Revered Apple analysts Ming-Chi Kuo calls for cheaper iPhones in September

Revered Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who recently left Taiwan’s KGI Securities for his new consulting firm TF International Securities, has called for cheaper iPhones following what he called “concern over the negative impact of a higher price” for a trio of upcoming iPhones.

In his research note issued to clients today, seen by MacRumors, the analyst warned that Apple needs to produce iPhones that more people will be able to afford.

Here’s a relevant excerpt from the research note:

We forecast that Apple will adopt a more aggressive price policy for the following reasons: (1) concern over the negative impact of a higher price in a mature smartphone market on selling momentum, (2) improved cost structure, which is mainly attributed to assembly yield improvements of end product and 3D sensing and cost reduction of components; and (3) increasing users of Face ID benefiting the promotion of the Apple service and ecosystem.

Clearly, last year’s introduction of the $999 iPhone X has had many analysts worried over the trend and potentially negative impact of a higher price for 2018 models.

Here are Kuo’s predicted prices:

  • iPhone X Plus with a 6.5-inch OLED screen: $900-$1,000
  • Second-generation iPhone X with a 5.8-inch OLED screen: $800-$900
  • iPhone with a 6.1-inch LCD screen: $600-$700.

All three models will have Face ID and an iPhone X-like design, the analyst reiterated.

Mockup of 2018 iPhone models courtesy of the Russian site wylsa.com