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iPhone 5C LTE?
- Thread starter iPhonemaster5S
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I'm thinking GSM only so it wouldn't be compatible with their network at all. Like the N4...You are right though, new smartphones on Verizon's network need to be LTE.
The 5S should fit the bill though.
Via Apple you can only get an unlocked GSM phone currently. So leaving Verizon and other CDMA networks out is nothing new.
I think they will make a model for the Chinese market with TD-LTE and one for the rest of the world with LTE/GSM/CDMA. When the iPhone 5 was released the LTE chipset was $10 more than the 3G chipset used in the 4S. That's a pretty small cost for a better user experience for your customers. Around me 3G Verizon will get you 500-1.5mbps. AT&T 2-3. LTE on Verizon 12mbps on average and 30 in areas. To get LTE or their "4G" you have to get to a major city center. In short, yes HSPA+ are just fine but coverage is severely limited compared to LTE at least in the areas of NC and Ohio I frequent. Counting just major city centers doesn't work, you need to consider highways at the minimum.
$10 doesn't seem to be a lot of money for something that will give your users a much better experience with phone. I just don't see much cost savings by making it only 3G and the PR hit would be pretty big. I can just see the articles blasting Apples budget phone for lack of LTE compared to the Android competition.
HSPA+ isn't even available on the largest carrier in the US. You want to limit your sales on the largest carrier in the US?
I guess we'll know who is right in a few days. I'll be back with my Nelson jpeg.
The plastic housing is rumored to be less then 10 dollars compared to the aluminum. So why would they be using that?
10 dollars x millions of phones = a lot.
The iPhone wasn't available at all on the largest carrier in the US until the 4. Also keep in mind China Mobile has literally 10x the customer base as Verizon....10 times.....
Keep in mind I'm talking about the 5C not the 5S. So it's not like its actually limiting sales, a lot of people can switch if they want a cheaper iPhone that bad like they did before Verizon even had it. This wasn't a problem with the Nexus 4, shouldn't be a problem now. There will still be an LTE model. For all we know its extremely similar to the iPhone 5 and 100 cheaper so Verizon keeps selling the 5.
Plus now you just added multiple models again. They will need a Chinese model, a north/south American model, European model, etc to support LTE.
Don't get me wrong I'm prepared to eat my words. There is a lot that could have slipped under the radar that would kill my theory, namely a more universal radio that supports more/all LTE bands however unlikely. Plus I'm basing this on rumors, any which could be wrong.
iPhone 5C LTE?
They won't release without LTE, I am 99% sure.
Carriers won't go for it.
Intel has been trying to get carriers to buy phones that are using its chipsets, but there is heavy resistance because Intel has no LTE baseband. I read that a Verizon executive told Intel as much. "HSPA+ only" is a no go for NEW handsets.
And yet, they still sell the NON-LTE iPhone 4 & iPhone 4S! ...I just saw reconditioned 4's & 4S's on AT&T's web too.
Since it takes 3 models of iPhone 5 to cover all the countries/carriers (http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/), but only 1 globally universal model of 4S, I don't see how it would be practical or cost-effective for Apple to include LTE in a base model phone this year.
They won't release without LTE, I am 99% sure.
Carriers won't go for it.
Intel has been trying to get carriers to buy phones that are using its chipsets, but there is heavy resistance because Intel has no LTE baseband. I read that a Verizon executive told Intel as much. "HSPA+ only" is a no go for NEW handsets.
The more I think about it I think it would actually be more trouble to leave out LTE. If they are in fact going to reuse iPhone 5 internals they would have to re-engineer that without the LTE cheap driving up R&D costs.
I also certianly prepared to eat crow but I'm betting Nelson will be incoming.
From the internals have been changed from the supposed leaks anyway. A minor change in tooling is generally just as expensive as a significant change. So while it might use the some of the same parts the logic board is different and putting one IC or other hardware part onto it is the same cost as using another.
We'll see come Tuesday. I look forward to Nelson lol
Verizon's non-LTE, 3G network is pitifully slow.
TMo and ATT's 4G/HSPA+ network is more than fast enough for mobile devices, 12-20mbps speedtests.
Luckily we find out Tuesday. On one hand, Apple could claim top to bottom LTE devices. On the other hand, lack of LTE could be further differentiation between top and bottom handsets and allow 5C to be even lower cost.
I didn't realize the 4S unlocked is only GSM, but, the 4S does both CDMA & GSM in one chip, so only one side enabled if you go w/carrier on contract.
But, you are right, the bottom line phone b4 iphone 5 came out was the iPhone 3GS, which only worked on AT&T, some GSM networks outside of US (and T-mobile w/o 3G, but not sold that way). However, just because the geeks and nerds online want it, doesn't mean the general public cares that much about having LTE. The people buying up iPhone 4s & 4S's aren't buying them for the fastest cell data.
