The report also suggested that Apple will stop selling iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus models in India
Cupertino based electronics giant Apple will be ending its relationship with small stores in India. The company, as per a report published in the Economic Times, is also considering to increase entry level price for its models in the country.
Apple, as per the report, will move out of stores that sell less than 35 units of iPhone models per month. Additionally, after the removal of iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus models, the entry level prices for iPhone devices will automatically rise by Rs 5,000.
Going back in time
Interestingly, EFY Group, in November 2018, had reported that Apple may be trying to make its iPhone line-up a premium product range again. Several reports had claimed that Apple may only be able to sell half the smartphones in 2019, than what it had sold in 2018.
However, none of the reports had taken the increased price bands in consideration. Back in November 2018, Apple was the only smartphone maker offering premium devices at prices above than Rs 1,00,000 in India. As a matter of fact, every single device in the iPhone 2018 line-up was announced at a price tag of above Rs 75,000.
The most expensive Android based smartphones, at that time, were priced upwards of Rs 75,000. These included the likes of Google Pixel 3 and Samsung S9. However, even these models, were priced way lower than iPhone XS and iPhone XS Plus.
Reinforcing brand’s premium image in the market
The report claims that Apple wants to reinforce brand’s premium image in the Indian smartphone market. Apple distributors, as a part of the strategy have already started announcing about Apple’s planned exit from outlets lesser spread in less than 350-400 square feet area.
Instead of these retail stores, Apple may expand the number of exclusive brand stores in the country. It is to be noted here that Apple has already ended its association with Brightstar and HCL Infosystems in 2018.
Apple may even start manufacturing some recent models of iPhone models in India soon. The government of India has approved Wistron’s plan to manufacture recent iPhone models in the country. Wistron currently manufactures iPhone 6S in India.
