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

[luqtotheman]

I don't like it, does BMW use cheaper material to make cars more affordable to people? No they make top cars.

quality>>>quantity

[wizzerandchips]

Cheap phone, so bring back the iPhone 3 then, with an updated chip !

[mrsir2009]

Take that, plastic haters

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Originally Posted by luqtotheman

I don't like it, does BMW use cheaper material to make cars more affordable to people? No they make top cars.

quality>>>quantity

Yeah, and BMW aren't growing at a ridiculous rate, are they?

[tdtran1025]

Regardless the choice of housing material, substantial cutback in hardware features, as in camera, GPS, and internal storage has to be made in order to bring down the price. However, what can Apple possibly cut to make it a cheeper phone? I say why not sell the 3GS for less than $200, since the production tools and supply chain are already in place?

[wizzerandchips]

Originally Posted by luqtotheman

I don't like it, does BMW use cheaper material to make cars more affordable to people? No they make top cars.

quality>>>quantity

Mercedes tried that in 99-2002, cheaper parts, and boy it showed, rust problems, electrical faults you name it.

[rdlink]

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.

I guess I just don't get that. If you can't afford a $200 smart phone, why can you afford to pay about $1400 over two years for service?

[lifeinhd]

"internal metal parts being able to be seen from outside through special design".

This is interesting. They haven't had such a design since the original iMac.



Not that I would mind if they brought it back, but seeing the internal electronics as on the revised iMac G3 is nicer than seeing metal IMHO.

[mrsir2009]

Originally Posted by guru_ck

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

Yeah, in the U.S they do. But this cheaper iPhone will be aimed at 3rd world markets, where everyone people buy their phones upfront, and are therefore sensitive to the initial handset cost.

[hamkor04]

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.

Jobs pushed to produce even cheaper Macs but everybody was against him. Eventually, they will do other "options"

[mrsir2009]

Originally Posted by rdlink

I guess I just don't get that. If you can't afford a $200 smart phone, why can you afford to pay about $1400 over two years for service?

It's not a $200 smartphone. It's a $800-$1050 smartphone, depending on the market it's being sold in.

[gotluck]

Originally Posted by rdlink

I guess I just don't get that. If you can't afford a $200 smart phone, why can you afford to pay about $1400 over two years for service?

prepaid plans I would guess, people could even use it as a dumbphone with data only on wifi

[mrsir2009]

Originally Posted by Rockondevil

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

They already do, don't they?

[justperry]

Originally Posted by rdlink

I guess I just don't get that. If you can't afford a $200 smart phone, why can you afford to pay about $1400 over two years for service?

One word: Prepaid.

There's a world outside of the US, most places don't have those ridiculous prices as in the US.

Originally Posted by mrsir2009

Yeah, in the U.S they do. But this cheaper iPhone will be aimed at 3rd world markets, where everyone people buy their phones upfront, and are therefore sensitive to the initial handset cost.

Exactly

[SkippyThorson]

Originally Posted by akfgpuppet

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

Exactly what I thought - a return of the 3G design? Not the same exact phone, but at least a phone with a one-piece, all-around plastic back. Just like the 3G / 3GS.

Now as long as we're going retro with design inspiration, I'd like an iMac G4 with current-tech internals.

[hamkor04]

Originally Posted by mrsir2009

Yeah, in the U.S they do. But this cheaper iPhone will be aimed at 3rd world markets, where everyone people buy their phones upfront, and are therefore sensitive to the initial handset cost.

lol, 3rd world. most 3rd world Cellular companies not ripping of the customers (yet). So they still buying their iPhones since 2007

[rdlink]

Originally Posted by mrsir2009

It's not a $200 smartphone. It's a $800-$1050 smartphone, depending on the market it's being sold in.

In that case a cheaper one would be $500-$750. My question stands.

[hamkor04]

Originally Posted by mrsir2009

They already do, don't they?

this is a sarcasm, isn't it ?

[charlituna]

Originally Posted by akfgpuppet

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

I wouldn't be so sure about that. At least not complete compatibility. If they are up to something it could be some kind of $100-150 no contract iPhone that is literally just a phone. Call and text, limited other apps like just contacts, calendar, notepad. Basically a 'jitterbug' made by Apple

[mrsir2009]

Originally Posted by hamkor04

this is a sarcasm, isn't it ?

No... Apple sells many different versions of their MacBook line. There's the 11" Air, which starts at $999, and then all the way up the top there's the rMBP, which costs upwards of $1700. Big variation

[macs4nw]

Originally Posted by basesloaded190

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

Precisely! The 'thinking' behind these persistent rumors that just won't go away, is for APPLE to produce a good quality phone, that is inexpensive without those pesky two year contracts, and that has mass appeal in those emerging markets, where many phones are on pre-paid plans. A tall order indeed; we'll find out sooner or later whether APPLE has an appetite for that. I wouldn't venture to place any bets on this, for or against.

[ConCat]

Originally Posted by Peace

This isn't an older model.

But you know it's going to have most of the same parts as any of the older models in order to keep the price down. I don't see the point.

[komodrone]

liquid metal?

[lordofthereef]

Originally Posted by Rockondevil

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.

We got a cheaper version of the iPad... The mini.

They have dropped entry level prices of the MacBooks and iMacs multiple times. Look at the air. It. An be had under $1000. What was its
Price point when it launched?

But I see what you mean. This seams to be a product ape officially catering to come in at a lower price point. Of say that the iPad mini did exactly that already.

[mrsir2009]

Originally Posted by rdlink

In that case a cheaper one would be $500-$750. My question stands.

On prepaid you can get plans that cost a lot less than $58 a month. Outside of the U.S you can get plans that give you 500mb data, unlimited texts, unlimited calls to the same carrier and 60 mins of calls to other carriers for $19. That's more than enough for the average third worlder.

[sinser]

Hmmm...if that turns to be true it sounds like bad times for Apple IMO