Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Design Drawings Reveal Case Makers' Expectations for iPhone 5S and Lower-Cost iPhone
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I could see Apple introducing an iphone 'color' range with a rounded seamless enslore molded in one piece of low cost carbon fiber sheet molding compound (SMC).
It would be virtually indestructible, RF transparent (no antenna gate) and with the right out-of mould finish it would be un-scratchable (unlike polycarbonate) and make cases obsolete.
It would be virtually indestructible, RF transparent (no antenna gate) and with the right out-of mould finish it would be un-scratchable (unlike polycarbonate) and make cases obsolete.
I don't think they will handicap the light models
Here is some stuff they could same money on:
Construction of the device- Using cheaper materials such as plastic instead of aluminum.
Camera Features- The iPhone 5s may come with a better front facing and rear camera. The iPhone light could keep the same camera specs as the old iPhone 5.
One less speaker- As seen in the photo
It could have a slower processor, but not one thats 2 generations behind like the iPhone 4.
----------
Good point!
That would actually be pretty awesome.
The original posting on Apple Insider says these are believed to be, "Originated at Apple".
Agreed, and also possibly less storage.
Wouldn't mind a version with NO camera for the security-conscious folks (governments, military, defense contractors) but that probably won't happen.
I really dont undestand when people year after year make predictions of "Low Cost" iPhone...do you along with others dont see why apple doesnt need to redesign a "WHOLE NEW" iPhone to be cheap when they are/can just use the previous gen as the "Cheap" iPhone? Its the most sensible option as its always been...
iPhone 4S 16GB = $450 or $0 on Contract
iPhone 5 16GB/32GB = $549/$599 or $99 on Contract (Will drop to $0 within approx 6 months of 5S/6 launch)
iPhone 5S 16GB = $649 or $199 on Contract (takes about 6 months then shows up for $149 on Contract)
iPhone 5S 32GB = $749 or $299 on Contract...
What really makes people think that the "CHEAP" iPhone will be better than iPhone 5 or 4S? wouldnt it be TOO CHEAP to be comparable? because I can already see people complaining about the "Cheap" iPhone being TOO CHEAP for their liking....
However I would like to ask all what is your definition of "Light/Cheap"? because at the end of the day we pay for Quality....wouldn't we go to Samsung or HTC if we wanted "Cheap" as in reality you really get what you pay for...?
I think Apple likes the idea of the cheaper iPhone too as it will equate to higher profits. Right now, the sale of the iPhone 4 and 4S are cannibalizing iPhone 5 sales. Apple would probably like to stop selling them now, but they can't because they offer an entry level iPhone. Enter the cheaper iPhone, which is likely to be sold at higher profit margins than the iPhone 4 and 4S. Heck, it might even produce a higher profit margin than the iPhone 5.
Myself? I'll have to take a hard look at it. It may be a great value as a contract-free, unlocked phone. Bye bye contracts. We'll have to see how much worse it is than the regular iPhone.
it would be funny if this was true, and apple took iphone 5's guts, and placed them into a plastic case, and then used an excuse like "hey, we need to be able to sell this phone for less, so we're making a cheaper casing for it", instead of just lowering the price, since you know.. it's hardware is about a year old now.
If the core (inside mechanics) are the same size but the material on the outside (plastic instead of aluminum) changes, this can account for slight changes in overall dimensions. Plastic may need to be thicker to prevent breakage.
There will not be a Verizon iPhone either, right? Oh wait!!
Huh...did I mention carriers?
I really don't think Steve would have approved of a lower-cost iPhone. It tarnishes the brand they've worked so hard to create
This. Plus I don't understand what would be the use of a rather identical phone, that would completely eat away 5s sales. It would be better imo to give the 5L a smaller format than the 5s or the 5s a larger format than the 5L (99% certain we won't see happen before 2014).
I really don't think Steve would have approved of a lower-cost iPhone. It tarnishes the brand they've worked so hard to create
Or a smaller iPad. He said so publicly that 9.7" was the correct size and almost everyone here agreed a smaller iPad would be a bad design also.
Those are from a case maker not apple
----------
I really don't think Steve would have approved of a lower-cost iPhone. It tarnishes the brand they've worked so hard to create
When are we going to realize what Steve would have thought is irrelevant?He is reported to have told Tim to specifically NOT sit around trying to do what he(Steve)would do when making decisions.It's Tim's company now.Time to move on.If you have an opinion just state it as such instead of trying to add weight by saying"Steve would agree with me",especially when you have absolutely no idea if that's true.
The slightly larger dimensions would almost certainly be because of a plastic shell. Assuming the innards are the same, the shell would have to be a bit thicker if they wanted it to be both plastic and strong enough.
I highly doubt that any kind of carbon fiber composite would be able to be molded to the tight tolerances needed in an iPhone. Keep in mind that in the iPhone, the internal components all attach to the metal case using tiny screws that are threaded into the aluminum - this kind of design would almost certainly not work with carbon fiber. Even if the material could support threaded holes on that small a scale, the production of such a case would require the same expensive (both in money and time) machining processes that are required on the current aluminum cases.
The huge advantage to using plastic is that it can be injection molded into whatever shape is desired, then the threads can be cut into the finished shape afterward. This procedure would make the cases *much* cheaper and easier to manufacture.
----------
I don't mind that the 5S will look the same as the 5. Can't totally redesign a phone every single year.
I just wish my two-year cycle didn't fall on the "S" years.
You should consider yourself lucky - you get to upgrade to the phone where they spent all their design time adding more features and upgrading the hardware. People who upgrade into the new design years get a shiny new design, sure, but you get the refined, more complete version.
I don't think you understand the situation here.
Cheap iPhone does not equal iPhone 4 or 4s
They are older model iPhones, that is not the same thing as what the cheaper iPhone could be.
The problem is that the iPhone 4 is consuming the iPhone market because of its intro price.
But unfortunately people receive a crappy experience because of its limitations and hardware specs.
The cheaper iPhone would be a much better idea than selling older models. Just because its cheaper doesn't mean that it will have older technology like older model iPhone.
The market of a cheaper iPhone in several colors would completely explode in popularity.
Imagine all those teenagers and young people who parents don't want to pay a $200 entry fee.
Instead of getting a 2 or 3 yr old iPhone aka iPhone 4, they could get the iPhone lite. Cheaper but with much better comparable specs.