Let's see. I know they are playing the long game, but you're grossly underestimating how big the market for cheap stuff is. Even if it's subsidized by spyware.
I doubt Apple wants to be in that market, it's a gross market (low margins, tons of support costs, etc.).
Just to give you an example, French PC site, laptop section for €400 to €600 (they also have 10 or so under €400):
https://www.fnac.com/PC-de-400-a-600-Euro/Par-prix/nsh93675/...
So about 230 (!) products in total, for a single site. In poorer countries, you can find even cheaper laptops.
Similar thing for phones, a $400 phone is not cheap. A $100-150 phone is cheap, like the Huaweis, Honors, Xiaomis, Oppos, Vivos, etc of the world (you don't even get those in the States).
I doubt Apple wants to be in that market, it's a gross market (low margins, tons of support costs, etc.).
Just to give you an example, French PC site, laptop section for €400 to €600 (they also have 10 or so under €400):
https://www.fnac.com/PC-de-400-a-600-Euro/Par-prix/nsh93675/...
So about 230 (!) products in total, for a single site. In poorer countries, you can find even cheaper laptops.
Similar thing for phones, a $400 phone is not cheap. A $100-150 phone is cheap, like the Huaweis, Honors, Xiaomis, Oppos, Vivos, etc of the world (you don't even get those in the States).