Apple's Low-Cost iPhone Design Said to Be Mix of iPhone 5 and iPod Touch with iPod Classic Curves

[MacRumors]

iLounge follows up its reports from last week about Apple's future iOS device plans with a new report sharing details on Apple's rumored lower-cost iPhone. According to the report, the new device will indeed be constructed primarily of plastic and offers design similarities to the iPhone 5, iPod touch, and even the iPod classic.

From the front, the new iPhone looks almost identical to the iPhone 5--the same exact shape, with the same sensor, camera, and button arrangement. The 1136 x 640 screen isn't a surprise, but will be a nice step up in specs for the lowest-cost iPhone. Rather than making the display flush with the enclosure, as it was in the plastic iPhone 3G/3GS, the front glass sticks out a little, just as it does with the iPhone 5 and iPod touch. Despite the shift to plastic for the rest of the enclosure, our sources believe that Apple will continue to use Gorilla Glass for this model's screen.

Differences become more obvious when the new iPhone is turned on the side. The circular volume buttons of the iPhone 4, 4S, and 5 will shift to elongated, pill-shaped designs closer to the iPod touch and iPhone 3G/3GS.

The device is reportedly about half a millimeter taller and wider than the iPhone 5, but also about one millimeter thicker.

Similarities to the iPod classic are said to arrive in the form of the curves on the rear edges of the device. The report indicates that the sides and rear of the device will all be flat and connected by distinct curves rather than extending the curves all the way through the rear shell of the device.

Unlike the plastic iPhone 3G/3GS, which featured soft curves on all sides, the budget iPhone's curves start and end at flat surfaces, so each side and the back are flat. This seems like a trivial change, until you realize that it allows Apple to use flat rather than curve-matched parts: the right side has a flat, centered SIM card tray just like the iPhone 5's, while all of the buttons and ports are on flat rather than curved surfaces. A flat-backed iPhone won't rock on a flat surface when it vibrates, either.

The rear and bottom edges of the lower-cost iPhone will reportedly be something of a hybrid of the iPhone 5 and the current iPod touch, with a the bottom edge showing a similar layout of features to the iPhone 5 but with fewer holes.

Apple has long been rumored to be working on a lower-cost iPhone, but rumors have accelerated in recent weeks with indications that the company may launch the device later this year.

Article Link: Apple's Low-Cost iPhone Design Said to Be Mix of iPhone 5 and iPod Touch with iPod Classic Curves

[daneoni]

Am i the only one who thinks this is a waste of time? Isn't the 4S/4 more than sufficient for a low cost option?

[Lordskelic]

That looks pretty ugly.

[coltman75]

I really, really doubt. Apple usually doesn't cater to low-end markets. If they did, we would have had a $600 plastic MacBook years ago.

[Razeus]

I don't understand this low cost thing. Isn't that what selling the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S is for???

[Wilson1313]

I call BS. If they are still using the retina screen, A6 Processor, dual cameras, LTE, etc. then the cost savings for the outside shell are going to be negligible for a low cost version and will not be worth the R&D rather than just selling the previous model, which they have to get rid of anyway.

[Heresiarch]

So we will soon have the bigger iPhone+, and this cheaper iPhone-.

[Navdakilla]

Time for the Apple takeover of third world countries!

[carlos916]

Keep it up apple and ur going to lose customers to the new blackberry phone

[pnoyblazed]

Originally Posted by daneoni

Am i the only one who thinks this is a waste of time? Isn't the 4S/4 more than sufficient for a low cost option?

Total waste of time to create a 'budget' iPhone

[Tankmaze]

More iphone on the market = great market share = more apps and other content available

[bushido]

wouldnt a low cost, contract free iPhone kill the iPod Touch?

anyway, if they do release one i predict multiple colors like on the iPod Touch (probably plastic) and the "high end" iPhone staying at the "classic" black and white.

[PrayForDeath]

Originally Posted by Razeus

I don't understand this low cost thing. Isn't that what selling the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S is for???

Originally Posted by daneoni

Am i the only one who thinks this is a waste of time? Isn't the 4S/4 more than sufficient for a low cost option?

Apple is currently selling the iPhone 4 for $450, and the 4S for $550. That's not low-cost for countries where carrier subsidy isn't an option.

[newyorksole]

Ok this whole "low cost" iPhone thing is ridiculous. Sooo they're gonna sell the iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPhone 5S and a "low cost" iPhone? Nope.

[Jarrodbcall]

This actually makes total sense to me. By replacing the 4s with the budget phone, Apple is able to make a complete transition if screen size. All phones being sold will be 4", which will let them utilize the space in the upcoming ios update. Maybe they will incorporate the taller app switcher that has been floating around?

Also, it would complete the change to the new charger/synch cable. The consistency may be worth any extra RD costs.

[MaxxTraxx]

Doesn't make sense at all. They have the older generations of iPhones for this.

[iMikeT]

The ultimate MacRumor!

[gmanist1000]

Originally Posted by daneoni

Am i the only one who thinks this is a waste of time? Isn't the 4S/4 more than sufficient for a low cost option?

Agreed. Not sure why this would be a good idea.

[onthecouchagain]

If this turns out to be true, what will the naysayers do? The ones that said "Apple does not and will never deal with lower end iPhones"?

Their worlds must be crumbling.

And I wonder what the unlocked price of these will be...

[arbitter]

Would be nice if they do it, will widen up the market a lot. Not everyone wants to pay $650 -850 for a phone. Heck, an iPad 4th gen is way cheaper, $499-699 for wifi-only.

Nevertheless I don't really see Apple rolling out a cheaper model, since the profits would be much lower. Unless ofcourse they find a way to maintain the big profit margins. These phones will soon be outdated though - unless they keep two versions of iOS. A high-performance and a lower-performance version. Makes it even more unlikely. I do like the design though.

[Premium1]

Originally Posted by daneoni

Am i the only one who thinks this is a waste of time? Isn't the 4S/4 more than sufficient for a low cost option?

I feel the same. Plus I think they are wasting money when they could just keep making the iPhone 4 and sell in developing markets.

[TouchMint.com]

Still looks pretty legit (I would def buy 1 if I needed a new phone). I am guessing this will become the "free" phone with contract.

[canucksfan88]

the 4 and 4s are not "low budget." they are only $0 or $99 because of carrier subsidies. you buy them outright or out of contract they are still $499ish

low budget would be: buying an iPhone with no contract for $100-$250

[Kolmogorov]

Is going to be $ 450 for 16GB version without a contract, and free with a contract? Very nice prices!

What do you think?

[ElTorro]

Does it matter what the back side is made of or what it looks like? Most people will put the phone into a big plastic case anyway.