New "Cheap" iPhones

OU812

Oh I hope there's at least one with a darker shell



Source

DuckSlice

They look like modified iPod touch cases.

flyguy

Even if it is the real thing, wasn't it part of apple's strategy to sell them in "upcoming markets/economies" (or whatever the correct term is). So India/china and countries like that? Don't think its in apple's plans to sell them anywhere in (western) Europe... There's always Internet shopping of course.

Tallon

Not real

Sad Professor

flyguy wrote: »

Even if it is the real thing, wasn't it part of apple's strategy to sell them in "upcoming markets/economies" (or whatever the correct term is). So India/china and countries like that? Don't think its in apple's plans to sell them anywhere in (western) Europe... There's always Internet shopping of course.

Analysts are always coming up with silly stuff like that. No way it will happen. If they sell them, they'll sell them everywhere.

brophs

Every year the same rumours go around. Eventually one of them will probably be proven right, but I can't see them selling a phone at €99, or anything like it.

Sad Professor

I think 350-400 is a more likely price. The iPad Mini wasn't a "cheap iPad" and any potential lower-cost iPhone wouldn't be either. It will just be aimed at younger people who want something colourful and more durable.

Dades

Can't see it happening.

Too many people will see the "cheap" iPhone as funkier and more practical than the "premium" iPhone. And put a case on both and there's nothing to tell the difference between the two.

Certainly they wouldn't release one in an "S" year without knowing it would savage sales of their expensive model as a lot of people would prefer something new and shiny over something with a faster processor and better camera.

Sad Professor

Apple have never had an issue with cannibalising themselves, though. As Jobs used to say, if we don't do it, somebody else will.

I suspect that as with the iPad Mini, the iPod Nano, the Mac Mini, the iPod Shuffle, etc, this new iPhone would satisfy a different part of the market rather than simply those looking for something cheaper.

_Whimsical_

I think this will happen but I very much doubt they'll look as gaudy as the OPs picture. I could imagine Johnny Ive keeling over at the sight of those cases.

makoten

My guess is the budget iPhone would most likely use the components of iPhone 4S, but with 4 inch screen and Lightning cable. This would mean all iPhone and iPod touch screens are 4 inch. So, when iPhone 5S comes out this year, Apple will sell only iPhone 5S, 5 and the budget iPhone (instead of the 4S).

It does make sense when you think about it. But if the budget iPhone does cost around 350-400 Euro, by then, you could probably get a new 5 at a slightly higher price. Interestingly, since the iPod touch (32GB) sells for 329 Euro, I'm guessing Apple is not going to offer a similar product at that price, so the budget iPhone will probably be just 16GB instead if it's under 400, so the 32GB option would probably be 100 Euro more.

Rumors do seem to indicate that the budget iPhone will come in different colours like the iPod touch, so they'll probably target a younger audience in their ads. Also, this would have a huge uptake in countries such as China and India who simply cannot afford the full price of an iPhone.