Low-Cost iPhone to Use Plastic or Hybrid Plastic/Metal Design, Due in Late 2013

MacRumors · Jan 14, 2013, 10:15 PM

Digitimes provides more details about the rumored cheaper iPhone that has been circulating. According to their supply chain sources, this new entry-level iPhone is said to adopt plastic for its chassis rather than the glass and aluminum that has been used on their current models.

iPhone 3GS (2009) had a plastic enclosure.

They also cite other circulating rumors that suggest that the cheaper iPhone will alternatively offer a "chassis mixed with plastic and metal, with the internal metal parts being able to be seen from outside through special design".

The publication also reports that the components for the low-cost iPhone are going through validation and the final product may come to market in the second half of 2013.

Digitimes reignited the long-running rumors of a low-cost iPhone last week. The report was quickly followed by a Wall Street Journal and Reuters report claiming the same, and offering a target price of $99-$149. Subsequent comments by Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller seemed to suggest that Apple was dismissive of that possibility, but that article was later retracted by the original publication.

Article Link: Low-Cost iPhone to Use Plastic or Hybrid Plastic/Metal Design, Due in Late 2013

sshambles · Jan 14, 2013, 10:16 PM

This has already been debunked though...

macs4nw · Jan 14, 2013, 10:17 PM

Here we go again!

arn · Jan 14, 2013, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sshambles

This has already been debunked though...

debunked, and the possibly un-debunked?

http://www.macrumors.com/2013/01/11/...ource-article/

arn

irDigital0l · Jan 14, 2013, 10:18 PM

The smallest thing to happen to iPhone since iPhone.

ben123456 · Jan 14, 2013, 10:20 PM

I can see the market. Alot of people I know would love to own a iPhone but can't due to cost.

akfgpuppet · Jan 14, 2013, 10:22 PM

My guess, if it will exist, is a 3GS with updated internals that can be compatible with iOS 7.

guru_ck · Jan 14, 2013, 10:24 PM

I thought they already offered an older model that's $0 with contract?

(Kerfuffle) · Jan 14, 2013, 10:24 PM

I still don't understand the point of this when you can get an iPhone 4 for free or a 4S for $100. Plus you get fancy glass and aluminum enclosures with those two.

KPOM · Jan 14, 2013, 10:25 PM

Maybe Apple cut their orders of iPhone 5 screens to ramp up orders of screens for this?

gugy · Jan 14, 2013, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by (Kerfuffle)

I still don't understand the point of this when you can get an iPhone 4 for free or a 4S for $100. Plus you get fancy glass and aluminum enclosures with those two.

but you are tied to a contract. This will be primarily used by non-contract folks that do not want to pay high prices for the iPhone.

ifij775 · Jan 14, 2013, 10:26 PM

Only changing the case doesn't seem like enough to offer a considerable discount over the usual price cut for older models. Even an 8gb downgrade on flash memory seems like too little

sshambles · Jan 14, 2013, 10:28 PM

I admit, I miss the white plastic roundness of the 3GS. It would make it cheaper instead of aluminium or glass.

It makes sense to make a cheaper one. I just didn't expect it from Apple, but if it sells and works well, why not?

Rockondevil · Jan 14, 2013, 10:28 PM

To me at least it doesn't really feel Apple to provide a cheap alternative.
Apple knows its market and makes products for that.

Are we going to see cheaper versions of their MacBooks and iMacs?

What they should be doing is discounting the previous generation a bit more than they do.

Ironclaw27 · Jan 14, 2013, 10:28 PM

Still rockin' the 3GS BABY YEA!

AppleScruff1 · Jan 14, 2013, 10:28 PM

I suppose plastic will suddenly become magical and innovative.

iMikeT · Jan 14, 2013, 10:28 PM

Yup, iPhone 3G's and 3GS's, which are 3-4 generations old for the low-cost market. I wouldn't be surprised by this.

But seriously, this again?

Peace · Jan 14, 2013, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guru_ck

I thought they already offered an older model that's $0 with contract?

This isn't an older model.

froa · Jan 14, 2013, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ben123456

I can see the market. Alot of people I know would love to own a iPhone but can't due to cost.

They can get a much cheaper 4/4S then.

basesloaded190 · Jan 14, 2013, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ben123456

I can see the market. Alot of people I know would love to own a iPhone but can't due to cost.

The main costs come in the form of a two year contract, not the cost of the phone itself imo.

iNVERSE · Jan 14, 2013, 10:32 PM

Every time an article is posted citing DigiTimes, MacRumors conveniently starts the post with "Digitimes..." that way I don't waste my time reading the article.

I don't believe there is a chance there will be a cheap iPhone alternative now, or anytime in the future.

iisdan · Jan 14, 2013, 10:32 PM

There wont be a low cost iphone, there is the iphone 4. If they do i will immidiatly pull all my stock out of that company.

gotluck · Jan 14, 2013, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by froa

They can get a much cheaper 4/4S then.

contract free iphone 4 8gb is $450

bushman4 · Jan 14, 2013, 10:33 PM

If Apple resorts to this,then its truly a sign that Apples innovation and ingenuity are finished. Theres no way Apple can obtain a good profit margin on these Low end iPhones . Besides the country where Apple is going to sell these are more on the poorer side and the people are not purchasing Macs etc.

AppleScruff1 · Jan 14, 2013, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iNVERSE

Every time an article is posted citing DigiTimes, MacRumors conveniently starts the post with "Digitimes..." that way I don't waste my time reading the article.

I don't believe there is a chance there will be a cheap iPhone alternative now, or anytime in the future.

Just like there wasn't going to be a mini iPad or larger iPhone?

