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Lower-Cost iPhone Said to Use 'Super-Thin' Plastic and Fiberglass Shell in 4-6 Colors
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I think I would actually be game for the cheaper iPhone model when they hit the used markets. Of course, it depends on what's inside... I've gotta say though, a Product(RED) iPhone would be pretty cool.
For the first time in a long time, I'm excited to hear about possible new product rumors.
I would LOVE a red iPhone! If I were to replace my beloved 4S, that is exactly what would get me to do it.
Some here. I always wondered why they never did that in the first place. White black are boring.
I was just about to pull the trigger on a red Nokia Lumia 920 but I'm going to hold off now. This is the best idea (rumour) I've heard in a while and if we can increase the screen (widthwise) to at least 4.5" inches with multiple colours then I think you will please a lot of people in this big wide world of ours!
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I don't see how it should be difficult. Just bring back the iPhone 3GS screen and A4 chip, with 512 MB RAM. 5MPX camera with possibly no flash, a solid polycarbonate body and starting at $199 for 8GB. Also kill the iPod Touch and Nano.
Low-end Galaxies are not stopping Samsung from selling S3s and Notes. They're just serving their purpose. Can't see why it would be different for Apple.
Low-end Galaxies are not stopping Samsung from selling S3s and Notes. They're just serving their purpose. Can't see why it would be different for Apple.
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It is actually a design principle since ... 1900 ... arts and crafts movement to not disguise the look and feel of materials. I believe you can tell if a company is manager-focused or led by designers by the correct use of materials in a product.
I'm really curious to see Apple allowing a massive black trade to take place planet wide, with one of it's most wanted products.
The idea that the "cheap" iPhone will only be available in some countries would have sense if it was an exclusive, expensive product. Which it won't be. At least theoretically.
I know I'm getting ripped for this comment in the thread, however, I would love an iPad mini with cell features. Not as a dependent device but as a secondary to receive calls, much like FaceTime and iMessage are used across all devices now. Just my opinion.
Well... some 90's Apple products were terrible
Apple currently only has one iPhone product line... with 3 models (plus different colors and capacities)
This would add a "lower-cost" iPhone product line. It shouldn't be too confusing.
IF this true... I wonder what the phone hardware will be? Would they dare go back to non-Retina screens to reduce cost?
But don't you think it will eat into margins? If I can get a similar spec iPhone for mega cheap why would I get the expensive one?
It's like the mini. It has to eat into 9.7" iPad sales...
Really? I think your wrong actually, I have started to read many reports now about how big should a smartphone be? And that's in relation to all these stupid 5" halo phones coming out. Now if tech journalists are questioning these phone sizes then you bet your ass so will the general public.
The Note wins because the screen gives you that pen interface etc, but a 6" Note 3? Not so sure that will be as popular, the size of the Note 1 is now the size of the Galaxy S4! Think about that.
Nope, I actually still question the size of my iPhone 5 screen, it would be nice if it was a bit wider actually, but not necessary. I admit I think oh they look nice devices, my pick being the new Xperia ZL, but then I see the iPhone compared and you just like NO NO NO, 5" phones are just far too big.
As said, I'd be happy if they may a cheaper iPhone with a 3.5" screen again. My iPhone 4 retina screen IMO was one of the best I've ever seen, and it made for a lovely compact device.
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Haven't they already said the iPad Mini is outselling the iPad? And Apple aren't dropping the full size iPad anytime soon so they can and would do it with the iPhone.
A top end iPhone could have over a cheaper iPhone: liquid metal, have a bigger screen, WiFi AC, faster processor and graphics or more RAM, more storage options, better camera. Bigger battery.
Android also has different OS's that run better on the older hardware.
I don't see Apple releasing two separate OS's like that.
Apple wants to release a budget phone, not a garbage phone by today's standard
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There's no one size fits all and if I was a company I rather lose my high end sales to another product sold by my company instead of some other company.
Some people will want the more expensive brushed aluminum, top end spec device.
they did it for many years (macbook-powerbook) and I would say it worked quite well IMHO; why not to try to apply the same scheme in a different market?
That's the question. You're right they have done that in the past but I wonder if they will continue with that policy. If you think about it they don't do this with any of their other products. Their other products follow a set pattern of 2 sizes with 3 spec options for each screen size.
Maybe they will follow what they've just done with the iPad - instead of selling the older models at a discount we now have 2 iPads. What's to say they won't follow the same path with the iPhone - it would make a sense. Instead of selling the older models we get an iPhone with 4.5" screen, the latest processor, more memory, LTE compatible etc and an iPhone mini with 4" screen, older processor, less memory, 3G only, etc at a cheaper price. One design, 2 sizes.
Then maybe they will continue selling the older iPhone 4 as a cheap entry level phone for the pre-paid non-contract market or for emerging markets, in the same way they continue to sell the iPad 2.
It will eat into margins, but then Android phones are already slicing big chunks out of Apple's cake.
The big question is; how many are those who are going to buy Apple products and nothing else, but are willing to buy a cheaper Apple product.
And I doubt that group is very large.
I bet there are quite a few people who would like to get an Apple product but don't want to pay the premium price.
That's one reason Apple used products sell well people want the product just not the price that goes along with it.
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I was saying Android phones mostly the old ones run an older version of Android that runs better on it than jellybean would.
I don't see Apple having two OS so that one would run smooth on the older hardware. I don't think iOS7 is going to run smooth on a 3GS type platform.
There are ways for Apple to cut corners without selling a phone with 4yr old hardware
Screen resolution can be the discriminating factor. Having a resolution of 320x480 reduces the need for processing power by a lot, and with 512MB RAM it would be fine for most features, like navigation and Siri. After all it's almost 1/6 of the pixels on an iPhone 5. An A4 chip would be enough, after all it still powers the iPhone 4 that would have 4x the pixels of the cheap iPhone.
I'm talking about the group who will only buy Apple products, they would want to buy a cheaper Apple device, but if the choice is between an expensive Apple device and a cheaper Android device, then will pick the Apple device.
Because those are the ones Apple will lose money on by introducing a cheaper device. And I doubt that there's a lot of them.
Depending on specs/features I would be all for buying one of these for myself! What I wouldn't like them to skimp on is screen quality and software. Other hardwares and can deal with lesser versions, within reason. Being able to choose from a variety of colors would be great too. Getting bored of this black or white garbage.
There are lots and lots and lots, people like new tech, and if you can easily get a new iPhone every year, then they will. It's been proved already, just look at the Nexus 4, good spec and cheap and it's been selling like nothing else! In fact it's spec almost beats the iPhone 5!
Apple will need to keep the retina display and LTE and a decent camera. It should really inclue NFC as well although it's still not really taken off. But it can do all this at different price level, like use a slower LTE speed chip, use the iPhone 5's camera and give the iPhone 5s or 6 a better one, use a plastic case, use a dual core GPU and CPU A6 at 1ghz with 1 gb ram, give the higher end iPhone 2 gb ram and 1.5ghz with tri core or quad core graphics like it has now, use a 3.5" screen as that will save a lot or use the iPhone 5 screen and give the higher end iPhone a much higher res one.
Their are so many things you can do to produce a lower price model without skimping on specs, and considering how much profit Apple place on their products they have MORE then enough room to do it price wise, they could even charge £350 for a 32GB version and £279 for a 16GB version or something, again give the higher end model 32, 64, 128 storage choices.
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