Counterpoint Research has analyzed its US market data for February 2019, and has found that the iPhone XR was the most successful of its range in this month. It was associated with approximately 26% of all Apple smartphone sales in this region for the month in question. The XR was also apparently responsible for the greatest amount of conversion from Android to iOS among consumers in that time and space.
Counterpoint reported that most of those who did not own an iPhone prior to buying an XR used the Samsung Galaxy S7. On the other hand, it appeared that the device associated with the converse was the iPhone 7; most of the people migrating away from iOS bought the Galaxy Note 9 instead.
As for the other new iPhones, the majority (29%) of people upgrading to an XS Max owned a 7 Plus prior to February 2019. Only 10% of those who bought this device in the month replaced the preceding flagship, the X. However, the XR's place at the top of the market was undisputed; furthermore, this is not even the first time this has happened. Therefore, maybe the 'budget-friendly' strategy could be more of Apple's thing after all.