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Might we see colored iPhones in the future?

Rogifan

Rogifan

macrumors Penryn
Original poster
Nov 14, 2011
25,329
33,798
Apple's design team recently posted a req for a Color Engineering Program Specialist (Job Number: 25904843). Description is: "Apple Industrial Design is looking for a Color Engineering Program Specialist to work with the internal color team on delivering world-class color and materials solutions."

I suppose this could be for the iPod line bit it did get me wondering if we might see colors iPhones in the future. I've seen mockups of colored iPhone 5's that look really sweet. Or maybe if rumors of a lower cost iPhone are true it might come in colors?
 
Now that "monochrome" Steve is not around, entirely possible. Now the Asians are making multi-colored, overly cute gadgets for my taste. So watch what u wish for.
 
I think that Apple will keep the iPhone black and white. I don't see them making the iPhone in a rainbow of colors like the iPod touch.
 
ucfgrad93 said:
I think that Apple will keep the iPhone black and white. I don't see them making the iPhone in a rainbow of colors like the iPod touch.
Click to expand...

Some of the mockups look cool but that would be a lot of SKU's to manage.

Apple-iPhone-5S-iPad-5-Lineup.jpg
 
sulpfiction said:
Trust me when I say that the amount of SKU's never comes into play when deciding on new products. It really means nothing.
Click to expand...

The iPod Touch 5 has six colors and two capacities, so 12 SKU's. The iPod Touch 4 has two colors and two capacities, so 4 SKU's. That's 16 SKU's for the iPod Touch line.

Right now, for the iPhone 5 alone, they have two colors, three capacities and three cellular configurations. That's 18 SKU's. For all iPhone lines? 26 SKU's.

Seeing as the iPhone already has 60% more SKU's than the iPod Touch line, and is more expensive, there is no way Apple can feasibly offer different colors for the iPhone without screwing up their supply chain.

If Apple removed the cheapeset iPhone line and made an LTE world phone, they would possibly introduce a few colors rather than eliminating SKU's.

I think using cases or interchangeable plates is sufficient.
 
I think it'll be a good idea for an S upgrade. It'll be nice to get something new (external wise) until the iPhone 6 in 2014.
 
Dwalls90 said:
The iPod Touch 5 has six colors and two capacities, so 12 SKU's. The iPod Touch 4 has two colors and two capacities, so 4 SKU's. That's 16 SKU's for the iPod Touch line.

Right now, for the iPhone 5 alone, they have two colors, three capacities and three cellular configurations. That's 18 SKU's. For all iPhone lines? 26 SKU's.

Seeing as the iPhone already has 60% more SKU's than the iPod Touch line, and is more expensive, there is no way Apple can feasibly offer different colors for the iPhone without screwing up their supply chain.

If Apple removed the cheapeset iPhone line and made an LTE world phone, they would possibly introduce a few colors rather than eliminating SKU's.

I think using cases or interchangeable plates is sufficient.
Click to expand...

The iPhone 5 isn't as easily customisable as the iPhone 4/4s. The whole thing has to be taken apart to remove the back whereas the iPhone 4/4s was just two screws to change the back. It's a risk for warranty purposes to customise the 5 because its not as easily reverted back to its original state if you ever have to replace it.
 
Appl3FTW said:
Looks ****ing amazing
Click to expand...

Yeah I think so too. And Apple does know how to do color really well. But since so many people end up putting their iPhone in cases I don't know if Apple would do it with the flagship model. But maybe they would with a less expensive model.
 
Frenchjay said:
The iPhone 5 isn't as easily customisable as the iPhone 4/4s. The whole thing has to be taken apart to remove the back whereas the iPhone 4/4s was just two screws to change the back. It's a risk for warranty purposes to customise the 5 because its not as easily reverted back to its original state if you ever have to replace it.
Click to expand...

And that's probably in respond to the 4/4S being easily customizable and voiding warranties. Apple doesn't want you customizing.
 
Too many people slap turtle shells (otter box, life proof, etc) over their iPhones.. I don't think it matters.