Jan 14, 2013, 10:15 PM	#1
MacRumors macrumors bot Join Date: Apr 2001	Low-Cost iPhone to Use Plastic or Hybrid Plastic/Metal Design, Due in Late 2013 Digitimes provides more details about the rumored cheaper iPhone that has been circulating. According to their supply chain sources, this new entry-level iPhone is said to adopt plastic for its chassis rather than the glass and aluminum that has been used on their current models. iPhone 3GS (2009) had a plastic enclosure. They also cite other circulating rumors that suggest that the cheaper iPhone will alternatively offer a "chassis mixed with plastic and metal, with the internal metal parts being able to be seen from outside through special design". The publication also reports that the components for the low-cost iPhone are going through validation and the final product may come to market in the second half of 2013. Digitimes reignited the long-running rumors of a low-cost iPhone last week. The report was quickly followed by a Wall Street Journal and Reuters report claiming the same, and offering a target price of $99-$149. Subsequent comments by Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller seemed to suggest that Apple was dismissive of that possibility, but that article was later retracted by the original publication. Article Link: Low-Cost iPhone to Use Plastic or Hybrid Plastic/Metal Design, Due in Late 2013
	2

Jan 14, 2013, 10:16 PM	#2
sshambles macrumors member Join Date: Oct 2005	This has already been debunked though... __________________ iPod Shuffle 3rd Gen, iWatch Nano 6th Gen, B&W Classic 4th Gen, Classic 6th Gen 1st Rev; iPhone 5, iPod HiFi, iPad 3, MacBook Air 13" 2012, Apple TV 3rd Gen, iMac 27" 2012, Time Capsule 3TB.
	4

Jan 14, 2013, 10:18 PM	#5
irDigital0l macrumors 68020 Join Date: Dec 2010	The smallest thing to happen to iPhone since iPhone.
	43

Jan 14, 2013, 10:24 PM	#9
(Kerfuffle) macrumors newbie Join Date: Sep 2012	I still don't understand the point of this when you can get an iPhone 4 for free or a 4S for $100. Plus you get fancy glass and aluminum enclosures with those two. __________________ Black/Slate 64GB iPhone 5; Black original iPad; 2011 Macbook Pro
	30

Jan 14, 2013, 10:26 PM	#12
ifij775 macrumors regular Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Boston, MA	Only changing the case doesn't seem like enough to offer a considerable discount over the usual price cut for older models. Even an 8gb downgrade on flash memory seems like too little __________________ AAPL Stock Investor http://aaplstockinvestor.blogspot.com
	1

Jan 14, 2013, 10:17 PM	#3
macs4nw macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2010	Here we go again!
	22

Jan 14, 2013, 10:20 PM	#6
ben123456 macrumors member Join Date: Jan 2012	I can see the market. Alot of people I know would love to own a iPhone but can't due to cost.
	18

Jan 14, 2013, 10:22 PM	#7
akfgpuppet macrumors newbie Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: The 831	My guess, if it will exist, is a 3GS with updated internals that can be compatible with iOS 7.
	28

Jan 14, 2013, 10:24 PM	#8
guru_ck macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bay Area, CA	I thought they already offered an older model that's $0 with contract?
	22

Jan 14, 2013, 10:25 PM	#10
KPOM macrumors 604 Join Date: Oct 2010	Maybe Apple cut their orders of iPhone 5 screens to ramp up orders of screens for this?
	1

Jan 14, 2013, 10:28 PM	#13
sshambles macrumors member Join Date: Oct 2005	I admit, I miss the white plastic roundness of the 3GS. It would make it cheaper instead of aluminium or glass. It makes sense to make a cheaper one. I just didn't expect it from Apple, but if it sells and works well, why not? __________________ iPod Shuffle 3rd Gen, iWatch Nano 6th Gen, B&W Classic 4th Gen, Classic 6th Gen 1st Rev; iPhone 5, iPod HiFi, iPad 3, MacBook Air 13" 2012, Apple TV 3rd Gen, iMac 27" 2012, Time Capsule 3TB.
	4

Jan 14, 2013, 10:28 PM	#14
Rockondevil macrumors member Join Date: Aug 2012	To me at least it doesn't really feel Apple to provide a cheap alternative. Apple knows its market and makes products for that. Are we going to see cheaper versions of their MacBooks and iMacs? What they should be doing is discounting the previous generation a bit more than they do.
	3

Jan 14, 2013, 10:28 PM	#15
Ironclaw27 macrumors newbie Join Date: Dec 2012	Still rockin' the 3GS BABY YEA!
	17

Jan 14, 2013, 10:28 PM	#16
AppleScruff1 macrumors 601 Join Date: Feb 2011	I suppose plastic will suddenly become magical and innovative.
	51

Jan 14, 2013, 10:28 PM	#17
iMikeT macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: California	Yup, iPhone 3G's and 3GS's, which are 3-4 generations old for the low-cost market. I wouldn't be surprised by this. But seriously, this again?
	2

Jan 14, 2013, 10:32 PM	#21
iNVERSE macrumors newbie Join Date: Dec 2012	Every time an article is posted citing DigiTimes, MacRumors conveniently starts the post with "Digitimes..." that way I don't waste my time reading the article. I don't believe there is a chance there will be a cheap iPhone alternative now, or anytime in the future.
	4

Jan 14, 2013, 10:32 PM	#22
iisdan macrumors member Join Date: Feb 2010	There wont be a low cost iphone, there is the iphone 4. If they do i will immidiatly pull all my stock out of that company.
	2

Jan 14, 2013, 10:33 PM	#24
bushman4 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Mar 2011	If Apple resorts to this,then its truly a sign that Apples innovation and ingenuity are finished. Theres no way Apple can obtain a good profit margin on these Low end iPhones . Besides the country where Apple is going to sell these are more on the poorer side and the people are not purchasing Macs etc.
	3

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