SAN FRANCISCO: For upscale brands, there is a fine line between "cheaper" and "cheap." And for Apple, the premium electronics maker, the key is to avoid crossing it.
Apple on Tuesday will introduce two iPhones, including a new lower-cost model targeted at overseas countries where expensive smartphones are out of reach for many consumers.
The addition of a cheaper iPhone could help Apple sell tens of millions more phones. But it could also diminish its reputation as a premium brand.
Many luxury companies have faced this challenge before, with wildly different results. Luxury carmakers have introduced less expensive models, but many efforts have tripped up. Tiffany & Co found so much success with its cheaper "Return to Tiffany" jewelry, that it attracted too many teenagers. And Target has paired up with a variety of high-end fashion designers, often with considerable success.
Apple on Tuesday will introduce two iPhones, including a new lower-cost model targeted at overseas countries where expensive smartphones are out of reach for many consumers.
The addition of a cheaper iPhone could help Apple sell tens of millions more phones. But it could also diminish its reputation as a premium brand.
Many luxury companies have faced this challenge before, with wildly different results. Luxury carmakers have introduced less expensive models, but many efforts have tripped up. Tiffany & Co found so much success with its cheaper "Return to Tiffany" jewelry, that it attracted too many teenagers. And Target has paired up with a variety of high-end fashion designers, often with considerable success.
