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Possible Photos of Plastic Rear Shell from Apple's Lower-Cost iPhone [Updated]

MacRumors said:
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Nowhereelse.fr shares [Google translation] a pair of photos of what may be the rear shell of Apple's rumored lower-cost plastic iPhone. While the site acknowledges that the part could simply be a Chinese clone of an iPhone 5 rear shell, certain features such as a round rear microphone hole and rounded rear edges are consistent with previous claims for the lower-cost iPhone, including leaked design drawings from a case maker.

Apple has been said to be planning to release the lower-cost iPhone later this year in an array of colors, with one report claiming that Apple would be using essentially the same colors as found in the company's line of iPhone 4/4S bumpers, although that report indicated that green appeared to have been excluded from the set. This green rear shell is indeed fairly close in color to the green iPhone bumper.

Article Link: Possible Photos of Plastic Rear Shell from Apple's Lower-Cost iPhone
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I think its very arrogant by using the name "Lower-end" to describe the non-premium iphone that is going to be introduced in the near future. Its like the customers who purchase the non Lower-end iphone is privileged or rich or something like that. It doesnt roll with me and think its very childish. Thanks.
 
JarScott said:
How ugly. Cheap and ugly products don't seem to be what Apple stand for. I'm doubtful of this 'cheap iPhone' rumour.
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I still don't "get" the clamouring for Apple to make a "low cost" iPhone.

Here in the UK, the iPhone 4 is free on most networks for as low as £21 per month. How much cheaper than FREE do people want? Of course, people will argue that they're wanting a higher spec iPhone, cheaper on Sim Free.

I think the idea of plastic backed, multi coloured iPhone's is quite tacky personally. The 3G/3GS were fine because that's what iPhone was back then, plastic backed. Now thought, with the 4/4S and now the 5 we're seeing the use of premium materials like glass and aluminium which of course will be reflected in the price.

I have no issue, personally, with the low cost iPhone simply being the one which has been replaced and has been moved down a slot in the "rankings".
 
aerok said:
Damn right, those who still think plastic is still more fragile, pelase check out all the drop tests
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Plastic is more fragile, there is a reason cars and bridges are made of metal. Metal dents and scratches easier but is much stronger than plastic.
 
Looks too cheap for apple to make. It'll either be the aluminium used for the iPod Touches, or the same colours but just in plastic.
 
I actually think it looks better than the current/previous iPhones, because the back is made of one piece instead of having various materials and the rounded edges. I know the 3G/S had a similar back but it was bulky and fat, this seems to be a lot slimmer.

I'm wondering what will be the difference between the low-cost iPhone and the normal iPhone: retina? CPU? Camera?

Surely they wouldn't go with a much slower CPU, as Apple doesn't tend to release a product that has sub-standard performance, and the iPhone 4 is starting to be slow in that respect. So they'd have to go with a CPU that's just one year old, which isn't a big difference.

As for Retina, wouldn't it make sense for Apple to start transitioning everything to retina? Even the iPod Touch got it, so I'd guess the low cost iPhone would also have it.

Camera? I'd imagine that a lower-megapixel camera would make sense, but once again, as long as it's at least the quality of the iPhone 4, it should be good enough.

So then what justifies the low cost iPhone? Why does it "deserve to exist"?
 
jaymzuk said:
Perceived quality. When top end Android phones and iPhones go head to head, they're not as night and day different as many on this forum would like to think.

And the low cost iPhone is an indication that smartphones are becoming commodotized. With so little differentiating features available between brands, Apple realizes that they will have no choice but to start competing on price.

iOS7 adds a bit of spit and polish, but little more. Those irrational buyers that Apple had in the palm of their hand may start to think twice.
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Well, the iPhone has long been perceived as the highest quality smartphone available. Doesn't mean it's the best choice for everyone, doesn't mean other high end smartphones are of poor quality, but it does mean that Apple has more to lose in the perception department by creating a completely plastic casing for a low-cost iPhone. Do I personally think it matters? No. Metal, glass, or plastic, don't drop expensive phones! It doesn't matter which smartphone you have, they all need cases to be considered "durable". Unless you get a ruggedized phone, which of course is a different story.

