Would you buy an A5-based iPhone junior?

[Eug]

The rumours are out there for a cheaper iPhone.

http://blog.tactus.com/technology/exclusive-new-budget-iphone-leak/

I don't believe the rumours, but nonetheless, it got me thinking.

1) I wouldn't buy another 3.5" iPhone. It's fine, but I want something a bit bigger. 4" would be fine. My 4.7" Android phone is too big though.
2) iPhone 4S-like speed is OK, but I'd prefer an A6 over the A5. However, I don't need the latest and greatest A7 or A6X or whatever is coming this year.
3) Unlike the 4S, I think LTE is an absolute necessity. For me, no LTE = no sale, regardless of the CPU.
4) Retina of course

 

[QueBert]

Don't care if this is the best small phone ever, plastic body makes it a pass for me. Why does smaller always have to mean shittier? I would love a 3" phone with good specs that's made out of glass or Aluminium.

 

[gorcorps]

With how quickly they push out new models, last year's model seems to become the cheaper version. Especially when they sell refurbs. So I guess I don't really understand why they should bother making a brand new, but low quality phone when they have older phones that already have the bugs worked out.

 

[Oyeve]

I don't believe the rumors. Apple shied away from cheap long ago. I think the white Mac book was the last cheap plastic they put out.

 

[ControlD]

I think it is a good possibility that this is real. This phone would most likely be intended for the non subsidized (pay as you go) market as opposed to the standard on contract iPhone that most people have. Sure, Apple discounts the previous models .. on contract. I imagine a 4S is still pretty expensive if you want to buy it outright. The new phone being talked about fits a different market.

 

[poofyhairguy]

A cheap iPhone? Between this and the iPad Mini I hope they installed roll space in Steve's grave.

 

[MrX8503]

I don't get the point of a cheap iPhone vs buying the older model

 

[ControlD]

I don't get the point of a cheap iPhone vs buying the older model

How much is it to buy a 4S outright? Last I looked it was still close to $600. Maybe it is less now, not sure.

*Edit: at Apple the 4S is $549. This is why the idea of a cheap phone might have some traction.

 

[Eug]

A cheap iPhone? Between this and the iPad Mini I hope they installed roll space in Steve's grave.

The iPad mini was developed when Steve was alive.

With how quickly they push out new models, last year's model seems to become the cheaper version. Especially when they sell refurbs. So I guess I don't really understand why they should bother making a brand new, but low quality phone when they have older phones that already have the bugs worked out.

The problem with the 4S is that it's 3.5" and does not have LTE. If they could release an LTE 4S that would solve some of the problem though.

The one worry I would have though is a lower cost phone might have a significantly worse screen. Even if Retina, it might not have the same quality as the one in the 4S.

A good example of this is the Air vs Pro. Even if you exclude the Retina model, the Pro simply has a better screen than the Air. Plus, for people like me, the Air just has the "wrong" pixel density. (Too high for "work" for my preferences and too low for Retina.)

Still, if it was a mid-priced smartphone with full iOS 6/7 capabilities, decent RAM, and LTE, it would do well, and still keep Apple at the top for the higher end iPhone 5 and 5S.

However, I'd only buy it if the screen on the plastic iPhone had a decent screen (preferably 4") and LTE.

BTW, I don't think Apple will make a truly "cheap" priced phone. The iPad mini is a good example. There is no such thing as a $200 Apple iPad model.

 

[TheStu]

I don't believe the rumors. Apple shied away from cheap long ago. I think the white Mac book was the last cheap plastic they put out.

Sure, but the 11" MacBook Air is in it's place price-wise. So it would be better to say that Apple shied away from plastic long ago.

As for plastic meaning cheap feeling, think about the Lumia 800/900. That's plastic but feels nice and solid.

 

[A5]

I'd never buy one, but I'm sure there's a market for it. The 4 and 4S probably still sell pretty well.

 

[Radeon962]

I would guess that the market for a "cheaper" iPhone is not so much the US as it is huge growth markets like China and India.

 

[Eug]

I'd never buy one, but I'm sure there's a market for it. The 4 and 4S probably still sell pretty well.

I would guess that the market for a "cheaper" iPhone is not so much the US as it is huge growth markets like China and India.

The market here in North America for the 4S is still pretty big. Hell, up until recently in Canada, people were still buying the 4 on a 3-year contract.

Apple needs a mid-range phone with LTE though, and unfortunately the 4S doesn't support LTE. They're losing a significant chunk of people to Android in the mid-range market.

 

[ControlD]

The market here in North America for the 4S is still pretty big. Hell, up until recently in Canada, people were still buying the 4 on a 3-year contract.

Apple needs a mid-range phone with LTE though, and unfortunately the 4S doesn't support LTE. They're losing a significant chunk of people to Android in the mid-range market.

One might contend that Apple will indeed have a mid-range LTE capable phone as soon as the 5S is released and the iPhone 5 assumes the role that the 4S now occupies. I still think a cheap Apple phone is going to be targeted at the pre-paid or non subsidized phone market. It just doesn't make much sense otherwise.

 

[Eug]

Yes, that is what I was thinking.

The 5S and 5 will have the same form factor, but the 5S will just be faster with some hardware tweaks, and will get some arbitrarily exclusive software feature that the 5 does not have.

