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Case for Lower-Cost iPhone with Thicker Profile and Curved Edges Surfaces
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1) this is a rumor. 2) the 3GS was actually a gorgeous phone. while i like the new designs, it the rounded designs were much more comfortable to hold.
The iPod touch is 299. If there is a cheaper iPhone it will be 449 which is far less than 649 for a iPhone 5 without contract. But then again, what will happen with iPhone 5 when iPhone 5S comes out? It should be 549.
So cheaper iPhone 449, iPhone 5 - 549, iPhone 5S - 649.
At the moment we know only the iPhone 5 specs, so what will make the cheaper iPhone costs less and the 5S costs more? That is the question.
My guess - the cheaper iPhone will have the 4S spec with the new conector and 4 inch display and the iPhone 5S will have some major improvement over the iPhone 5 to stay competitive.
OR
Just discontinue iPhone 4 and 4S and offer the iPhone 5 for a 449 without contract and the iPhone 5S - 549 without contract which will mean reduce margin but mantain Apple quality.
CONCLUSION
Apple cant offer cheaper iPhone (below 399) because it will kill the iPod touch line and wont leave a space for the iPhone 5 when the new generation comes out at 549. So, I dont see it.
So cheaper iPhone 449, iPhone 5 - 549, iPhone 5S - 649.
At the moment we know only the iPhone 5 specs, so what will make the cheaper iPhone costs less and the 5S costs more? That is the question.
My guess - the cheaper iPhone will have the 4S spec with the new conector and 4 inch display and the iPhone 5S will have some major improvement over the iPhone 5 to stay competitive.
OR
Just discontinue iPhone 4 and 4S and offer the iPhone 5 for a 449 without contract and the iPhone 5S - 549 without contract which will mean reduce margin but mantain Apple quality.
CONCLUSION
Apple cant offer cheaper iPhone (below 399) because it will kill the iPod touch line and wont leave a space for the iPhone 5 when the new generation comes out at 549. So, I dont see it.
I really hope these rumours come true. My iPhone 4 is becoming too slow now (especially once iOS 7 comes out) and I've held off on upgrading to the iPhone 5 due to the higher price (it went from 600 to 680 euro) and lesser durability due to the aluminium bending and chipping. I've already seen this several times with some of my friends.
Cheaper and plastic would be the ideal solution for me, probably a lot more durable (and at least cheaper to replace the housing), and better signal traversal because it would insulate the antennas from my fingers. Plus the price would (hopefully) be much more comfortable. I think 680 euro is just way too much for a phone, So far I've always bought second hand because of this.
In terms of the design, I had an iPhone 1 for 4 years and loved the feel of it, much more so than the iPhone 4 (which was better in every other way). These mockups look very similar to that, except the back is all plastic, not part metal.
Cheaper and plastic would be the ideal solution for me, probably a lot more durable (and at least cheaper to replace the housing), and better signal traversal because it would insulate the antennas from my fingers. Plus the price would (hopefully) be much more comfortable. I think 680 euro is just way too much for a phone, So far I've always bought second hand because of this.
In terms of the design, I had an iPhone 1 for 4 years and loved the feel of it, much more so than the iPhone 4 (which was better in every other way). These mockups look very similar to that, except the back is all plastic, not part metal.
Your posts reminded me of `Verizon iPhone is not going to happen` days. Made me laugh.
And you said `Apple aren`t going to fragment iOS`. So keeping 4/4S is not fragmenting?
With a low cost iPhone, Apple can make the lightning a standard. 4 inch screen a standard. And by giving something `new` (new look, old internals), they will get people`s attention.
But you can believe what you want. I`m willing to bet it is coming.
What's with the spooky music. Makes me think the NSA is watching me while I look at the video lol.
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Makes sense to introduce it this year so they can alternate new designs & upgrades with the main iPhone. New cheaper iPhone this year, new design iPhone 6 next year, new design cheaper iPhone the following year, and so on. Keeps the buzz going.
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Makes sense to introduce it this year so they can alternate new designs & upgrades with the main iPhone. New cheaper iPhone this year, new design iPhone 6 next year, new design cheaper iPhone the following year, and so on. Keeps the buzz going.
i don't like the idea of a low-cost iphone, iphone has a class, it's just one phone against every other smartphone, the low-cost iphone will only damage the company's standards.
