Although most Apple watchers have their eyes trained on next week's rumored iPad mini launch, Apple is not expected to follow a similar course with its popular smartphone line.
For Apple, the benefits of releasing a smaller and more affordable iPad are clear. With the likes of Amazon and Barnes & Noble taking a bite out of the iPad's market share with their respective tablet creations, Apple needs to stop the bleeding by having a small tablet alternative of its own.
There is, however, very little incentive to do the same with its new iPhone 5. Analyst Charlie Wolf with Needham & Company said Monday that he doesn't expect Apple to introduce a smaller or more affordable entry-level iPhone.
That much should have been clear following Apple's record-breaking sales of the new iPhone 5 in mid-September. Apple obviously has a hit on its hands and few seem deterred by the device's cost. With Apple maintaining - and succeeding with - its new release iPhone price structure, the executives in Cupertino apparently have no interest in fixing what isn't broken.
Source: Needham & Company
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