And then they will have the 3rd option with plastic at a lower price than the 5. The glass-backed 4 and 4S will be completely gone from the lineup.

 

[dainthomas]

Don't care if this is the best small phone ever, plastic body makes it a pass for me. Why does smaller always have to mean shittier? I would love a 3" phone with good specs that's made out of glass or Aluminium.

Yes, aluminum is so premium.

And curse Apple for starting the trend of making things that get carried everywhere and are frequently dropped out of freakin glass.

 

[aaksheytalwar]

I would guess that the market for a "cheaper" iPhone is not so much the US as it is huge growth markets like China and India.

This.

 

[Thegonagle]

Apple doesn't need an iPhone Jr.

A 4.5-5 inch iPhone "PLUS" would serve them better in the current marketplace.

 

[Rottie]

cheap phone or plastic phone is not for me. 4.7 or 5 inches is fine with me I can watch netflix or youtube with easy to read closed captioned.

 

[gmaster456]

Not exactly sure why plastic is always associated with cheap or something bad. You can buy a Buggati Veyron and find plastic without trying. Aluminum is used to wrap food in. Does that mean it's terrible?

 

[MrX8503]

Aluminum is used to wrap food in. Does that mean it's terrible?

What? Lol

 

[Mopetar]

A cheap iPhone? Between this and the iPad Mini I hope they installed roll space in Steve's grave.

Steve would have known about the development of the iPad Mini. People read way to much into his comment about 7" tablets being worthless. First it's an opinion, second the iPad Mini is an 8" tablet, so there's some obvious leeway there, and third, Jobs has a history of claiming X isn't good/necessary/useful and then making or implementing X at some later point in time. Either he changed his mind, realized that even if he didn't agree there was money to be made, or just didn't feel like hyping something when Apple didn't have it for sale. Whatever the case, he'd be talking about how great the iPad Mini is if he were still alive and if someone called him out on his earlier commends about smaller tablets he'd talk about how the rest are complete trash and how Apple figured out how to make them perfect.

Sure, but the 11" MacBook Air is in it's place price-wise. So it would be better to say that Apple shied away from plastic long ago.

As for plastic meaning cheap feeling, think about the Lumia 800/900. That's plastic but feels nice and solid.

One would think that Apple probably investigates using other materials (e.g. carbon fiber) that could be used. I imagine that at some point they'll move away from aluminum towards something else, but I don't think they'll use plastic.

 

[QueBert]

Yes, aluminum is so premium.

And curse Apple for starting the trend of making things that get carried everywhere and are frequently dropped out of freakin glass.

Personal preference, there but are a hellova lot of people who think like me. From the HTC One review on here

The HTC One’s fit and finish are phenomenal. There, I said it. You almost don’t even need to read the rest of this section. In my books, fit and finish goes, in descending order of quality, metal, glass, and finally plastic. Or instead of plastic, polymer, or polycarbonate, or whatever overly-specific word we use to avoid saying plastic.

and

The build quality really is phenomenal, and for the first time rivals what we get out of, well, Apple.

You'll never see people talk about the phenomenal build quality of plastic, as best you'll see people bringing up how "plastic's perfectly fine for me" and "plastic holds up better when you drop it!" etc etc etc. Aluminum > Plastic of any sorts for build quality, I don't see how this is even an arguable point. As for "dropping your phone" uhh don't drop it? I've never dropped a phone, and I can't believe I'm the only one. I'm know plenty of people drop their phone, but that's not a reason to act like Aluminum isn't a far better material to use for fit and finish. I might crash my car so I should get a shitty looking car that's built better just in case right?

 

[Ancalagon44]

I think something made of plastic can be built well - I remember hearing that the HTC One X had really good build quality, being made of polycarbonate. And there is the high end Lumia, the 920 or whatever, and the Moto Razrs were renowned for high build quality (was it Kevlar or carbon fibre?).

So it is possible. Its just that, normally, when manufacturers use plastic, they the cheapest possible plastic.

 

[TheStu]

Steve would have known about the development of the iPad Mini. People read way to much into his comment about 7" tablets being worthless. First it's an opinion, second the iPad Mini is an 8" tablet, so there's some obvious leeway there, and third, Jobs has a history of claiming X isn't good/necessary/useful and then making or implementing X at some later point in time. Either he changed his mind, realized that even if he didn't agree there was money to be made, or just didn't feel like hyping something when Apple didn't have it for sale. Whatever the case, he'd be talking about how great the iPad Mini is if he were still alive and if someone called him out on his earlier commends about smaller tablets he'd talk about how the rest are complete trash and how Apple figured out how to make them perfect.



One would think that Apple probably investigates using other materials (e.g. carbon fiber) that could be used. I imagine that at some point they'll move away from aluminum towards something else, but I don't think they'll use plastic.

Remember what he said about watching video on a little iPod screen? I think it was a year later that they rolled out the iPod Video. He had a history of saying one thing, and then doing another. Not only that, but during the memorial they did at Apple's campus after his death, I think it was Ive that said (and I'm paraphrasing) 'He could change his mind immediately, and never consider that he was disagreeing with his position from 5 minutes before'.

I would like to see them do things with materials like carbon fiber and other more interesting things. But I wonder if the heat dissipating properties of aluminum outweigh the benefits of using a lighter material like CF.