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iPhone 5S to Launch in 2-3 Different Screen Sizes?
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Here's how I see it (not sure if this happens in 2013 or 2014, but it'll happen soon):
iPhone "5S" = iPhone (4") - no generational notations....just like all other Apple products. The four inch iPhone will be simply the iPhone - definitely coming sometime this year.
iPhone + = iPhone (5") - not sure what the naming convention will be, but this will be the larger iPhone likely with a bigger battery and maybe a boost in GPU power to run a screen with double the resolution of the 4" iPhone (for ease on devs).
budget iPhone = a cheaper 4" iPhone - not sure what they call this either, but a slightly thicker, likely plastic encasing with a 4-inch retina display and last generation's chipset (So the other iPhones get the A7, the cheaper one gets the A6 and so forth - along the same lines as the iPod touch which would likely be cannibalized) priced in the Nexus range off contract.
On contract you'll see this pricing:
cheap iPhone 8GB = Free
cheap iPhone 16GB = $99
iPhone (4") = $199 (add $100 for each bump in storage, 16-64GB)
iPhone + (5") = $299 (add $100 for each bump in storage, 16-64GB)
Each updated annually.
The two iPhones Jobs was rumored to have a hand in are likely the cheaper iPhone and larger iPhone....wouldn't surprise me in the slightest. At any rate, if this lineup becomes reality, you can bet Jobs had something to do with it as they were likely being planned for a few years ago.
iPhone "5S" = iPhone (4") - no generational notations....just like all other Apple products. The four inch iPhone will be simply the iPhone - definitely coming sometime this year.
iPhone + = iPhone (5") - not sure what the naming convention will be, but this will be the larger iPhone likely with a bigger battery and maybe a boost in GPU power to run a screen with double the resolution of the 4" iPhone (for ease on devs).
budget iPhone = a cheaper 4" iPhone - not sure what they call this either, but a slightly thicker, likely plastic encasing with a 4-inch retina display and last generation's chipset (So the other iPhones get the A7, the cheaper one gets the A6 and so forth - along the same lines as the iPod touch which would likely be cannibalized) priced in the Nexus range off contract.
On contract you'll see this pricing:
cheap iPhone 8GB = Free
cheap iPhone 16GB = $99
iPhone (4") = $199 (add $100 for each bump in storage, 16-64GB)
iPhone + (5") = $299 (add $100 for each bump in storage, 16-64GB)
Each updated annually.
The two iPhones Jobs was rumored to have a hand in are likely the cheaper iPhone and larger iPhone....wouldn't surprise me in the slightest. At any rate, if this lineup becomes reality, you can bet Jobs had something to do with it as they were likely being planned for a few years ago.
I love all the "Apple wouldn't" comments.
The way I see it, they have MacBook Pros in 2 sizes. MacBook Airs in 2 sizes. iPad in 2 sizes.
If the iPhone is such a huge revenue generator and important part of the business for Apple now, then what's the problem with having more than one size?
Now, whether I believe we'll see a larger screen this summer, I'm not convinced. But in the future, sure.
The way I see it, they have MacBook Pros in 2 sizes. MacBook Airs in 2 sizes. iPad in 2 sizes.
If the iPhone is such a huge revenue generator and important part of the business for Apple now, then what's the problem with having more than one size?
Now, whether I believe we'll see a larger screen this summer, I'm not convinced. But in the future, sure.
That would be way too big to be a suitable PHONE. I think a lot of people forget the iPhone is still a telephone and has to be sized as such.
"'Hoboken Auto Trader' says..." ~Brian Regan
From where I sit Apple already sells iPhones in two sizes, 3.5 inch and 4 inch. And, this is across 3 models that are still being manufactured. Different screen sizes of 4 and 4.8 would not be all that different. Discontinuing the 4 and 4S, would free up production for the 5S and the new cheaper 5. A plus size would be an addition. It should be possible to check the suppliers soon to figure out what is going to happen. I keep thinking, "What if the new cheap phone is the larger screen size?" Larger screen, plastic = lower end, would be interesting positioning and cause real problems for competitors.
Again, people need to get around the fact that there is not much difference if you pay $200 or $300 for a contracted iPhone at start-up.
