Affiliate Disclosure
If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Read our ethics policy.

WSJ: Apple to build cheaper iPhone as smartphone dominance slips

Last updated

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."

Watch the Latest from AppleInsider TV

125 Comments

commodification 14 Years · 276 comments

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

pedromartins 14 Years · 1326 comments

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 15 Years · 43086 comments

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 18 Years · 2656 comments

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.