Shipments of Apple’s ‘affordable’ new iPhone XR are forecast to hit 20 million in October, despite being priced somewhat higher than analyst expectations (US$749 versus US$700).

Ranked Apple’s cheapest 2018 smartphone, iPhone XR momentum is expected to continue into early 2019, with the handset tipped to account for over 50% of total new iPhone sales.

As previously reported, shipments of new iPhones are forecast to hit around 80 million in the second half of the year.

According to Taiwanese trade publication DigiTimes, shipments of the premium iPhone XS Max are expected to maintain a rate of 4 million – 5 million units per month (i.e. 20% of total new iPhone shipments).

Commentators consider Apple’s iPhone XS the least competitive of its new trio, with the handset tipped to gradually lose momentum from November.