Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Lower-Cost iPhone's Plastic Rear Shell Reportedly Surfaces
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Assuming the iPhone 4 is still sold. It might be dropped just as the 3GS was this past year
No way Apple would release something so ugly.
I hate the idea of a cheaper iPhone too. I say they just make a flip phone with the Nano OS for $50.
I hate the idea of a cheaper iPhone too. I say they just make a flip phone with the Nano OS for $50.
Outselling is moot. Cheaper products can do more volume even if they're not as good in all respects.
Apple have always tried to make the best products they can. It's when they stop focussing on that and start focussing on cost that they will have 'lost their way'. That means that they've typically done less volume than the cheaper alternatives (PCs vs Macs, Android vs iPhone) but they can keep making enormous profits.
In the case of the Mini, lots of people do also prefer the smaller size. If it also makes the product better then that's great.
And T-Mobile's plan is trying to fix that issue. I'm sure the other carriers will be hopping on too.
You seem to make your case quite well here...and in doing so prove your opponents case as well. Two cases made with just one reply. Bravo!
Cue the "but an iPhone 5 only costs $200" comment. I think this is a great idea for people who don't want to be locked to a contract and don't want to shell out $600+ for the best phone (imo) manufacturer.
I actually think the case is kind of cool looking.
I actually think the case is kind of cool looking.
Not really.
Personally if this is real I think it would have a 4in screen not a 3.5 (Looks to long for 3.5) and I think Apple would sell it everywhere they sell the iPhone 5 and no longer would they sell the previous versions. So no more 4/4s like they do now. You have a higher end version and this version.
This becomes your free/$99 phone the higher end one says at $199 and they can change a lower cost for this in countries like India and China non subsidized.
Now that some Android handsets are starting to get more high end (HTC One and possibly a new direction for Motorola) Apple can't rely solely on the high end market.
A low cost iPhone combined with a revised UI in iOS7 (hopefully) will compete aggressively with Android options.
A low cost iPhone combined with a revised UI in iOS7 (hopefully) will compete aggressively with Android options.
Plastic is crap compared to metal. Further, metal and glass are renewable resources. Why do you think the Android lovers are going hoo hoo over the HTC One, which has followed Apple's lead by using aluminum and glass?
The case isn't important. The hardware is to a degree. The important thing is the software. If the phone can run the software well and has a good/great screen - then that's all that's really needed. I'm not talking about sacrificing quality. I'm talking realism here. I would venture a guess that the majority of people posting as if they will be forced to look/buy one of these devices is very very low. This product is not for you. And your expectations aren't the ones needed to be met.
Right. Just like the iPad mini is a ripoff next to the Nexus 7 I guess? Because all that matter is numbers and theoretical specs?
This will probably have a better camera, better battery life, better UI performance and more/better apps than a Nexus 4. Possibly better screen quality too (if it has the iPhone 5 screen).
Of course there is still the subjective screen size and OS debate, but at $300 it would be very far from a ripoff.
Anyway, I doubt $300 is true. I'd expect more $350. The Nexus 4 isn't a threat to Apple, Google willfully limit its production to a number that's a tiny fraction of iPhone sales.
They don't have to be competitive with products that don't sell well.
"Eye of the beholder"
I actually like it a lot. It looks a lot more comfortable to hold. I might even forego the "latest and greatest" technology for one of these. Outside of more storage, I haven't seen a great benefit from upgrading to the iPhone 5. LTE is nice -- when I can find an area that has it. As long as the "low end" model has WiFi, I'll probably be fine.
When was the last time Apple went after a new market?
Maybe the Mac Mini
anything else?
I mean, sell another device that is not the best.
Again Mac Mini is maybe one example, though you could argue it isn't
Yep. The 3GS was a joy to hold. It just felt right in the hand. I personally don't like the brick design for usage, but it does look good from an industrial design point of view.
They are also hoo hooing over the S4.
Plastic is a viable material for a phone. And also has advantages over metal. It goes both ways.
To summarize and say plastic is crap - is well - crap itself.
----------
Define best.
This product is not designed for you.
If this happens it won't just be an iPhone with cheaper materials targeting emerging markets, that's not very Apple and it's not good product strategy, but what is more likely is that it will be a phone with slightly to moderately different functionality which happens to have a cheaper price tag (and *can* be sold in emerging markets more easily), just as the iPod Shuffle is cheaper than the iPod Touch, but with different functionality. I can't see them building another iPhone that is the same, just cheaper - we all know that Chewbacca doesn't live on Endor, which is why this does not make sense.
I like this a lot! I think it's going to sell extremely well.
The width/length ratio looks like 4" to me.
To all the haters:
Apple's adjusting their strategy to a changing market. That's a good thing.
For lots of people, cheaper phones are 'good enough'. Proof: the iPhone 4 still sells extremely well.
Building 'the best phone' no longer gives you an edge when people don't care for the difference between 'good' and 'best'. This used to be different two years ago, when the iPhone 4 really stood compared to competition and previous iPhones.
How I think Apple will diversify their two iPhone lines:
1. iPhone 5S. Fastest hardware, available in 16/32/64 GB. LTE. Extremely good camera. Fingerprint reader.
2. Cheap iPhone. Roughly the same specs as the iPhone 4S, no LTE, 8 GB only. Thicker and heavier, but with colors.
The width/length ratio looks like 4" to me.
To all the haters:
Apple's adjusting their strategy to a changing market. That's a good thing.
For lots of people, cheaper phones are 'good enough'. Proof: the iPhone 4 still sells extremely well.
Building 'the best phone' no longer gives you an edge when people don't care for the difference between 'good' and 'best'. This used to be different two years ago, when the iPhone 4 really stood compared to competition and previous iPhones.
How I think Apple will diversify their two iPhone lines:
1. iPhone 5S. Fastest hardware, available in 16/32/64 GB. LTE. Extremely good camera. Fingerprint reader.
2. Cheap iPhone. Roughly the same specs as the iPhone 4S, no LTE, 8 GB only. Thicker and heavier, but with colors.
Last edited:
Naw. The end started with the iPhone 4S. We're well into the middle of the end at this point.
Well, kind of like the Nexus 4, but with a tiny screen, slow processor, crappy camera and a stale OS.
Last edited by a moderator:
