Apple to Discontinue iPhone 5 Alongside Launch of 5S and Plastic Models?

[Tiger8]

Makes sense especially with the recent news of lower profit margins.

I guess it's hard to lower the price on phones that are of equally premium materials today as when they were introduced (iPhone 4 and 4S). By the time the iPhone 5 would trickle down to where the iPhone 4 is today, it may end up with horrible profit margins.

I think this rumor holds water.

Well, even the original rumors (of 5s, 5, and plastic) suggested that basically Apple will keep older devices for one year only rather than two, so the 5 would never be where the 4 is right now, even in 2014. What this rumor is saying is that it won't even live beyond September.

But you raise a good point, maybe one of the drivers is margins; a device like 5 just won't cut it with $450 pricetag

 

[mrxak]

I'm half expecting the new plastic iPhone to be the same as the iPhone 6th gen, just in a new case.

 

[brand]

I don't think this is realistic, but I still like the idea of keeping the app store fit and trim.

Depending on the time allowed I think it is completely realistic. Six months should be more than enough time I would think.

 

[mrhick01]

Did you forget the 3gs? That iPhone had a plastic back.

And that was what, four years ago? (and approaching five when the new phones show up)

 

[Benjamins]

Depending on the time allowed I think it is completely realistic. Six months should be more than enough time I would think.

Developers will be forced to update their apps eventually because apps with outdated resolution will lose sales to those that supports the new resolution.

 

[sclawis300]

Depending on the time allowed I think it is completely realistic. Six months should be more than enough time I would think.

Developers will be forced to update their apps eventually because apps with outdated resolution will lose sales to those that supports the new resolution.

Capitalism baby.

 

[Carmenia83]

So you have seen the actual screens from both phones? I doubt it. All you have seen are images that were rumored to be the new phones.

Yes I have. I am Tim Cook. Don't tell anybody.

And thank you for pointing out that we're discussing rumors on MacRumors.com

 

[BigHonkingDeal]

The black of iPhone 5 made of anodized 6000 series aluminum is a complete failure. It scratches at the moment you take it from the box.
Sure iPhone 5 will cease production.

That's just not true..... I had mine since day one without a case and not a scratch on it. I wish people would stop repeating this nonsense.

 

[dazed]

It would be nice if there was a time limit for developers to adopt the new screen resolutions and once they reach that date their app gets pulled from the app store if they haven't implemented the new resolution. That is a good incentive to keep your apps updated from a developers standpoint.

This would be great but then potentially tens of thousands of unsupported apps would be deleted and then apple couldn't brag about having hundreds of thousands of apps any more.

 

[sherwinzadeh]

iPhone Pro

I hope they call the plastic one just iPhone, and the new one iPhone Pro

 

[paul4339]

i would have loved a discounted iphone 5, too bad apple changed their tradition

I guess it depends on the 'tradition'... I always saw it a Apple never really offered previous gen products as part of regular practice until recently (they just discontinued that gen).

Since iphone and ipad only had one product in each family, they offered previous gen to fill in price gaps.

Also, I think that offering a gen-1 product isn't a good idea for Apple especially if there's no form factor change. The presentation of the product in the Apple Store (or anywhere else) is too confusing if the product looks identical but have two different capabilities.

.

 

[chrisbru]

iPhone 5S ($199 - 16gb, $299 - 32gb, $399 64 gb) & 'Cheaper' iPhone ($99 - 16gb, $0 - 8gb).

iPhone 5, 4S & 4 discontinued.

Fixed this for you.

Edit: whoops, scooped. I should read further into the comments.

 

[ray6712]

Remember that article the other day stating that the 5s will have a 4.3 inch screen this article gives that one a lot more teeth. My reasoning is apple may not be using in-cell on the cheap iPhone to keep cost down. The article states that in cell is to expensive for low volume this says to me that either Apple has gotten IGZO ready or they're switching screen sizes.

The 5s would use either IGZO or in cell wether they kept producing that phone or not them killing it tells me either were getting a screen tech upgrade or a screen size upgrade.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

 

[Patriot24]

Regarding the notion that the higher-end model would be called "iPhone Pro", I just don't see that happening. There will already be enough incentive for folks to go with the cheaper model, why give them another reason by making it seem as if it is a device for professionals?

The counter argument is likely to be that they do this with MacBooks, but I feel like iPhones are in a different class of consumer product. MacBook Pros are priced like they are only for professionals, iPhones aren't IMO.

 

[kmj2318]

iPhone Pro? LOL that's silly.

My prediction:

iPhone

iPhone Color

 

[irDigital0l]

Hopefully they do that and also make the iPhone 5S have a larger screen size option.

 

[Pakaku]

I wonder why Apple doesn't have a section for refurbished iPhones.

Of course, if they want a clear difference between the High-5S and Low-5S, adding a refurb section now and including the 5 would probably be counter-productive...

 

[Ubele]

iPhone 5S and iPhone 5S Pro?

I'm not a professional phone caller, but I'd probably buy the iPhone 5S Pro, anyway, as an affectation.

 

[cmichaelb]

I think more likely:

iPhone 5S 16GB - $199
iPhone 5S 32GB - $299
iPhone 5S 64GB - $399

iPhone 'plastic' 8GB - $0
iPhone 'plastic' 16GB - $99

I think you nailed it - unless there is a iPhone 5S 128GB $499.

But wait, that would launch in February right after I just bought my iPhone 5S. Just like what happened with my iPad 4 lol.

 

[MVallee]

It makes a lot of sense. The iPhone 5 and 5S would be made of the same materials and probably cost Apple pretty close to the same to manufacture, but the 5 would have to be sold at a much lower profit margin. Might as well have the new low cost iPhone be the only low cost iPhone so that the profit margins are still good.

 

[robanga]

Makes great sense and simplifies their product line from 3 to 2 models.

 

[costica1234]

Not sure if anyone mentioned, but this is an occasion for Apple to drop the naming with number and/or letter (4, 4S, 5) in the iPhone line-up. Simply keep the device named IPHONE as the flagship device and iPhone Cheap (or whatever) as the other choice. It would sound hilarious to have iPhone 11S over a couple of years. Just saying.

 

[Evnor]

Let me tell you, this year's iPhone release wont be the typical S-release but something much different (=better). This rumor is most likely true imo and makes perfect sense to me.

 

[Menel]

Bingo! I think.

This makes the most sense to me.

I thought it was gonna be:
8gb plastic -$0
16gb 5- $99
32gb 5s -199

For a while, but now I think you are right.

In this case, the plastic iPhone will have the A6! Yay!

Also the 5S or 7th Gen iPhone I think will start at 32gb

So:
$199/299/399. For 32/64/128

Also: quad core, fingerprint sensor, dual led, etc

Don't get your hopes up for quad core. It just eats more battery. Personally I don't want it.

I've yet to see an OS/application bog down the dualcore A5 in the 4S... much less the A6 in the iPhone 5.

Apple doesn't play the same spec wars as the others. You won't see it til there's a benefit, and there simply isn't yet.

I think you're right. With improved photos/video. 32GB base may make sense for 5S.

I'm saying it again: there will only be an iPhone, and an iPhone Pro. Both will have a 4" screen and both will have a fingerprint sensor. Apple will throw the kitchen sink at mobile payments and getting as many people on board with either phone that will be capable of doing it.

Fingerprint isn't needed for secure mobile payment.
It might be a nice convenience factor if they implement it in a newer, more user friendly fast way such as detection during the swipe on the screen. But taht would simply be a defining feature separating 5S and plastic phone.

 

[Grolubao]

Makes a lot of sense to me, but what are they going to do with repairs and service to the iPhone 5?