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High-Resolution Renderings of Apple's Lower-Cost Plastic iPhone

Redbeard25 said:
100% agree.

My prediction:
iPhone 4/4s discontinued.

iPhone (the plastic color version... whatever it's named...)
- A6 chip, 16MB only, HSPA+ only, VGA front cam - Free w/contract or $299
iPhone 5
- A6 chip, 16MB only, LTE, HD front cam - $99 w/contract or $499
iPhone 5s
- A6+ chip, better camera, 32MB/64MB, LTE, HD front cam, 802.11ac, double microphone, HD audio for calls - $299/$399 w/contract or $649/$749
Click to expand...

You of course mean GB, not MB.....

And I would agree that this will probably be what the line looks like this year (though I don't agree with the storage and prices on the 5S....still think they keep the 16GB/$199 option).

Then next year, they lose last year's model and add the larger iPhone as the top spot in addition to updating both the cheaper version and the 4" version.
 
Water proof iPhone anyone?

I know this may be a stretch but Apple's competitor Samsung just released a water resistant S4 - This may not be a low cost iPhone (as Apple does nothing "cheap") It may be a version of the 5S with water resistant backing - Easier to attain with a solid plastic backing...
 
Wait a minute - if this phone actually exists, I thought that this was only going to be sold in China and India.

Why would be expected that this phone would be sold in the U.S.?
 
Phillie86 said:
Id take this over an iPhone 5 - why? Because I bet the wear and tear wont be as bad as this iPhone 5 has been. Stupid Anodized Aluminium!
Click to expand...

I put a carbon fiber back sticker on my 5 and it is flawless.

It's not Apple's fault that you don't protect your device in any way, shape, or form.

If you drop a phone, it's gonna get damaged. It's not rocket science people.
 
Anyone know how much they save using a plastic case versus the metal one? As a guess, I don't see it being more than a $10-$20 savings for them.

The idea of having multi-colored cheap iPhones in place of just using older models is genius As was mentioned above, teenagers will flock to these.
 
M-O said:
no they weren't... the renderings were basically a smaller iPad 2/3 design. the actual iPad mini is pretty different.
Click to expand...

No, it was pretty close for a rendering. Got the size right. Not all 100% perfect but pretty good off of rumors/parts.
 
mrhick01 said:
Wait a minute - if this phone actually exists, I thought that this was only going to be sold in China and India.

Why would be expected that this phone would be sold in the U.S.?
Click to expand...

Why would it not be expected to be sold in the U.S.?
 
I somehow don't think that this is going to happen.

To streamline the line up of phones and give a "cheap" option Apple would go the same way as they did with iPod Touch I guess. Take the iPhone 5/5S and remove some hardware/features. But in general stick with the overall design.

Creating plastic copy of the current phone? Thats so not Apple.
 
MacRumors said:
low_cost_iphone_render_green.jpg
Click to expand...

tumblr_mesfqssAaY1qduufx.jpg


delete my post mods, i dare you.
 
j.applewood said:
This is exactly the kind of sh** you learn in business school never to do. Why release a brand new product that destroys the sales of your current products? There isn't room for keeping older phone models around at the same price point as this new thing - unless the plan is to never sell older models once the current one comes out and thus reduce inventory levels? It just seems plain silly to me.
Click to expand...

That's pretty much exactly what Apple did with the iPod by introducing the Touch, Shuffle, and Nano - and all of those different models are still around today, albeit they sell is significantly smaller quantities. Does the iMac cannibalize the Mac Pro? Did the Macbook cannibalize the MacBook Pro?

I think you're assuming the color iPhone will have the exact specs and functionality as the regular iPhone. At the very least, I'd expect it to be limited to 8GB capacity. I'd also expect a lesser-quality camera and a slower processor. Basically, this is going to appeal to a different customer than the existing iPhone - similar to how the iPod Nano appeals to a different customer than the iPod Classic. Or how the iMac appeals to someone different than a Mac Pro.
 
macFanDave said:
What are they going to call it: the iPhone 5-minus?
Click to expand...

Interesting actually. As a naming exercise alone, this is an unusual situation for Apple as far as I can tell. It's not 'mini', perhaps not 'lighter' so what will it be?

Could the 5/5S become iPhone Pro and the new one just iPhone?
Or iPhone 5S + iPhone
Or iPhone 5S + iPhone Joy
Or iPhone 5S + iPhone Air (if it is lighter)
Or iPhone 5S + iPhone Cloud
Or iPhone 5S + iPhone 4A
Or ...
 
This just feels so wrong to me. Apple is supposed to be in the business of making high end products - not targeting the lower market people. That is what Androids are for...
 
AHDuke99 said:
This just feels so wrong to me. Apple is supposed to be in the business of making high end products - not targeting the lower market people. That is what Androids are for...
Click to expand...

iPod Nano
iPod Shuffle

Both of these are low-budget, compact iPods with fewer features than a full (Classic or Touch) iPod.

No reason why it cant be done with the iPhone. Apple would be pretty silly to ignore a whole market segment.

As far as they are concerned it'd be better for them if we all paid $300 every 2 years than $500 every 4, which is what most people seem to be doing.

It all evens out.
 
Lol what a joke. The day apple comes out with something like this is the day they deserve to go out of business. This is something android oems do not apple.
 
I would buy this for £300 unlocked right now. The white one.

I think it looks nicer than any previous iPhone, because the back and sides are all one piece. There is no silver edge with black seams, and a hybrid glass/alu back with 2 seams. It's just one piece, and it also has rounded edges!

Plastic is ideal for the iPhone since it's transparent to radio waves. That's why they can make the whole back and sides from one piece. Sure, it's a "cheaper" material but it's actually stronger than glass and scratches less than painted aluminum. If you drop it, it won't dent or break, either. And the rounded edges make it feel nicer in your hand, than the squared-off edges of the 4/4S/5.

Apple probably needs to make a cheaper iPhone to compete with Samsung, and they have to do it in a way that is still beautiful and high quality. I think this would make perfect sense.
 
j.applewood said:
This is exactly the kind of sh** you learn in business school never to do. Why release a brand new product that destroys the sales of your current products? There isn't room for keeping older phone models around at the same price point as this new thing - unless the plan is to never sell older models once the current one comes out and thus reduce inventory levels? It just seems plain silly to me.
Click to expand...

I goes Apple didn't go to business school :D But then your business school doesn't teach you how to create $150 bn of cash in the bank.

Here's Apple's rule that you don't learn in business school: If you don't cannibalize your sales, someone else will.
 
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