Lower-Cost iPhone Said to Use 'Super-Thin' Plastic and Fiberglass Shell in 4-6 Colors

[adder7712]

So it's ok for Apple to use plastic but no other manufacturers?

Granted, it's a low-end phone but still...

[Syk]

I think plastic is fine just like it is for Samsung. My phone is in a plastic case anyway.

[apolloa]

I don't mind plastic on mid range or low end phones, despite that the Nexus 4 uses glass like the iPhone 4, but I don't think Samsung should use plastic for the Galaxy S4 and then charge the same for it as the HTC one, Xperia Z, iPhone etc. And why can't Samsung use metal or glass like everyone else?

[xofruitcake]

Originally Posted by adder7712

So it's ok for Apple to use plastic but no other manufacturers?

Granted, it's a low-end phone but still...

heh heh, I think you answer your own question. If you pay $600-700 for a phone, you expect good quality. If you pay $300-400, you expect lesser quality. Like it or not, the look and feel of a smartphone is part of what we get for our money. Some people care a lot about the looks and feel while other don't. I think the interesting rumor is that the low cost iphone will use a shell make with a material mixing plastic and fiber glass. It should be interesting to make the comparison for phone in the same $300-400 price point and see how Apple come out.

[macs4nw]

Originally Posted by BobZap

Honestly, this is the most sensible rumor I've seen.
They need to retire the 4 and 4S this year in order to get all phones on the same 4" screen and lightning connector.

Agreed about the 4 and 4s. It sounds sensible enough as far as streamlining of product lines is concerned: An iPhone 5s and a 5, each in two configurations, ie the GSM/CDMA world version and the TD Chinese version. Where it gets more convoluted is, when onboard memory and colors are added to the mix. If they could come up with a single GSM/CDMA/TD chip, that would of course cut the line up in half.

[Michael Scrip]

Originally Posted by jonnysods

But don't you think it will eat into margins? If I can get a similar spec iPhone for mega cheap why would I get the expensive one?

It's like the mini. It has to eat into 9.7" iPad sales...

Yeah... if you can get a "similar" iPhone for half the price of the "good" iPhone... I bet many people would just got for the cheaper one instead.

I'm just wondering what kind of line Apple will draw to differentiate the two types of iPhone.

Currently... Apple sells older iPhones for lower prices. But they aren't low enough for some markets. I have no idea how they will make a less-expensive, but truly capable iPhone.

iPods come in all shapes and sizes... from the $49 iPod Shuffle to the $399 iPod Touch. But they are two different devices with different use-cases.

I don't know how they can put the name "iPhone" on something that won't deliver the full iPhone experience.

[markie]

Originally Posted by mozumder

Bring back the original iPhone, without 3G/4G/LTE, and put in a modern CPU & display. It would be perfect for all the people that don't only needs a phone & iPod without an annoying data plan.

Except, of course, for the severe lack of coverage. AT&T no longer has GSM (2G) over their entire network area. Even in places that do, some areas (such as New York) are running minimal and severely overloaded GSM networks to allow an additional UMTS (3G) channel. This is why AT&T doesn't allow 3G disable options on phones they sell. They want to shut down GSM. No AT&T phone, even prepaid, sold today does not support UMTS.

So no, no that isn't an option at all.

[brdeveloper]

Originally Posted by JilzVT

Beginning of the end for Apple if this happens.

They're not a company who competes on price by giving up quality.

What in the report suggests a drop in quality? Plastic? A flexible plastic case actually would give almost the same - if not more - protection to the device internals than a rigid metal case.

I see no problems with a cheaper iPhone enclosed in a plastic case (but with a Gorilla Glass) like in the Samsung devices. The same way I like my late-2009 White Macbook. If a metal body gave me waterproof resistance then it would be another story.

----------

Originally Posted by markie

Except, of course, for the severe lack of coverage. AT&T no longer has GSM (2G) over their entire network area. Even in places that do, some areas (such as New York) are running minimal and severely overloaded GSM networks to allow an additional UMTS (3G) channel. This is why AT&T doesn't allow 3G disable options on phones they sell. They want to shut down GSM. No AT&T phone, even prepaid, sold today does not support UMTS.

