Apple Reportedly Plans to Launch Revised 4.7-inch iPhone 8 in March 2020 to Boost Share of Mid-Tier Smartphone Market

[MacRumors]

Apple will launch a new version of the 4.7-inch iPhone 8 early next year with updated internals in a bid to boost its share of the mid-tier smartphone market, according to a report out today by the Chinese-language Economic Daily News (EDN) [Google Translate].

Citing sources from Taiwan-based Fubon Securities Investment Trust, EDN claims Apple's revised iPhone 8, launching in March 2020, will retain its 4.7-inch LCD display but will include a new PCB design featuring an A13 processor, a single-lens rear camera, and 128GB of base storage.

Production units are expected to reach 20 million, with all orders going to manufacturer Pegatron. EDN believes the new 4.7-inch iPhone 8 will have an aggressive price tag of around $649, as Apple attempts to boost its share of the mid-tier market, where it has lost out to Chinese rivals like Oppo and Vivo.

Apple's flagship iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR devices dominate its marketing, but the company continues to offer the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, originally launched in 2017, as lower cost options alongside the even cheaper iPhone 7 series.

Current prices for the existing iPhone 8 series, which include a Home button and thick top and bottom bezels, start at $599 for a 64GB iPhone 8 or $699 for an iPhone 8 Plus. Both older iPhones are more affordable than the $749 iPhone XR, the $999 iPhone XS, and the $1099 iPhone XS Max.

(Via DigiTimes.)

Article Link: Apple Reportedly Plans to Launch Revised 4.7-inch iPhone 8 in March 2020 to Boost Share of Mid-Tier Smartphone Market

 

[isaac_appleweed]

iPhone 9?

 

[JPack]

SE diehard fans: This is your affordable small form factor iPhone.

 

[igroeg]

I don't know how it will fare priced at $649 and with such a dated design.

 

[19SK91]

Home Button and thick bezels for $649? I don‘t think many people will buy that. If they keep the 4.7" display size but shrink the bezel and add FaceID then people who want an SE2 would buy it.

 

[himanshumodi]

In 2020, world will have absolutely no place for those gigantic bezels, regardless of the price. The ones who want a home button and really hate the notch will be small in number.

And Apple doesn't really care for small numbers. Unless this phone is priced really, really low, this won't take off

 

[19SK91]

SE diehard fans: This is your affordable small form factor iPhone.

Pretty much the same physical size as a X/XS.

 

[Agit21]

Perfect phone:
iPhone 8 with the iPhone X Front and three cameras on the back (telephoto+wide angle lens)

 

[flygbuss]

Probably my next phone. Love my 7 and couldn’t care less about the so called bezels the whole world seems so obsessed with.

 

[JPack]

Pretty much the same physical size as a X/XS.

Yes, and under Tim Cook, Apple won’t design a new form factor to satisfy a niche market.

 

[19SK91]

Yes, and under Tim Cook, Apple won’t design a new form factor to satisfy a niche market.

It won’t satisfy "SE diehard fans" either. Otherwise they‘d get an 8, X or XS.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Single lens camera - no sale.

 

[caspersoong]

I'm pretty sure $649 isn't midrange. How hard is it to price it like the SE at $400?

 

[JPack]

It won’t satisfy "SE diehard fans" either. Otherwise they‘d get an 8, X or XS.

By 2020, most of them will have reached stage 5 of the grief model - acceptance.

 

[Feyl]

Another recycled expensive product from Tim Cook. Color me surprised..

 

[recoil80]

Sounds reasonable to me if they manage to keep the price low, just like the SE.
It could be an iPhone 8 with just a newer SoC, the A13 or even the A12.
There is market for "cheap" iPhones, but it should cost like iPhone 7 today, maybe even cheaper, otherwise it has no reason to exist.

 

[44267547]

Single lens camera - no sale.

For the majority, I doubt the dual camera is that major of a factor, which would likely would only add to the cost of this phone anyway, and if it has anything like the XR camera does now, I would say that’s perfectly suitable for the average consumer, which takes outstanding photo’s.

 

[pika2000]

128GB base storage? Nice! But 2020? Damn it, that's a long time.
Was ready for 2019 iPhones, but if 2020 makes 128GB to be standard as base storage, I'll keep my 6S a bit longer.

 

[44267547]

Sounds reasonable to me if they manage to keep the price low, just like the SE.

Key factor. The price point and the form factor. That was the point of the SE to begin with. If Apple delivers with those two elements, I’d say this new ‘4.8’ design has potential, especially given the majority smart phone manufacturers are not offering hardly any phones under 6 inches anymore.

A 4.8 design may not be ideal of what the SE once was in a 4 inch form factor, but this might appease to a wider demographic not being too small either.

 

[JPack]

I'm pretty sure $649 isn't midrange. How hard is it to price it like the SE at $400?

It’s already midrange based on Apple’s pricing today. iPhone 7 starts at $449.

 

[nfl46]

It’s sad that we’ve gotten to the point where “midrange” is $649...over $700 with taxes in most places. Jeez.

 

[wackymacky]

How about some decent innovation rather than more models?

 

[Populus]

And this, ladies and gentlemen, this is what the new iPhone SE is going to look like.

Another Special Edition before leaving a legendary design once and for all, like the previous iPhone SE.

 

[blairh]

Make a bezel-less version at that size. Not a clone.

 

[ph001bi]

This makes no sense at all. Assuming Apple will do what they always do and launch the XI and XI Max and XR2 in September and brings down the prices of the XS($899), XS Max($999),XR($649), 8($499) and 8 Plus($599), how do they then differentiate between iPhone 8 from September 19 and iPhone 8 from March 20?
$50 more for 128GB instead of 64GB and things (CPU, etc) the average Joe doesn't know or understand, and it will be at the same price as the XR?
Something is wrong with this news, either the specs or price.

 

[pika2000]

Sounds reasonable to me if they manage to keep the price low, just like the SE.
It could be an iPhone 8 with just a newer SoC, the A13 or even the A12.
There is market for "cheap" iPhones, but it should cost like iPhone 7 today, maybe even cheaper, otherwise it has no reason to exist.

I think Apple is going to make some changes. I mean nobody expected the iPad mini 5 to have the latest A12 chip, and priced that low. Compared to the 2018 iPhones, spec wise the iPad mini 5 is a total steal. It's surely exciting to see what's coming.