Apple challenged to show iPhone star shines

SAN FRANCISCO: With Apple set to report quarterly results Thursday investors and others are cautiously watching to see whether its newest iPhone will help fuel momentum for the world's most valuable company.
Apple´s image meanwhile has been bruised by revelations that the company updated its mobile software to slow the performance of old iPhones as batteries weaken from age.
Apple share price has eroded in recent weeks on speculation that sales of its flagship iPhone X have been far less than expected.
Given that in December iPhone X made it into the top three best-selling devices across all key regions, particularly in urban China where it was the top selling model, the pricing strategy seems to have been vindicated.
Post-smartphone world?
Some analysts say Apple needs to think beyond the smartphone if it is looking to secure its future.

"We´re rapidly approaching the era of smartphone market maturation, and quite possibly, the end of smartphone market growth," said chief analyst Bob O´Donnell of Technalysis Research.

And, while smartphones remain popular, voice-commanded machines, wearable computing, augmented-reality glasses and other innovations could make handsets seem like ´old technology´ in the not too distant future, the analyst reasoned

"Challenges for the iPhone X and other high-end smartphones go well beyond just the appearance (or not) of a replacement ´super cycle,´" O´Donnell said in a blog post.

Smartphone upgrade rates are at record low levels and do not appear poised to rebound in the current quarter, according to BTIG analyst Walter Piecyk.

"The sustained lengthening of the replacement cycle appears driven simply by customer choice to hold onto their phone longer," Piecyk said in a not![if-this-iphone-7-leak-is-real-i-m-off-to-android-506220-2.jpg]