So no, no that isn't an option at all.

Except in other countries. Here in Brazil GSM is the rule, 3G/HSDPA is only available in the big cities. Nokia still sells a lot of 2G-only + WiFi phones here. This is what I always say, but Apple needs to change its way of thinking when designing a cheaper iPhone. It has nothing to do with less build quality but it has to do with what subset of features is best to the consumers of a less expensive iPhone.

[brdeveloper]

Originally Posted by Michael Scrip

(...)
Currently... Apple sells older iPhones for lower prices. But they aren't low enough for some markets. I have no idea how they will make a less-expensive, but truly capable iPhone.(...)

Think of an iPhone 4 in a cheaper case, no 4G/LTE, 8GB of internal memory, no retina display.

[Michael Scrip]

Originally Posted by brdeveloper

Think of an iPhone 4 in a cheaper case, no 4G/LTE, 8GB of internal memory, no retina display.

I guess... but then they'd have to sell it for at least $299 to maintain the Apple brand and profit margins. Remember... Apple doesn't ship junk.

There are still Android phones that you can buy unlocked for $149... Apple isn't competing against those, right?

[CoolSpot]

The real question is "How will Apple cripple this phone so that the high-end iphones remain attractive?"

They certainly aren't going to let people get away with just a plastic case and the full iphone experience.

[Premium1]

Originally Posted by huntercr

Am I the only person who no longer wants thinner and lighter?
The new iPhone 5 is almost too light. It needs to have some heft, otherwise, it makes it hard to hold.

Agree make it a little thicker with a larger battery

[i486dx2-66]

Originally Posted by CoolSpot

The real question is "How will Apple cripple this phone so that the high-end iphones remain attractive?"

They certainly aren't going to let people get away with just a plastic case and the full iphone experience.

One possibility is that it basically matches the iPhone 5 for features, but doesn't have the advanced features that the next premium iPhone will have. So it isn't "crippled" at all (relative to what is available now) - it just doesn't get whatever hardware improvements are coming next.

[brdeveloper]

Originally Posted by Michael Scrip

I guess... but then they'd have to sell it for at least $299 to maintain the Apple brand and profit margins. Remember... Apple doesn't ship junk.

There are still Android phones that you can buy unlocked for $149... Apple isn't competing against those, right?

I think the lowest end phone that Apple can make would be someone that could compete with a Galaxy Ace II. Actually, a less expensive iPhone would cost the price of a Galaxy SIII Mini, but would be just slightly better than an Ace II.

[mossme89]

If the build quality is at least on par with the iPod Touch, it should be a hit. Take the new Touch for a spin. Yeah it's plastic, but it still feels great. My biggest worry with a low cost iPhone is an antiquated processor. I hope it at least has an A6. An A5 is starting to be a bit dated.

[oliversl]

The cheaper iPhone is as always, the 2 year old iPhone at new iPhone launch event.

[CarlosQG]

Instagram was iPhone-only and now that every Android has it, it sucks.

The same with the iPhone; "premium" people (ugh, what a horrible word did I choose) buy Apple products and now that everyone will be able to get one it won't be cool and exclusive anymore. D:

[Patriks7]

Originally Posted by MonkeySee....

I know what you mean. I wouldn't get one personally but I don't think there is anything wrong with it.

These look really nice:

Image

Is this actually available somewhere?

[MonkeySee....]

Originally Posted by Patriks7

Is this actually available somewhere?

Maybe this place?

https://mendmyi.com/colourlab-v2/iphone/iphone-5/

[Droidrage729]

I think spec wise the cheaper iPhone 5 will have 4s internals with maybe a 5 mp camera. Which I am ok with long as its 300-350. I have never had an issue with plastic phones its all I've had since I got my iPhone 5 and my thought process when getting one was whoa it's gunna be awesome to have an aluminum phone yessss.

[carlgo]

Looking back, clearly it was unwise to expect one iPhone model to carry the load for an enormous company competing in a 7 billion person market.