Regarding your comment about iOS 7, surely you're aware of the HUGE number of API changes and additions that Apple is including in iOS 7, right? The average consumer won't care, but everyone will benefit from the fact that developing great apps should become even easier than before. And I don't know who these "irrational" buyers are that you speak of, but it's pretty tacky to label people based on their choice of smartphone.
 
Apple has made it clear that they won't do anything to be cheap.

So either this is
  • Completely false
  • Somewhat correct as it is a redesign for the actual iPhone, skipping an iPhone 5s and going straight to iPhone 6
  • Replacing the whole iPhone 4S/5 scheme
  • Perhaps a new lower storage size, more sturdy model for all those kids who parents insist on giving an 8 year old an iPhone
  • Actually the new iPod touch
 
Appleboys "Samsung are stupid for having a cheaper range".....nek minnit.
 
gaussianblur said:
suddenly iOS7's color palette makes all the more sense...
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Bingo! Yes, this is why they chose those colors! I still don't like them, but at least I can go back to thinking that Apple has a method to their madness.
WeegieMac said:
I still don't "get" the clamouring for Apple to make a "low cost" iPhone.
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From what I have been reading, Apple intends for this low cost phone to make inroads in the smartphone markets in China and India.

I wonder how much they will market it here in the USA.
 
So let me get this right. Apple plans to release a cheaper lower spec version of it's iPhone this year. And, they are going to release it along side the new 5S. Hold on a minute......that's the iPhone 5. Why is everyone so convinced that this silly rumor is true. Do they not have common sense to see of absurd this is??????:confused:
 
AQUADock said:
Plastic is more fragile, there is a reason cars and bridges are made of metal. Metal dents and scratches easier but is much stronger than plastic.
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Yes, but somehow Samsung fans now try to make us rethink the laws of physics and make us believe that plastic is stronger than metal based on a few non-scientific drop tests they've seen, none of them showing the iPhone 5 aluminum casing actually breaking or cracking.

Heck, The Samsung S3 case had cracks appearing without having to drop the phone :

http://www.androidauthority.com/galaxy-s3-casing-issues-plague-smartphone-samsung-repair-affected-units-101957/

Edit: I've searched all over the internet for a single instance of a cracked iPhone/iPad/iPod aluminum casing and can't find anything, but there are thousands of instances of people with cracked plastic casings.
 
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AQUADock said:
Plastic is more fragile, there is a reason cars and bridges are made of metal. Metal dents and scratches easier but is much stronger than plastic.
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You cannot compare cars and phone. Once again, check the drop tests and try again.

If if you do want to play the game, then I say this: the canopy of a f-22 is made from the same plastic.


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Casiotone said:
Yes, but somehow Samsung fans now try to make us rethink the laws of physics and make us believe that plastic is stronger than metal based on a few non-scientific drop tests they've seen, none of them showing the iPhone 5 aluminum casing actually breaking or cracking.

Heck, The Samsung S3 case had cracks appearing without having to drop the phone :

http://www.androidauthority.com/galaxy-s3-casing-issues-plague-smartphone-samsung-repair-affected-units-101957/
Click to expand...

Metal does not crack but it dents and bends. Both great materials but they both have flaws.

I say this and I do not use a Samsung phone for other reasons.
 
BulletToothTony said:
Just what i've always wanted, a bright neon green iPhone :rolleyes:
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Don't laugh too hard. The wife has a Glow Green OtterBox Commuter on her 5. She is mid 50's. I also work with a mid 50's lady in our Legal Dept who just dropped $40,000 on a Gecko Green 4D Jeep Wrangler Sahara.

Not my personal choice, but very likable to many age groups. :apple:
 
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