It’s Not Easy Being Apple Inc. (AAPL)

Apple’s market share in high-end smartphones is still stellar, suggesting that the limiting factor for the company’s growth is price, not functionality or quality. For example, Apple sold more than 5 million iPhone 5 units in the first three days of availability across its nine initial launch markets. By contrast, Samsung’s Galaxy S4 sold just 10 million units in its first four weeks — and it was available in many more markets and from many more carriers.

Thus, the introduction of a lower-priced iPhone — and the addition of new carrier partners — may provide a bigger opportunity (not to mention a more realistic one) than a hypothetical “knockout punch” feature that would improve the iPhone’s desirability vis-a-vis Android devices. With just such a phone likely to arrive this fall, Apple should be able to quickly gain market share in the midrange ($200-$400) smartphone market.

Investors need to see the big picture beyond the inevitable griping that accompanies any change — or lack of change — to Apple’s products. It’s tough to be under the microscope as Apple always is, but from an investor’s perspective, the company is still making the right moves to create long-term value for shareholders.

The article It’s Not Easy Being Apple originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Adam Levine-Weinberg.

Fool contributor Adam Levine-Weinberg owns shares of Apple and BlackBerry and is long January 2014 $13 calls on BlackBerry. The Motley Fool recommends Apple and Google and owns shares of Apple, Google, and Microsoft.

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