new ET report, Apple has stopped selling iPhone SE, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and iPhone 6S Plus entry-level iPhone models in India. This means, iPhone 6S is w most affordable iPhone that you can buy in India – which costs around Rs 8,000 more than previous most affordable iPhone model, aka iPhone SE. 

Apple has had an improved 2018-19 in terms of revenue and profit despite fact that iPhone sale have tanked. Apple’s sales in April-June quarter have been particularly encouraging for Cuperti after company unexpectedly slashed pricing of iPhone XR in India. Apple had never slashed price of its next-generation iPhones prior to this - even in a market like India which is infamous for being most expensive market to buy an iPhone.   

report suggests that t only is Apple looking to focus even less on moving large volumes, going forward, buyers in India should also t expect furr discounts – even as Apple tries to make profit off every high-end iPhone it mans to sell in country. 

“Cuperti does t want Apple India to chase volumes by discounting at cost of profit. se models which are being phased out will increase aver selling price of iPhones in India and boost both profit and revenue,” a leading trade partner of Apple was quoted as saying in report. 

Apple has been making iPhone SE and iPhone 6 in India. w that both se iPhone models have seemingly been discontinued, Apple can use idle capacity to assemble or, more expensive iPhones. 

Apple could start selling made in India iPhone XS and iPhone XR models in country starting August. This means, buying a high-end iPhone may t be a distant dream for many, come August, as local assembly should give way to lowering of prices. That said, clearly, move also comes at a cost. w that iPhone SE, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and iPhone 6S Plus are out of picture, only ones who would want to opt for a more expensive iPhone like iPhone 6S or more flagship iPhones like iPhone XS is if y really want to invest into Apple ecosystem. 

India is world’s second largest smartphone market, but Apple has been unable to make most of it – company has a meagre 1 per cent market share in country. And while making in India should help it to some degree, it would be interesting to see how this new-found strategy of being a premiere-only brand pans out for Apple in days to come.