That's not the point, they can't just take iPhone 5 internals and slap a plastic back on it anyway, the antenna is on the outside of the iPhone 5, so it would go internal for the plastic back & sides.
...The point is, 6 colors with 3 LTE chips=18 different phone combinations. It wouldn't be practical, for an entry level phone. (If it were to carry over iPhone 5's internals as is).
http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/
I seriously doubt they suddenly have a low-power chip that does all LTE/GSM/CDMA they can put in this low-cost, entry level phone.
For the Entry Level iPhone to be 1 universally global model for all carriers/countries, and, incentive to upgrade to 5 or 5S, they would have to leave out LTE this year.
Reality is, 5C replaces two non-LTE phones: 4 & 4S, and does away w/30-pin connectors. What makes it an "iphone5" is the iPhone 5 internals (not talking about the LTE chip, everything else in there), which makes it able to handle iOS 7 & future iOSs, unlike the 4S (4S can't do AirDrop, among other things).
Apple was slow to adopt LTE in the first place. Anyone remember why? Why was the iPhone 5 in 2012 instead of 2011? Because the LTE chips at the time were too high power, draining the battery too fast.
Any advancement in LTE chips will go into the 5S, not the 5C. There won't be any fanfare for the 5C, it is simply a replacement for the entry level iphone.
I'll eat crow if I'm wrong, but, it just wouldn't make sense, from a business perspective, for apple to have a low-cost LTE phone this year.
Not necessarily. If they can use a new chip that will allow them to use fewer chips then I imagine they would. If they can order few chips to cover more countries it would likely save them money than sources several different ones. I agree that if they move to LTE-A that will be 5S only. They won't upgrade the LTE in the 5C but if newer chips will save them money they'll use them.
Maybe, but, what then would be the incentive for iPhone 5?
The rumors are pointing to similar pricing as to the iPhone 4 now.
They can't drop the iPhone 5 and only get 1 year from engineering that product, they have to go two years, get the quantity out of it (similar to cars in this respect).
They already stopped making the 4 as far as I know. And they can't continue to sell new iPhone 4S's, as they aren't powerful enough for all of iOS 7, and when you buy a new iPhone, it's supposed to be good for 3 iOS generations...if it can't do all of iOS 7 now, it'll be crippled with future iOS's.
Everyone here wants LTE-A, but, it's too new for apple to adopt it. It has to be proven, and in wide use first. And battery life is too important, the first iteration of LTE-A chips will likely eat battery life. Getting a cell chip combo that wouldn't eat battery life is the main reason Apple took so long to do LTE in the first place. The first LTE chip just couldn't cut it, thus the delay on the 4S.
I'm not exactly sure what you are trying to say. Not being a dick, just not getting it. They will be getting two years out of the iPhone 5. The engineering of the case will be go one with the 5S. The internal will go one with the 5C.
The 4/4S need to go. If for nothing else than to get rid of the 30 pin connector. They've moved to lightning and just plain need to stop selling 30 pin products. To me it just makes way to much sense to sell the 5C as an 8GB for $400 or $0 on contract. A 16GB model for $99 on contract or $500 off contract. Or somewhere around those numbers. Moving to a 5/5C, 6/6C format makes sense to me. It will also make it easier for consumers with not as many options. It will also keep more up to date technology in their products. Seems like an all around win.
The rumored pricing for the 5C fits in line with iPhone 4 right now.
They still make the 4S (or were until this month), and it is unchanged from 2 years ago, only comes in one memory configuration, $99 on contract. So they continue producing units for a second year. (Same previous time with iPhone 4 when they went to 4S). They've done this every year, last year's model goes into a single low-end memory configuration and sells for $99 on contract when they come out with this year's new model starting at $199 on contract.
Right now:
iPhone 5 (first LTE iPhone) 16/32/64GB
iPhone 4S 16GB
iPhone 4 8GB
Last year:
iPhone 4S 16/32/64GB
iPhone 4 8GB
iPhone 3GS 8GB
Previously:
iPhone 4 8/16/32GB
iPhone 3GS 8GB
Previously:
iPhone 3GS 8/16/32GB
iPhone 3G 8GB
Previously:
iPhone 3G 4/8/16GB (dropped 4GB option at some point, maybe started at 8)
iPhone 4/8/16GB
So, I'm predicting:
iPhone 5S 32/64/128GB
iPhone 5 16GB
iPhone 5C 16GB (minus LTE, able to run iOS 7 as well as iPhone 5 runs it.) replaces both 4 & 4S this time.