Love my 3Gs, still going strong but I just hope it holds out until the 5s is released.
Same here, have seen nothing that made me want to upgrade from my 3GS but now with IOS7, its time to retire it.
I like the 3GS form factor, its comfortable to hold and its just the right weight for me. Ive held the 5 and it feels very light and flimsy, so my first call will be to put the 5S it into a heavier case to give it some girth
Not necessarily. We have a low cost iPod, in the form of the shuffle, and that product is of the same quality as all other Apple products. I think many people use the word "cheap", when they should be saying "less expensive". Even "low cost iPhone" can make the thing sound cheap. What is low cost anyway? I would call it "lower cost iPhone". Not the er emphasis.
Same here, have seen nothing that made me want to upgrade from my 3GS but now with IOS7, its time to retire it.
I like the 3GS form factor, its comfortable to hold and its just the right weight for me. Ive held the 5 and it feels very light and flimsy, so my first call will be to put the 5S it into a heavier case to give it some girth
LOL love how Apple spends millions on the design and the first thing most people do is put their new iPhone into a cheap plastic case.
Could be the reason for the 'cheap' iPhone, cut out the middle man.
My guess it will have a 3G kind of look? I wonder what the iPod Touch price will become if this soon is a reality, if it even changes at all.
So answer this:
The iOS will be the same, as taking things from that doesn't make it cheaper. So what hardware spec would a cheaper iphone have? Im guessing it'll still have a rear camera as any phone has that, so will it not have a front camera, so no facetime? The back would be a bit cheaper to make being plastic, but i can't see what else they would miss to make it signifcantly cheaper.
Also, i would say when you have an Apple way of keeping at least the last 3 iphones available to purchase, and say that the last one (eg the 8GB iphone 4 at the moment) has paid for is manufacturing tool up, the parts are older, so probably cheaper, then don't we already have a cheaper iphone? The only thing i can think is any new cheap iphone is going to be the internals of the old 4 with a bigger screen?
The iOS will be the same, as taking things from that doesn't make it cheaper. So what hardware spec would a cheaper iphone have? Im guessing it'll still have a rear camera as any phone has that, so will it not have a front camera, so no facetime? The back would be a bit cheaper to make being plastic, but i can't see what else they would miss to make it signifcantly cheaper.
Also, i would say when you have an Apple way of keeping at least the last 3 iphones available to purchase, and say that the last one (eg the 8GB iphone 4 at the moment) has paid for is manufacturing tool up, the parts are older, so probably cheaper, then don't we already have a cheaper iphone? The only thing i can think is any new cheap iphone is going to be the internals of the old 4 with a bigger screen?
This. How often have the speculative case designs that keep popping up on MacRumors been correct? Fewer times than incorrect, I'm betting. As someone mentioned earlier in this thread, remember how absolutely certain case manufacturers were about the teardrop iPhone 5?
At least to me, I don't think these stories are worth the electricity it takes to write the text and photos to disk on MacRumors' servers.
LOL love how Apple spends millions on the design and the first thing most people do is put their new iPhone into a cheap plastic case.
Could be the reason for the 'cheap' iPhone, cut out the middle man.
For most people it's just a phone. A tool to be used. It's also an expensive investment and wont get replaced for a few years so best to protect it.
Others put it on a plinth.
To each, their own.
I agree 100%. If Apple made a outright cost $300 iPhone, I'd buy one tomorrow. If the build quality was up to scratch. I hate the plastic. I use an iPhone 1 and I like that better in terms of build quality then the 3G/3GS
I hope they make this new phone harder to scratch away the coating on the edges of the phone. Makes my iPhone 5 look really worn when the rest of its in excellent condition and well kept,. I would like a more rounded design for holding comfort as well but in reality I suspect if the internals are only as good as the 5 or worse I wouldn't move too it and wait for the 6 instead.
My Favourite design was still the original iPhone, just a shame I only got to play with one briefly as I avoided it because of the lack of 3G!
My Favourite design was still the original iPhone, just a shame I only got to play with one briefly as I avoided it because of the lack of 3G!