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The other logical possibility is that all leaked parts thus far have been for the low cost phone and we haven't seen anything from the 5S yet.

Unlikely I know, but still a possibility.

One benefit of this low cost phone is that it can provide a smokescreen for the flagship phone.

I suppose most internals will be shared between light and 5S, i mean circuits etc
CPU, GPU, embedded memory, screen quality and casing would account for most of cost/price difference
 
I'm kind of loving this whole cheap and cheerful iPhone idea. Since in the last 5 years phones and tablets has became toys for kids I find it smart to expand the price range and the looks.

They are also taking the same approach as they did with the iPod. There was the classic and there was the mini/nano which was cheaper but also more fun. It's not a crazy new idea really.
 
I have an available upgrade I was going to give to my wife to replace her 4S - now I can just buy her one of these, sell the 4S and almost break even - then upgrade my 5...

She wants red - I love this plastic iPhone!!
 
I have a feeling I'm going to want the plastic one more than the more expensive one...

Same here.

I've been very lucky in that my employer provides me with an iPhone and updates it every couple years, but personally, I wouldn't be able to justify such expense for a device that is more or less going to be outdated in 2 years. On top of that, I have two kids who both want iPhones but that's never going to happen without a much cheaper option. I hope these rumors are true. It's a smart move by Apple and long overdue.

And as far as the inevitable "but it looks so cheap and ugly" arguments that I'm sure will come up, it's a silly point. Most people plop their iPhones in cases anyway so I'm not sure why it matters how "cheap" it looks.
 
looks like macrumors is manipulating the colors...
the yellow of the original photos from the japanese site looks much more subtle...

20130719ACCN_008_cs1e1_480x.jpg


EDIT: just checked. seems they failed with converting the color space.
 
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Looks legit. Even though it's supposed to be the rumored lower-cost iPhone it still has a certain finesse to it that probably only Apple could do. I would willing to buy the lower-cost iPhone vs the iPhone 5S but I'm still afraid of what their going to put inside it...

Not to worry, if it materializes, it'll still be every bit an APPLE device, and will have most of the functionality of the 5 and 5S, and will run iOS7, but will be manufactured with slightly less expensive components, and of course no (expensive) CNC'd shell.

If they're going to look anything at all, like these: http://cdn.macrumors.com/article-new/2013/06/lower_cost_iphone_colors.jpg, and the unsubsidized price for the entry-level model will stay at or below $450, I believe they're going to sell big time.
Think iPad Mini or better.
 
nearly EVERYBODY saying is plastic...cheap...

so...never had iphone3g/3gs?:D:p:cool:

I LOVE the new colors...

I think that the new colors will cost Apple some sales of the aluminum models, but also I think that there will be an avalanche of new sales at the same time. This will be a huge hit with the younger crowd.

If I hadn't needed to buy a 5 to replace my faltering feature phone, I would have considered one of these plastic ones, in blue.
 
nearly EVERYBODY saying is plastic...cheap...

so...never had iphone3g/3gs?:D:p:cool:

I LOVE the new colors...

Yup, and I recall the numerous cracks and splits in the plastic backs of the 3G/S models, especially near the rounded corners. It was very noticeable on the white models. The 3GS models Apple claimed to be improved, weren't. One of the reasons plastic didn't make its way into the 4/4S/5 models. Plastic, no thanks.

Strange Cracks Appearing In iPhone 3G Plastic Back

iPhone 3G - Cracks in Plastic Housing

Apple replacing iPhone 3G with 3GS for free if you have hairline cracks in the plastic. YMMV of course.
 

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Yup, and I recall the numerous cracks and splits in the plastic backs of the 3G/S models, especially near the rounded corners. It was very noticeable on the white models. The 3GS models Apple claimed to be improved, weren't. One of the reasons plastic didn't make its way into the 4/4S/5 models. Plastic, no thanks.

Strange Cracks Appearing In iPhone 3G Plastic Back

iPhone 3G - Cracks in Plastic Housing

Apple replacing iPhone 3G with 3GS for free if you have hairline cracks in the plastic. YMMV of course.

You are a bad boy....

What a nightmare that was!!!!! But the new ones are not so rounded
 
Let me know when the 4.8 - 5" screen iPhone gets leaked.

4.3 - lower res okay - much flatter than shown = perfect (for me)

current (rumored/pictured) shell will just appear to be an iphone 5 or 5s with a color case on it - need to be flatter to really differentiate it from current form

might buy anyway so i can go 'naked' again
 
My guess is that this low cost iPhone will never be sold stateside. This is for Asia primarily where money is tight in many areas. This is an opportunity to grab some of that market share.
 
I'd love a plastic iPhone. I just need all the features without feeling like I'm carrying a brick in my damn pocket.
 
You are a bad boy....

What a nightmare that was!!!!! But the new ones are not so rounded

Sorry, couldn't resist :p

I agree. I'm certain Apple has learned from past mistakes. I'm very curious about the look of the rumored iPhone.
 
If this is the back of the cheap iPhone then sig me out. I want a cheap iPhone and would drop my cash outright for one but it has to look good and feel good. That yellow plastic does not feel the same quality that the rest of the iPhone line does.
 
It should look cheap. And be very cheap.

That way you get all the customers in the "want a cheapo phone that won't break for my kid".

Nexus 4 looks expensive because it wants to live in your suit pants pocket, blend in with the corporateheads or on top of a leather moleskine. "Apple Cheaphone" wants to pop out of the black in a LMFAO concert, live in a backpack with your keys, rest on top of a skateboard and feel at home.
 
I'll probably throw it in a case any way so it doesn't matter to me. I'm not trying to make some fashion statement.

Let's here what the specs are:D
 
Yup, and I recall the numerous cracks and splits in the plastic backs of the 3G/S models, especially near the rounded corners. It was very noticeable on the white models. The 3GS models Apple claimed to be improved, weren't. One of the reasons plastic didn't make its way into the 4/4S/5 models. Plastic, no thanks.

Strange Cracks Appearing In iPhone 3G Plastic Back

iPhone 3G - Cracks in Plastic Housing

Apple replacing iPhone 3G with 3GS for free if you have hairline cracks in the plastic. YMMV of course.

I'm wondering if this was from heat or dropping the phone without a case (or both). I would never consider using an iphone without a military-grade case anymore with all of the glass...maybe using a silicone case (at the least) might help if this is still an issue???
 
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