Apple ships absolutely enormous volumes of devices to virtually every strata of the economy, selling the "premium" iPhone 5 (which is still owned by kids with burger-flipping jobs -- my jobless niece in a working-class family has one), to the last generation iPhone 4S discount device, to the even older generation iPhone 4 ultra-discount device. Then there's the incredible value iPod Touch that Samsung can't compete with.

They may not offer dollar-store products, but they're more like the Old Navy of brands than any sort of elitist assumptions.

They make good products and they stay away from the very low end (though they do still pitch a three year old device), but luxury comments aren't rationally supported.

Worth noting that Samsung's smartphone ASP (average selling price) is just under $500. Apple's is currently $580. The narrative that Samsung made bank on waves on discount devices just aren't supported by economics, and the models are much closer than many seem to think.