Apple Inc. (AAPL), China Mobile Ltd. (ADR) (CHL): Is a “Cheap” iPhone Destined for China?

But as we see from Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN)’s (lack of) sales growth for its own tablets, and recent price drop in response, it’s not the bottom of the tablet market that’s cutting into Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s sales. Simply put, the middle of the market is giving consumers more choice, and Apple just didn’t have the head start in tablets that it did in smartphones to keep growing this segment. However, Cook has promised us that new products are on the horizon, and this will help.

Looking for predictable growth and income is really hard with tech companies, even ones as successful as Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has been over the past decade. So counting on rumors of a smartwatch or a TV to reinvigorate growth isn’t a bet I’d be willing to take. A safer call is that tapping into China Mobile Ltd. (ADR) (NYSE:CHL)’s LTE expansion with the well-established iPhone, should lead to a great source of growth moving forward. Another product category would just be a bonus. Luckily, we don’t have to count on it for Apple to do well.