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I wonder if maybe there will be 4 iPhone models meaning
iPhone 5S 199/650
iPhone 5 99/550
iPhone 5C 49/450
iPhone 4S 00/350
I still think that the 5C will have LTE becuase without it it would seem pretty stupid.
They won't release it without LTE. Carriers simply won't allow it. Even the budget Android devices have LTE now so it's not a large expense for Apple to include it in the 5C. In the US releasing a phone without LTE these days is a joke. It's like not having 3G. Apple isn't stupid.
Remember the 1st 2nd generation iPhones with just EDGE support when every other smartphone on the market had 3G?
Never underestimate Apple's stupidity...or the stupidity of the fanboi's that will leap to defend it.
Not trying to defend it, just, trying to be realistic. Apple took their time adopting LTE because prototypes drained the battery, and battery life is one of the advantages over android. Go here and check the specs, Apple currently sells 2 phones that don't have LTE: http://www.apple.com/iphone/compare-iphones/
Just remember that, while major cities finally have LTE, it's still new and not everywhere yet (I don't live in a major city, and travel, so I know). Some people don't care if they have the fastest cell data, but, they aren't the ones reading MacRumors, are they
? But they will buy a cheaper iPhone, not care about LTE, but will care about software.I think it's more important for apple to be up to speed, drop A4 and A5 processors, as they can't handle all of iOS 7's features. The advantage of 5C will be A6 processor.
Not trying to defend it, just, trying to be realistic. Apple took their time adopting LTE because prototypes drained the battery, and battery life is one of the advantages over android. Go here and check the specs, Apple currently sells 2 phones that don't have LTE: http://www.apple.com/iphone/compare-iphones/
Just remember that, while major cities finally have LTE, it's still new and not everywhere yet (I don't live in a major city, and travel, so I know). Some people don't care if they have the fastest cell data, but, they aren't the ones reading MacRumors, are they
I think it's more important for apple to be up to speed, drop A4 and A5 processors, as they can't handle all of iOS 7's features. The advantage of 5C will be A6 processor.
It's not everywhere but Verizon has it pretty well covered at this point. The town I live is in one of the poorest counties in the state and it is completely covered. (i.e. they aren't selling a lot of data plans her, Obama phones are the majority) My home town up north is a cow town of 5,000 people, also completely covered. Most of the trip from NC to OH is completely covered until you get into the mountains. If you live in the eastern half of the country your pretty well covered, much more sparse out west though.
No offense but times have changed. The carriers have power too. Very few would allow such a device without LTE. It will have LTE. I don't even know why we are still discussing this.
I live out east, and it's not everywhere, I mean travel on major Interstate highways, even. (AT&T)
You all are forgetting. iPhone 5 is Apple's first LTE phone, came out one year ago. One year ago, LTE was barely in major cities (AT&T anyway). No LTE here when I first got it. Apple's base model phone will run on more than one country, and, not only is the US not fully-LTE, some countries are slow to adopt.
Just because all of you on MacRumors reading this have to have the fastest cell data, doesn't mean everyone buying cell phones have to.
Again: Apple is currently selling TWO (2) NON-LTE iPhones (iPhone 4, iPhone 4S http://store.apple.com/us/iphone/family/iphone/compare). The base model will not have LTE, whether it be 5C or they keep 4S.
AT&T plans on dropping EDGE by Jan 2017...so, they are in no hurry to drop 3G.
5C just might only be for China anyway.
I think its definitely a sure thing for the simple fact that all smartphones out are LTE. If they want to take market share from Android then they can't have a phone that has older technology. Apple knows its now or never with overtaking Android around the rest of the world...
I live out east, and it's not everywhere, I mean travel on major Interstate highways, even. (AT&T)
You all are forgetting. iPhone 5 is Apple's first LTE phone, came out one year ago. One year ago, LTE was barely in major cities (AT&T anyway). No LTE here when I first got it. Apple's base model phone will run on more than one country, and, not only is the US not fully-LTE, some countries are slow to adopt.
Just because all of you on MacRumors reading this have to have the fastest cell data, doesn't mean everyone buying cell phones have to.
Again: Apple is currently selling TWO (2) NON-LTE iPhones (iPhone 4, iPhone 4S http://store.apple.com/us/iphone/family/iphone/compare). The base model will not have LTE, whether it be 5C or they keep 4S.
AT&T plans on dropping EDGE by Jan 2017...so, they are in no hurry to drop 3G.
5C just might only be for China anyway.
There's your problem. AT&T LTE coverage doesn't hold a candle to Verizon. Of course 3G isn't going anywhere anytime soon. There are still a ton of 3G and 2G phone still out there. It will be years before there is blanket LTE coverage to where it can reliably handle phone calls on it's own. Just because 3G isn't going anywhere doesn't mean you need to release a new phone in 2013 to use it sans LTE.