Max, Google will push the envelope further with
a design based off of the Samsung Galaxy
S10 and a hole-punch screen to reduce the
bezel size. But high-end smartphones are
only one element of Asian manufacturers’ and
Google’s strategy - they all want to grab a slice
of the mid-range smartphone market to get
as many consumers switched over to their
operating systems and ecosystems as possible;
and with the Pixel 3A and 3A XL, Google may
just be on to a winner. Asian carriers are also
releasing low-cost smartphones like the OnePlus
6T, the Poco F1 and Huawei P30 Lite, all of
which offer ‘lite’ experiences with mid-range
specifications to appeal to consumers who do
not care about the fastest processors or most
powerful cameras; they simply want to pay for a
quality smartphone experience that allows them
to surf the web and chat with their friends.
Apple’s supposedly ‘affordable’ iPhone XR, in
comparison, certainly packs more punch and
delivers some of the features users know and
love about the iPhone XS. Indeed, the iPhone
XR includes water resistance, a stunning all-
glass display, facial recognition and iOS, the
world’s most advanced smartphone operating
system, but it comes in at a price point of $
- that’s almost double the price of the Google
Pixel 3A, which features more RAM, a bigger
battery, a better camera, a larger form factor,
and a headphone jack - something Google was
quick to point out in its new ad campaign.
If Apple wants to appeal to mid-market
consumers and tap into international markets
where iPhone sales continue to flounder,
a truly affordable iPhone is the only way
forward. Rather than lowering the cost of older