If more people used them naked, I'd buy into this rumor.
 
Dwalls90 said:
The iPod Touch 5 has six colors and two capacities, so 12 SKU's. The iPod Touch 4 has two colors and two capacities, so 4 SKU's. That's 16 SKU's for the iPod Touch line.

Right now, for the iPhone 5 alone, they have two colors, three capacities and three cellular configurations. That's 18 SKU's. For all iPhone lines? 26 SKU's.

Seeing as the iPhone already has 60% more SKU's than the iPod Touch line, and is more expensive, there is no way Apple can feasibly offer different colors for the iPhone without screwing up their supply chain.

If Apple removed the cheapeset iPhone line and made an LTE world phone, they would possibly introduce a few colors rather than eliminating SKU's.

I think using cases or interchangeable plates is sufficient.
Click to expand...

I just don't think adding SKUs makes a bit of difference..even if they doubled the current amount.
 
sulpfiction said:
I just don't think adding SKUs makes a bit of difference..even if they doubled the current amount.
Click to expand...

And that's why you aren't in charge of their retail or supply chain management divisions.

SKU's are very much a component of keeping profit margins high and allocating inventory effectively.
 
Dwalls90 said:
And that's why you aren't in charge of their retail or supply chain management divisions.

SKU's are very much a component of keeping profit margins high and allocating inventory effectively.
Click to expand...

Exactly. No one really matches apple's efficiency in the supply chain. It's a big part of their high margins as well.

Colours would be awesome though. Maybe they could figure out a way to make it work.
 
Dwalls90 said:
And that's why you aren't in charge of their retail or supply chain management divisions.

SKU's are very much a component of keeping profit margins high and allocating inventory effectively.
Click to expand...

U are very much correct. But at the number we are talking its not a big hurdle for apple to overcome very easily. Especially when talking about different colors. Which btw I don't really care about.
 
Would be interesting to have colored iPhones, but at an iPhone cost it wouldn't seem reasonable as Apple could be sitting on a heavy stock of certain colors. Maybe they would make it a BTO option? Also, the way the latest iPods are seem gimmicky. White face on a colored aluminum shell is awkward in appearance IMO.
 
sulpfiction said:
U are very much correct. But at the number we are talking its not a big hurdle for apple to overcome very easily. Especially when talking about different colors. Which btw I don't really care about.
Click to expand...

If we see Apple reduce their iPhone line to something like this:

iPhone 6: 64Gb or 32Gb
iPhone 5/5S: 32Gb or 16Gb
iPhone Mini: 16Gb or 8Gb

And they are able to make them world-phones on LTE, since they already have on 3G (meaning one phone for ALL carriers worldwide), then that would reduce their base SKU count to 6. That means they could theoretically offer the same color variations as the iPod Touch (excluding RED) for 30 SKUs.

This is something more realistic, but would require the world-phone chips in all iPhones going forward.
 
Dwalls90 said:
If we see Apple reduce their iPhone line to something like this:

iPhone 6: 64Gb or 32Gb
iPhone 5/5S: 32Gb or 16Gb
iPhone Mini: 16Gb or 8Gb

And they are able to make them world-phones on LTE, since they already have on 3G (meaning one phone for ALL carriers worldwide), then that would reduce their base SKU count to 6. That means they could theoretically offer the same color variations as the iPod Touch (excluding RED) for 30 SKUs.

This is something more realistic, but would require the world-phone chips in all iPhones going forward.
Click to expand...

I think if they ever introduced a 'mini' stripped down iPhone, they'd do away with selling older iPhone models.

I either envisage a lineup of three previous generations, or the newest and a mini.

I could be wrong though, and I suppose they still sell the iPad 2 alongside the mini and '4'.
 
SpyderBite said:
Too many people slap turtle shells (otter box, life proof, etc) over their iPhones.. I don't think it matters.

If more people used them naked, I'd buy into this rumor.
Click to expand...


Exactly.

Of the dozens of iPhones I see everyday, only 1 other user, besides me, have it naked.

So what does it matter, u all gonna cover it up anyways to protect you baby.
 
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