Screenshot captured from Korean version of Apple's online store [Courtesy of Apple]
Apple may drop retail price of upcoming iPhone by approximately 10,000 yen (about 100 US dollars), various sources from China and Japan reported.
Previously, there were rumors that the new iPhone 7's smallest storage version will start from 32GB, ditching the previous 16GB version. Various sources from China and Japan have stated that speculating based on the leaked information, the tech giant is very likely to drop the retail price of the iPhone7 to compete with Android OS smartphones.
The suggested price for the iPhone 7 32GB version is about 54,900 yen. Apple had not yet released any information on the upcoming iPhone and it is expected to be unveiled in September.
Many experts say that if the leaked information is true, it could be a reflection of a change in Apple's strategy in the saturated smartphone market. Apple's iPhone sales had been slogging in last few years, recording second consecutive quarter of falling sales. The sales slowed since the second quarter of 2016 and the company reported that it was the first drop since the iPhone's launch in 2007.
Apple had recently said that the drop in iPhone sales was caused by worldwide economic uncertainty and people do not upgrade their smartphones as often.
Smartphone users are showing positive responses to the leaked news. A South Korean online community user "Royd2nd" said: "iPhones were not very cost-effective. But if the news is true, I think it's the best strategy by Apple to lure more consumers to use iPhone." Another user "ThirtyTwoEig" said: "Considering that the current iPhone 6S' 16GB version costs about 900,000 won (799 dollars) in South Korea, I wish the rumors to become true so that I can buy the new iPhone."
Aju News Park Sae-jin = swatchsjp@ajunews.com
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