You are going to pay $100 every month for two years anyway.
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Nah.. it's going to cost more than that. Apple products always have a premium added.
You are going to pay $100 every month for two years anyway.
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Nah.. it's going to cost more than that. Apple products always have a premium added.
*sigh*It's not 4" tall.....its a 16:9, 4" (diagonally) display.....just like any other 4" display out there (see the Droid Razr line - they had a 4" phone almost exactly the same size).
There of course, will be added width to a 5" iPhone....because, of course, they would keep the same aspect ratio this time around (after moving to the more popular 16:9 from 3:2, which required only added height).
Are you people really this stupid or do you prefer to stay ignorant so you can complain about nothing?
I don't think so - If they made the screen bigger, they'd have to make it wider, as increasing the height again would just be ridiculous. And increasing the width would be backtracking on their previous statements made not-too-long-ago saying that the width of the iPhone is perfect for the human hand.
Yeah - Their Mac and iOS lines are already crowded and messy. They need to cut back to the core products, like they did in the late 90s.
Yes, because everything Apple says when marketing their products should be taken as the unequivocal truth....
It's marketing for crying out loud....they'll find a way to spin it the next go around, they did for the iPad mini.
You guys.....man.....the amount of nonsense posted about this "taller" business is absurd...
For example:
"The iPhone 4" is already perfect for one-handed use, but our customers wanted a larger screen. So we're giving them the iPhone 5" - which still easily fits in one hand, and has the beautiful retina display...blah blah blah...."
Those marketing videos never say anything anyways - hell, didn't Ive say somewhere in the iPad mini video that you could USE the mini with one hand?
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That's one of the differences between Apple and others: Apple drastically increased resolution, which had an incredible effect on the quality of (especially) displayed text. Then others picked up the ball and threw it further in the same direction for no additional benefit.
Regarding the original rumor: Makes sense, Apple has been known for their radical changes of the exterior design in "S"-releases.
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Has anyone considered that it may be cheaper to manufacture a slightly bigger/fatter iPhone? Less miniaturization might lead to easier assembly and higher yields. This any new low-end model might be the bigger one with a slightly bigger display (but the same pixel count).
If this company is as concerned with the opinion of a man who passed away over a year and a half ago as you seem to think they should be, then Apple is in big trouble. Job's was a great man, but continuing to restrict product designs to what people assume would have been his preference would be like Ford refusing to advance beyond the Model-T. As times and technologies change, so to do the expectations of consumers; companies that anticipate these changes will survive where others fall.
Furthermore, if Job's "rolled in his grave" at the release of the Mini; then it's definately time to move past his direction. The Mini, by all accounts and every standard, has been a huge success.
3"? That's a bit small now isn't it? 3.5" is too small for my hands.
Then again I don't know what size hands you have, nevertheless...
I bet they'll just maintain the iPhone 5 as 'entry level' phone, then introduce a newer 4" 5S, same design as 5, specs bumped and a new 4.8" as someone said, with the same width but sightly taller.
I don't buy the cheap plastic iPhone for emerging markets, at least for now.
I don't buy the cheap plastic iPhone for emerging markets, at least for now.
That 4" tall screen is simply a 4" 16:9 screen that other phones had 3 years ago. Nothing fishy about it.
EDIT: Someone beat me to it.
no additional benefit? you look at a 5" at full hd and have a look at a 5" screen at apples resolution and tell me there is no additional benefit. You are saying Apple made stuff incredible but the competition did it for no benefit????????????? stop drinking the apple kool aid. I am an apple fan but fanboys are stupid.
MacBook and iPod come in 3 screen sizes (used to be 4) and both iMac and iPad are available in 2 sizes.
What is the reasoning behind iPhone having to be one size fits all?
steve jobs - he often preached that the 'old' iphone screen was perfect.
maybe johnny ives? he went for taller and gave some bs about how our thumb can cover the entire screen
im with u though- they need to make the phone larger.
we use the phone so much - we will compromise size for efficiency
I'm expecting to see the MacPro and MacMini lines merge into a single headless line this year... maybe a much smaller tower that's still about as flexible as the Pro was?