Apple transforms the iPhone into a luxury item rather than catering to the budget-friendly segment.

No brand in the market holds as much influence as Apple does today, attracting special attention from journalists, investors, and more. Instead of chasing sales and market share, the bitten fruit focuses on profit margins and pricing strategies, especially in recent years.

When it comes to tech gadgets, consumers often consider the profits a company will make if they purchase its products. Ultimately, profit and pricing are key factors that leave many questioning certain high-end items currently available, notably those pricey gadgets from the tech giant Apple.

Apple prioritizes profit margins and pricing over sales volume and market share.

Following the release of the latest devices in 2018, such as the iPhone Xr

, iPhone Xs, and iPhone Xs Max, Apple has shifted its focus towards pricing and profitability rather than sheer sales figures. This poses a significant barrier for budget-conscious consumers aspiring to own the latest iPhone at an affordable price. Furthermore, this poses a challenge for Apple as the budget smartphone segment becomes increasingly competitive with the emergence of new players like Vivo, Xiaomi, and Huawei, leveraging modern and ever-advancing technologies.

Examining Apple's loss of market share in China and many other developing markets currently in the process of integrating modern smartphones, it's evident that Apple is leveraging its strengths by selling a product that has become commonplace at a very high price point, rather than offering its products at lower prices with lower profit margins. Perhaps that's why Apple is confident in revealing more details about their service-oriented business, including iTunes, App Store, and Apple Pay, all of which are forecasted to experience significant revenue and service growth.

Furthermore, consider Apple's growth and setbacks: they're increasing market share in wealthy regions like the European Union and the US, while stagnating or declining in places like China, Nigeria, India, and developing countries. However, their profits are soaring.

Apple aims to become the number one player in the smartphone market.

In a world where smartphones have become ubiquitous and almost every middle-class individual owns a tablet or computer of some sort, Apple has chosen a distinct path. Somehow, Apple is increasingly ambitious about its position and influence over its smartphone lines compared to other phone manufacturers worldwide.

It's hard to tell whether that strategy is right or wrong, or whether it will generate massive profits and cash flow in the years to come, especially as this year's trio of iPhone and iPad Pro, MacBook Air 2018, have yet to satisfy consumers in the market, primarily due to their exorbitant prices.

Looking at how Apple is developing technology across its product lines, there are some opinions that it's progressively lagging behind compared to smartphone brands, notably Samsung. Perhaps in 2019, this tech giant will bring even more surprises with the rumored Samsung Galaxy S10. This could mark a significant turning point in the competition between Apple and Samsung.