High-Quality Video and Photos Reveal What Apple's Plastic iPhone Will Look Like

[Michael Scrip]

How does the service agreement look to all U people? What is a cheap iPhone? Is it the difference between 2200 and 1800?

Let's assume you pay 200 less. OK, now you pay 80 a month or at best 50 a month on a highly capped service. Is it cheap to you?

This entire discussion is retarded IMO. It doesn't matter how much you might pay for a device. It's about how much you pay to use the damn thing.

Rant Over, but really, are you people actually discussing the plastic? The plastic is your head!

Devil's advocate...

Since monthly cell phone service is so expensive anyway... should all smartphones cost the same?

Surely not... there are $80 smartphones and $800 smartphones.

Is the price difference for the hardware a big deal in the long run? Of course not. You're right... the cost for service adds up over time.

But companies must charge different prices for the different models.

 

[Giuly]

Looks an awful lot like the Nokia Lumia 620 if you ask me.
Image
Image

Exactly.
I think that it's time to stop calling it the "Low-cost iPhone" and start calling it the "Euro iPhone", because that's not only what it looks like, but IMHO also the market where it'll do best, because it's still too expensive for emerging markets.
Europe is full of people which don't buy iPhone 5s because they're too expensive, and the iPhone 4 or 4S isn't "the newest thing around". Now enter this.

 

[falconeight]

Exactly.
I think that it's time to stop calling it the "Low-cost iPhone" and start calling it the "Euro iPhone", because that's not only what it looks like, but IMHO also the market where it'll do best, because it's still too expensive for emerging markets.
Europe is full of people which don't buy iPhone 5s because they're too expensive, and the iPhone 4 or 4S isn't "the newest thing around". Now enter this.

This phone will do well in the largest countries in the world. Europe, China, India, Southeast Asia, and South America. In the U.S. it will be under every xmas tree of every middle class teenager. Its going to be the biggest seller apple has ever produced. It will destroy the iPod touch though.

 

[pragmatous]

Rumors and lies.

Apple won't last much longer if they actually come out with this piece of crap. Which is why I say it is not going to happen. Apple has stated a million times that they will never release a budget device ever.

 

[sclawis300]

I think this is such an awesome idea.

I hope Apple begins to ship an iPhone like this that is cheaper and yet capable of operating quick and smooth.

I always believed that selling old models of the iPhone was a bad idea.

For example, I know the iPad 2 is cheaper and people will buy the heck out of it, but unfortunately it gives you a terrible experience of what the iPad is truly capable of.

You miss the speed of the newest device and screen clarity.

The same goes with selling the iPhone 4

The iPhone 4 is just not capable of being a great iPhone anymore. It is not smooth and can be very sluggish at operating apps.

Even though this article does not mention this, I think replacing old model iPhones with a cheaper iPhone is one awesome move.

That way everyone can get the price they want and the performance of a great product.

News flash. It is not going to be as fast as a brand new iPhone. That is one of the reasons it will be 'cheap'. Also, aren't people better off having a slightly slowe iPhone/iPad than none at all?

 

[Drunken Master]

Apple won't last much longer if they actually come out with this piece of crap. Which is why I say it is not going to happen. Apple has stated a million times that they will never release a budget device ever.

Then what was the iPod Shuffle.

Delusional.

 

[charlituna]

Because that would be a lot of work for something not available until Sept 1, when possibly we will have seen the actual iPhone by then. If they were to pull this off, it should be available now.

But what is the point anyway?

The point is that this group did all this work on the assumption the rumor is true as a way to pitch their phone. Have a phone now that looks like the new iPhone but runs Android. Way better than waiting until the fall because everyone knows Android is the better OS and this will be even cheaper than Apple would ever make their 'cheap' phone

 

[juliad337]

for me, it's the carrier contract... let's get a lower-priced version there as well

(yes, I know they need to make $ and help subsidize the cost, etc.)

i agree, users can already get the iphone 4 at some carriers for free. or the 4s or 5 for a good price. what would be the motivation to get the cheaper quality phone if the plan cost remains the same?

 

[chrisbru]

Apple is very good at product differentiation. What if the new phone is a '3G' phone (no LTE) and plastic. Good for phone calls and basic data services and emphasizes using WiFi for data services.

It would cut a huge cost out of the device since 3G bands are much more uniform worldwide than the LTE bands.

Remove the Al to get costs down. Use the core from the iPhone 5 (modern processor but not the latest).

Seems like a good differentiation between the iPhone and the iPhone Pro!

I dunno... Most US cell companies won't sell a new phone that is non-LTE. Although maybe that will be Apple's way to make this a non-subsidized market phone only. I guess only time will tell.

----------

How does the service agreement look to all U people? What is a cheap iPhone? Is it the difference between 2200 and 1800?

Let's assume you pay 200 less. OK, now you pay 80 a month or at best 50 a month on a highly capped service. Is it cheap to you?

This entire discussion is retarded IMO. It doesn't matter how much you might pay for a device. It's about how much you pay to use the damn thing.

Rant Over, but really, are you people actually discussing the plastic? The plastic is your head!

Huh? You're going to have to pay for service regardless of what device you use that service on. Apple isn't competing with the cellular companies, but other phone companies. So they have to compete with those other phones on price and functionality/aesthetics.

