I think the larger cheaper iPhone would be awesome for people who care less about resolution and more about how much space on their screen they have. It will cater to older phone buyers as well as budget conscious buyers. I don't think it'll ruin Apples name at all. I think it'll only spread it. It really doesn't matter what Apple makes the product out of as long as they package it like a premium device.
I mean, look at iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS. That's made of plastic and doesn't have the best resolution but people bought that anyway. As long as they provide the service, the experience and the Apple logo, it'll sell like hot cakes..
Great detective work. This is very interesting! Although, has Apple ever made their old flagship device into an entry level device? I know the MacBook Pro used to be more of a premium product and now the 13" is more like an entry level product, but the MacBook Pro 15" was the flagship product and not the 13". This makes me question whether Apple will really make the iPhone 5S the lower budget model.
It stems to reason that (as a quote below said) larger components would be cheaper to acquire and fit into a larger device....
I highly doubt this would happen as people with the larger iPhone will certainly complain about why Apple held the device back to accommodate the same specs as the smaller iPhone.
Apple, can't satisfy everyone. Although I am a fan of the 4" display as that iPhone can easily fit into my pocket, I don't think Apple will make two sized iPhones with the same specs. Not even the Macs and iPads have this option. The larger unit will certainly be different specced..
I agree with you that the larger phone can house larger and cheaper components. However, I don't think you are correct to say that the majority of people prefer larger phones. I mean, the majority of people don't come on MacRumor. It's difficult to draw this conclusion based on what you've read on the internet...
I mean, look at iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS. That's made of plastic and doesn't have the best resolution but people bought that anyway. As long as they provide the service, the experience and the Apple logo, it'll sell like hot cakes..
The Apple strategy for penetrating new, fast developing markets, which resulted in a great success for ipod line, always was "start from high end".
As you can see on ipod line, it started from most expensive ever iPods, then gradually cheaper models like iPod mini and iPod nano and iPod shuffle were introduced. At final stage, iPod touch (actually a brand new device with a brand new iOS, not iPod OS) was introduced, a new premium model. All segments of the market were covered as a result, competition was beaten, Apple triumphed. It took approximately 3-5 years to introduce cheaper iPod models to cover fully the low end segments (which means it took 3-5 years to saturate high end market).
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For iPads, the high end saturation period came last November or roughly 2.5 years after introduction of the first iPad. At this stage, mini came and began to successfully cover low-end segment with its smaller screen and slower processor (but extremely well designed and built).
For iPhones, it seems that saturation period took same duration as for iPods: approximately 4-5 years and we are close to witnessing first low end iPhone, similar to iPad to cover the missing segment. Historically that role was given to previous generation models such as iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4/4S when newer models were introduced. However, that iPhone strategy no longer works because for iPhone 5, new size 4 inch was chosen.
If iPhone 5S or 6 comes with similar size, it means that it can't be really a distinguishing feature, because 5S or 6 with 4 inch itself is becoming relatively small sized among 4.8-5 inched models. Therefore, the 4 inch model must become the new cheaper model, while we will see introduction of new 4.8-5 inch models as real premium models. I don't think that resolution will change; it will stay as Retina for 5, but just physically the very small pixels will be slightly enlarged still having one of highest resolutions on market. So for games, there is no difference but for web browsing an obvious advantage of a larger screen.
Therefore, I think we going to have
4.8-5 inch model
4 inch
3.5 inch
4 inch being budget model.
Great detective work. This is very interesting! Although, has Apple ever made their old flagship device into an entry level device? I know the MacBook Pro used to be more of a premium product and now the 13" is more like an entry level product, but the MacBook Pro 15" was the flagship product and not the 13". This makes me question whether Apple will really make the iPhone 5S the lower budget model.
It stems to reason that (as a quote below said) larger components would be cheaper to acquire and fit into a larger device....
Apple has a chance to do something in the smartphone industry that no one else has done:
Make two versions of the same flagship phone, but in different sizes. Samsung raised hopes of this with the GSIII Mini, which turned out to be a piece of crap in a smaller package, not a smaller GSIII.
If Apple makes the 5S or 6 in a 4" form factor, then uses the SAME internal hardware, but makes a 4.8" version, so the ONLY difference between them is the screen, it would make a LOT of people happy. Those of us who don't want a giant phone would be happy because we could still get a compact smartphone that has all the features and speed and high end build that a flagship device deserves (Android has exactly ZERO phones that fit this right now), while offering that same high end flagship experience with a high end 4.8" display for those who want a bigger phone.
If Apple moves their flagship device to 4.8 or 5, while keeping the 4" size as a lower cost alternative, it'll make me rather upset, as I have no interest in anything larger than about 4.2" in a phone, but I still want speed, build quality and high end features. If they make a big phone and make it 'cheap' like the article implies, it'll upset people the other way.
I highly doubt this would happen as people with the larger iPhone will certainly complain about why Apple held the device back to accommodate the same specs as the smaller iPhone.
Apple, can't satisfy everyone. Although I am a fan of the 4" display as that iPhone can easily fit into my pocket, I don't think Apple will make two sized iPhones with the same specs. Not even the Macs and iPads have this option. The larger unit will certainly be different specced..
Most of these responses epitomise why Steve Jobs was able to invent products people didn't know they wanted. You guys wont know why it's good until they market it to you. It's that simple.
Look... it is CHEAPER to make the device larger. Are you guys serious? It's the SMALL components that are expensive.
GAW!
And? Most people prefer phones that are bigger than the iPhone. I'm sorry but it is clear. If you can't see that you are simply blind. I know the demographic of this site prefers what we have. That's not what the rest of the world likes. Clearly.
Now, so many people quote past marketing spiels. Fragmentation blah blah. The thumb can't reach blah blah.
Apple intends to sell people the best product they can. That product is a bigger iPhone. It's cheaper and more desirable.
I agree with you that the larger phone can house larger and cheaper components. However, I don't think you are correct to say that the majority of people prefer larger phones. I mean, the majority of people don't come on MacRumor. It's difficult to draw this conclusion based on what you've read on the internet...