According to prominent Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the Cupertino-based company is looking to differentiate the iPhone Pro and Non-Pro lineup starting with iPhone 15 next year.
In a set of tweets by Kuo, Apple is planning to further separate its iPhone lineup by feature set. “I believe Apple will create more differentiation between iPhone 15 Pros and standard 15 models to increase Pro shipment allocation,” says Kuo. He further added this will “generate more sales/profits in a mature market.”:
“Taking a step further, Apple will also start creating differentiation between the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the iPhone 15 Pro. It’s the best practice via a precise product segmentation strategy to generate more sales/profits in a mature market.”
Apple has taken steps toward differentiating its flagship phones in recent years. During their ‘Far Out’ event, the company announced iPhone 14 ships with an A15 chip from last year while the Pro models ship with the latest A16 chip. Another difference between the models is the regular models feature a notch while the Pro models have a pill-shaped notch that Apple calls “Dynamic Island.”
It’s unsure how exactly Apple will differentiate the iPhone lineup, but we speculate segmentation by feature set. For example, the high-end 15 Pro Max may be the only iPhone that ships with the rumored periscope lens.
Additionally, earlier this year, Kuo claimed that Apple may finally ditch the lighting port for USB-C in the next iPhones, noting that the existing USB-C accessories ecosystem will become a market focus for the company.