----------

The point is that this group did all this work on the assumption the rumor is true as a way to pitch their phone. Have a phone now that looks like the new iPhone but runs Android. Way better than waiting until the fall because everyone knows Android is the better OS and this will be even cheaper than Apple would ever make their 'cheap' phone

Millions of Apple customers would disagree. Let's stop making "better" arguments. Consumerism is all about personal preference.

----------

i agree, users can already get the iphone 4 at some carriers for free. or the 4s or 5 for a good price. what would be the motivation to get the cheaper quality phone if the plan cost remains the same?

Your worldview is clearly limited to the US. Subsidies are not the norm for the cellular business outside the US, and Apple is a global company.

 

[juliad337]

apple wouldnt do this

this product is a great idea, but apple doesnt tend to make lower class products. they are extremely successful with what they are doing now. plus, this would beat out the ipod touch completely

 

[maxosx]

The impact this cheap iPhone will have on Apples once long standing image of quality should be interesting. It will be a phone that could also eat into the metal iPhone sales.

There's a lot of potential scenarios that could develop out of this new entry into Apple's lineup. If nothing else at least it introduces some interesting possibilities into what thus far has been a very boring year in the IOS camp.

 

[thaifood]

As overdramatic as 14 pages of 340 replies to a blog story of an over dramatic video for a rumoured part leak??? </s>
/
/

The phrase ''stupid is as stupid does'' springs to mind, hehe

 

[Fairchild]

This phone will do well in the largest countries in the world. Europe, China, India, Southeast Asia, and South America. In the U.S. it will be under every xmas tree of every middle class teenager. Its going to be the biggest seller apple has ever produced. It will destroy the iPod touch though.

You sir are right on the money with this statement. You took the words right out of my mouth hahah! I think a lot of people are of the opinion that this device will damage Apple's reputation for upholding maximum quality, but what they don't realize, is this design and the colors are going to be a complete hit with the teenagers and many more. People are tired of protecting their devices with cases that ruin their aesthetic. People want a quality phone that you can use comfortably everywhere and can take some abuse and still look good, without a case.

This phone is the white macbook of phones, built to take abuse. (except the bezels and topcases haha!)

 

[falconeight]

You sir are right on the money with this statement. You took the words right out of my mouth hahah! I think a lot of people are of the opinion that this device will damage Apple's reputation for upholding maximum quality, but what they don't realize, is this design and the colors are going to be a complete hit with the teenagers and many more. People are tired of protecting their devices with cases that ruin their aesthetic. People want a quality phone that you can use comfortably everywhere and can take some abuse and still look good, without a case.

This phone is the white macbook of phones, built to take abuse. (except the bezels and topcases haha!)

You would be crazy to think otherwise. iPod touch $300, play station $400, Xbox $500, iPad $329 to $500. If I was a teenager what would I pick? Blue iPhone every day of the week, month, and year.

 

[firewood]

How does the service agreement look to all U people? What is a cheap iPhone? Is it the difference between 2200 and 1800?!

You forget that cellular contracts are a tax on people who can't do arithmetic. They can't add all the way up to either 1800 or 2200. Blame it on the education system.

 

[michelepri]

I want to know about the tech specs

 

[robertosh]

The good point is that you can use it to hide drugs or something like that.

 

[ikramerica]

This phone is the white macbook of phones, built to take abuse. (except the bezels and topcases haha!)

No, more like the original iBook. Before that, there were various "toughbooks" and such that looked like crap, and there were delicate, hard to carry laptops including Apple's products. The iBook was colorful, had a handle, rubberized case, and was TOUGH. They were a huge hit with college students, women, writers, teens, and all for different reasons.

The white iBook and then Macbook were steps backward in durability.

 

[juanmanas]

T

Although I like it, and I believe it could be successful, I somehow distrust the source of these news

 

[meaty]

looks like ****

 

[djgamble]

Bravo to Apple for making a cheaper phone still look high quality and desirable.

The big question is, how big are the margins and will how much will it eat in to iPhone 5 / 5S sales.

My suspicion is it'll be cheap enough that people can get one free with a phone plan (rather than a free android.)

Getting an old, outdated iPhone (no matter how cheap) isn't attractive to me. Not sure why buying an iPhone 4 is still an option...

This should replace them and give low-end users a better opinion of Apple because they'll have now, optimised devices rather than old ones.

 

[northy124]

Europe is full of people which don't buy iPhone 5s because they're too expensive, and the iPhone 4 or 4S isn't "the newest thing around". Now enter this.

WTF are you on about? Europe has a lot of iPhone users, too many even. Will the buy the iPhone 5S? Probably, probably not depends on whether their contracts are up.

Just because certain countries are struggling with finances doesn't mean that people are poor, luxury goods are actually the only market to have been consistent or expanded within Europe during the struggles.

 

[cclloyd]

FYI a drawback of the budget is it will not be able to install iOS 7.

 

[moxin]

FYI a drawback of the budget is it will not be able to install iOS 7.

iOS 7 is iPhone 4 compatible, i am sure this could run it too.

 

[ee13lbp]

Apple won't last much longer if they actually come out with this piece of crap. Which is why I say it is not going to happen. Apple has stated a million times that they will never release a budget device ever.

They have had many budget devices in the Mac range... Mac Mini, Macbook etc.