- Apple builds premium products
Aesthetically. Parts wise - not that much different than other phones. Apple just had a larger profit margin.
- Apple builds premium products
Reasons Apple WONT make a low cost iPhone
- Apple builds premium products
- The previous generations iPhones are "low-er cost iPhones"
- Phil Schiller the Senior Vice President of Apple dismissed this rumor
I love these senseless predictions...
I also can't see this happening...
I atually prefer this design to the current, I hope the rumors are true.
And how long did that last? lol
Here is a quick mockup of what an iPhone would look like with the curved iPod Classic style front.
In my view, in 2013 Apple will launch an iPod touch with 3G/4G.
It might well look like this.
The device is not a low cost phone. But a low cost internet connected device.
A voice app may be included. And it would of course support Skype and other VOIP applications.
Price will be about $350 - $399
The strategy has a number of advantages.
1) It will not significantly cannibalize the iPhone and it's premium.
2) It will sell without a contract in channels that other phone makers can't easily touch. In supermarkets and music outlets and electronics stores.
3) To teenagers, gamers, social networking enthusiasts - it will be a perfect device.
4) While Samsung has an advantage in carrier shops, this takes the battle elsewhere.
Wow. Comparing apples to oranges on that one.
I see it happening if Apple wants to be able to compete in the low end market. Its for real.
The current iPod touch with the same exact screen as the iPhone 5 is 299 for a 32gb. add 3G/4G to it, start at 299 for an 8Gb model, 349 for a 16gb, and 399 for 32gb and apple will mop the floor with the prepaid market.
I also can't see this happening...
Why are people so against plastic casing for phones? If it is a high grade of plastic what's the problem?
Iphone 3g was plastic and the most durable out of the iphones. You could drop it and not worry about it shattering.
Plastic Macbook was offered 2 years ago.
Haha... We did.
I actually think- and have for a very long time- that this would be a very hot product. Offer the iPad data plan options and it would be especially ideal for #3. A lot of parents are going to pay several thousand in total to give their teenagers an iPhone. But that's the phone the teenagers want. So Apple shows up with this and fills that broad want/need with a product for people that would otherwise not get an iPhone. Instead of letting that market build up a big app library of an Android alternative, they lock them into the iOS sandbox and, later, when these teenagers gain enough financial strength to buy their own phone, there will be a strong incentive to buy a "real" iPhone.
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.
This is completely anti apple. A cheaper version of a product to attract the budget people. That's not what they do. They innovate and create an awesome product that makes the low budget people pinch pennies to afford it. And they always do!
4.8" iPhone is the next spot they need to get into.
This is exactly the reason for the low-priced iPhone rumor. Too many here are U.S.-centric believing that a $0 iPhone 3 is the lowest price possible. But only people like us Americans can be so easily fooled into believing there is such a thing as a "free" phone or a "cheap" phone when we are then signing up for a 2-year fee tail for "service".
The world is different. And with some U.S. carriers looking to move away from the hardware subsidy model, maybe we're finally going to at least consider doing the same. It is almost always the best deal to pay up for the phone and get a cheaper cost of service than buy into the illusion of a "free" phone.
That said though, I still think the spin that a plastic back is going to make much of a difference in cost is silly. Aluminum is not an expensive metal and yes I'm also considering the milling, etc too. A genuine cheap (non-subsidized) iPhone is going to have to make some meaningful cuts to the guts too.
And $299 or $450 is too high for a "cheap" phone. If the goal is to be very competitive on price, Apple needs to be genuinely competitive on price. A premium, cheap phone is not a sensible combination of adjectives. Yes, under $299 means it probably kills the iPod touch. Or maybe this is the next-gen iPod Touch that includes the phone hardware? "But that would kill the iPhone." Cannibalize yourself and make money or let other cannibalize you and take (your) money.
Is any good Android under $299 without a contract? Maybe this will be a product exclusively for emerging markets... like certain high(er) MPG cars priced below near-US-model equivalents and only sold in certain markets where American pricing would never sell?
I feel the same way.