Meet iPhone Xc – The Inexpensive Alternative to iPhone X

The iPhone X is Apple’s latest and greatest flagship, and it has likely ushered in a new standard as far as what people expect from a smartphone. The main sticking point for consumers, of course, is the iPhone X’s high price tag.

Putting aside rumors of an entry-level 2018 iPhone with an LCD display, Apple could alleviate the premium on its latest flagship by introducing a much more budget-friendly, iPhone Xc. This of course would be a step in the opposite direction of the rumored iPhone X Plus, which would be the most expensive version of Apple’s iPhone X.  See the full iPhone Xc image gallery below.

iPhone Xc Design

For one, the iPhone Xc could adopt the colorful, polycarbonate construction of its direct predecessor: the iPhone 5c lineup. But back construction aside, the iPhone Xc’s success would probably be dependent on its feature set.

In other words, the iPhone Xc could sport a TrueDepth Camera (which would allow for Face ID and Animoji), an A11 Bionic or A12 chipset, and an edge-to-edge, bezel-free design with no Home button. These features are quickly becoming the standard for modern flagships, and it would make sense for Apple to adopt them in an iPhone Xc lineup.

And while a polycarbonate case might seem like a step backward from the iPhone 8’s and iPhone X’s glass construction, it could actually solve one of the primary criticisms of Apple’s newest iPhones: durability. A polycarbonate case would be less prone to cracking, and could be replaced more inexpensively than a glass back.

Additionally, an iPhone Xc could still support wireless charging — unlike the metal-backed LCD iPhone rumored for 2018. Wireless charging only conflicts with metal backs. Plastic and glass could work equally well for wireless charging. A cheaper iPhone device with wireless charging could be an additional selling point.

On an aesthetic note, the iPhone Xc could bring back the colorful aesthetic of the iPhone 5c lineup. That might not matter to all consumers, but it could certainly add value to the device for buyers who balked at the iPhone 8 and iPhone X’s limited color options.

iPhone Xc Cost Reductions

A polycarbonate case would obviously reduce costs for Apple, who could bring the overall retail price of the device down as a result. But there are other considerations to take into account. TrueDepth technology is still expensive and complicated, and if it’s included on the iPhone Xc, that would show in the price. Wireless charging could also add a slight premium to the iPhone Xc’s retail price tag.

The biggest factor, however, would be the iPhone Xc’s display technology. An LCD-based iPhone Xc would be significantly cheaper than an OLED-based iPhone Xc. And there might be a precedent for using an LCD display: next year, current analyst rumors point toward Apple releasing a cheaper, LCD-based iPhone that retains the edge-to-edge design of the iPhone X.

iPhone Xc Target Customer

By combining the cheaper construction and design considerations of that device lineup with the main selling points of the iPhone X, Apple could corner another segment of the market.

While Apple is typically seen as a sole producer of high-end and premium smartphones, it hasn’t exactly forgotten about the entry-level segment of the market. It still offers its capable and popular iPhone SE at a relatively inexpensive price point.

An iPhone Xc could do a lot for Apple’s marketshare, particularly as it loses ground to increasingly more powerful and increasingly cheaper Android devices in certain regions. Those devices, of course, are popular in emerging markets that are bound to be critical for Apple’s future success, such as India and China.

An iPhone Xc could be an excellent entry-point for Apple to appeal to budget-conscious consumers and consumers in those emergent and massive markets. Younger people and those who’d like a more fun and colorful device could be likely buyers, too.

iPhone Xc Pricing

Of course, the iPhone Xc could be made cheaper — but just how much cheaper is tricky to determine. When the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c launched in 2013, they spanned the gamut. The base configuration of the iPhone 5c, for example, was $549 without a contract. Compare that the iPhone 5s flagship, which at the time, was priced at $649 for the base configurations. That’s quite a bit more expensive than the more powerful iPhone SE, which retails for $399. To be successful, an iPhone Xc could be priced at $449 or $549 — depending on its display technology and other factors.