American IT giant Apple has announced the latest smartphones with improved camera performance, such as quadrupling the number of pixels in high-end models, and concerns about a global economic slowdown are growing. , to what extent consumers will accept it.

Apple in the United States announced four models of the latest smartphone "iPhone 14" series at its headquarters in California on the 7th.



Due to the spread of the new coronavirus infection, online events have continued, but this time it was the first face-to-face announcement of new products in three years.



Of these, the high-end models are said to be able to take clearer photos by improving camera performance, such as increasing the number of pixels to 48 million pixels, which is four times as many as before.



The cheapest price in Japan starts at 119,800 yen including tax, and reservations will be accepted from the 9th of this month.



Regarding the number of pixels of smartphone cameras, South Korea's Samsung Electronics is also trying to improve performance, and competition is intensifying.



As concerns about the global economic slowdown grow, attention will be paid to how well the new high-priced products announced this time will be accepted by consumers.

U.S. research company April-June shipment share Apple ranked second

According to the American research firm IDC, the number of smartphones shipped worldwide in the three months from April to June this year was 286 million units, a decrease of 8.7% compared to the same period of the previous year. Did.



A research company analyzes that the global economic slowdown is behind concerns.



By manufacturer, South Korea's Samsung Electronics ranked first with 21.8%, followed by Apple, which rose from 3rd place in the same period last year to 2nd place with 15.6%, while China's Xiaomi dropped to 3rd place with 13.8%. Did.



IDC analyzes that although supply problems have improved and production has recovered, inventories have increased in all regions of the world due to the impact of record inflation and economic uncertainty.



There is also a view that these economic conditions have affected the timing of the announcement of this year's iPhone.



The announcement of the new model year ago was on October 13th, and last year was also on September 14th, so the announcement was about a week earlier.



“The risk of a global recession remains high and unpredictable,” said an investment bank analyst familiar with Apple’s business. ” and so on.