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WSJ: Apple to build cheaper iPhone as smartphone dominance slips

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In a tweet on Tuesday, The Wall Street Journal claimed Apple is currently working on a cheaper iPhone that could hit the market as soon as this year.

Coming just hours after DigiTimes said Apple would be releasing a less expensive iPhone with a larger 5-inch screen, The Journal tweeted an identical message seemingly corroborating the earlier report.

According to people briefed on the matter, Apple is reportedly looking to a new audience with the less expensive iPhone, a move the WSJ claims is in response to slipping smartphone supremacy.

While Apple has supposedly tossed around the idea of building a more affordable iPhone "for years," the plan is progressing toward a release in the second half of 2013.

The new device could be unveiled later this year and be marketed as an entry-level model to Apple's flagship iPhone. Sources say the cheaper unit may take on the form factor and design of the current iPhone with a chassis made from less exotic materials like polycarbonate. Other parts could "remain the same or be recycled from older iPhone models."



125 Comments

commodification 276 comments · 13 Years

I can't wait to re-read the intelligent posts made earlier today about this same subject.

pedromartins 1326 comments · 13 Years

Quote:
Originally Posted by AppleInsider 

In a tweet on Tuesday, The Wall Street Journal claimed Apple is currently working on a cheaper iPhone that could hit the market as soon as this year.
Coming just hours after DigiTimes said Apple would be releasing a less expensive iPhone with a larger 5-inch screen, The Journal tweeted an identical message seemingly corroborating the earlier report.

Developing

Less expensive with bigger screen? No no no.

 

My bet? (I'm the guy that was 80% right about the mini, against everyone. why? because I'm awesome)

 

- Same price/ more expensive 5 inch iPhone, iPhoneX (as i said on other threads)

- iPhone 5S, 100dollars cheaper.

 

No low-end.

tallest skil 43086 comments · 14 Years

Steve's dead; I buy it. The rumor, that is, not the "cheaper" product.

 

"less-expensive", "5-inch screen". I don't even need humor websites anymore.

zoetmb 2655 comments · 17 Years

Agreed. The screen is probably the most expensive component. So how could it be a larger screen AND a cheaper price? Makes no sense. And why would anyone even want a 5" screen. Apple's already made a big deal about how they purposely didn't increase the width of the screen so it still could be easily held.