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Apple working on less expensive iPhone - Report

Sources say company has been planning lower-end device for years, though it may finally ship this year with shell made of polycarbonate plastic.

Apple is currently working on a less expensive iPhone, sources reportedly familiar with the matter have told The Wall Street Journal. According to these people, Apple has contemplated a lower-end iPhone for years, though the company is more serious this time, and could even ship the device as early as later this year.

The less expensive iPhone would resemble the standard issue iPhone, though it would feature a cheaper body made of polycarbonate plastic. By comparison, the iPhone 5 has an aluminum casing. Other parts of the phone could be recycled from older iPhone models, the sources said.

In the United States, the new iPhone 5 model begins at $199 with a two-year contract at carriers like Verizon Wireless, Sprint, and AT&T. The iPhone 4 retails for $99 with a two-year contract, while the iPhone 4 is free.

Apple has not commented on the rumor.

The move comes amidst increased competition from rivals, including Google's Android line. The newspaper reports, citing International Data Corporation figures, that Apple held just 14.6 percent of worldwide smartphone marketshare in the 2012 third quarter, down from a previous high of 23 percent a year prior.

The sources further claimed that Apple executives tabled the idea of a cheaper iPhone model years ago due to concerns that a second iteration would "complicate its manufacturing processes." Instead, Apple chose to keep aging iPhone models on the market for less, a decision that did not require the design and development of any new products.

Eddie Makuch
By Eddie Makuch, News Editor

Eddie Makuch (Mack-ooh) is a News Editor at GameSpot. He works out of the company's Boston office in Somerville, Mass., and loves extra chunky peanut butter.

94 comments
Aragorn823
Aragorn823

I never had an iPhone... actually I never bought any Apple products before as I like to be different.. coz I am lol.. 

PSYCHOV3N0M
PSYCHOV3N0M like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

Despite me agreeing that Apple products are overpriced, I still love my iPhone 5 (which I will jailbreak of course). I've used the Samsung Galaxy SIII but I don't like it for the simple fact that it's too bulky. I don't care for a 4.3 inch or a 5-inch screen. My 4 inch screen is great enough being taller instead of wider. Hell I was perfectly fine with the 3.5inch screen from my old iPhone.


I'm glad that Android is doing so well. Competition is healthy cuz in the end WE CONSUMERS are the ones who benefit. Some even prefer a Windows phone over Android. No biggie. We each have our preferences...

woodyfr
woodyfr like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

PLEASE CORRECT THE NEWS because : Phil Schiller: No cheap iPhone in the works

Apple will still suck your money in their big pockets.

And remember that Steve Jobs was OK to make a cheap iPhone but not that Tim Cook b*****. It's Appl?.

Enforcer246
Enforcer246 like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

"Apple" and "less expensive" in the same sentence? 

What?

MidNightStrikes
MidNightStrikes

You kidding me?

Just drop the price... Samsung, HTC, LG and Nokia have way better phones.. Battery lifes with 700+ Hours at least, AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM IS CHEAPER THAN IPHONE

And If IPhone 6 don't add on anything, obviously Apple will drop the price!

woodyfr
woodyfr

@MidNightStrikes No, everyone will buy that 6th version, because it's even lighter than your pants !

DrKill09
DrKill09

Just remove all the pretentiousness.  That should ease up the price a bit. 

naryanrobinson
naryanrobinson

@DrKill09 Why would they when people are frothing at the mouth to get their little hands on one?

Redsyrup
Redsyrup like.author.displayName 1 Like

The only people asking for this phone are the carriers. With a heavily subsidized model used in the US the user never sees the true cost of the phone. Free, 100 dollars. What's the difference. It's the carrier that's been paying 600-800 dollars. We're still going to be paying for a two year contract regardless.

This comment has been deleted

naryanrobinson
naryanrobinson

@Gelugon_baat I guess it's just something else we can add to the Apple-promised-it-would-never-make-just-to-convince-people-they-had-to-buy-another-product-of-theirs-at-the-time list, right under Intel-supportive architecture, the iPad mini, Apple maps and the 11-inch MacBook Air.

fredwv
fredwv like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 5 Like

less expensive phone?  How bout a less expensive data plan?

FuryX-4
FuryX-4 like.author.displayName 1 Like

Less....expensive....iPhone?
What is this black magic!?

jtthegame316
jtthegame316

i would never get an i phone in my view both android phones and windows phones are a much better choice. at least till apple remove there heads from there backside i refuse to get there products. Apple want to control everything and lock down the phone to much. They don't even give you access to the battary so if it goes you have to send it off to them and pay a rediculious price.

puppiemaster
puppiemaster like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

So much hate aimed towards Apple, I love my iPhone 5, but I don't hate Samsung or other mobile manufacturers. For me the iPhone works, I have an iPad, Macbook and iMacs,  they all work seamlessly together and I like using them.
That's my own choice.

PSYCHOV3N0M
PSYCHOV3N0M

@puppiemaster I love my iPhone 5 but I hate MACS with a passion. I have zero need for an iPad BUT I WANT ONE lol cuz it'll be a nice little device to have around the house.

I respect your choice sir.

puppiemaster
puppiemaster

Its good that the poorer people in the world can join the Apple family

ChiefReaver
ChiefReaver

Less expensive iPhone? I know exactly what Apple will do; re-release the iPhone 4s or older under some "new" name. And idiotic consumers will fall for it. The funny thing is, Apple KNOWS you're all stupid. Just compare their old ads to their new ones.

sam628
sam628

iphone 5 has very short battery life and the ios 6 does not have live updates on the home screen they are all just boring apps, compared to the andriod live updates on home screen. Android is much better and more affordable to most people around the world 

BelaidKL
BelaidKL

It will have to be sub £150 for people to actually buy this.. You either sell an expensive product to people who love to show off.. Or you don't, IPhones are  show phones.. There is no need in making one from cheap materials cause people won't bother if it's not substantially cheaper.. I retort.. It will have to be sub £150

sam628
sam628

Android is going to win, more cheaper mobiles. Most people are on a budget now thats why iphone 5 are not selling that well as apple thought it would :)

Scorchstar
Scorchstar

The deals you are getting in the US for iPhones is so cheap o-o

sam628
sam628

apple iphones are too expensive and not worth paying for due to lack of features and short battery life, samsung galaxy S3 is the king of all mobile :)

obsequies
obsequies

@sam628 but if I had to have an android phone I'd choose the sony experia play over the S3 anyday

obsequies
obsequies

@sam628 the s3 is the size of a game boy..I find the apple app store has a larger game library. They each have their ups and downs and honestly I prefer having a iphone and an android tablet mix

na_dawg_12
na_dawg_12

So will fanboys line up to buy the cheap iPhone???

Ladiesman17
Ladiesman17

If they do that, iPhone will lose their value.

People buy Apple products because it's premium, and if they change that they will lose their core business model and become company like Nokia, RIM which probably will put their Company in jeopardy.


but who cares ... 

megakick
megakick

Why? Just buy a Iphone 4...

$99 dollars is not bad Apple products are bad as is you don't want a cheaper model.

Doomsday_Horror
Doomsday_Horror like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

I am not hating on Android and I am not an iPhone fanboy, but in Capitalism, there will ALWAYS be competition. If Apple only has ONE device they market that is set at ONE price, they will NEVER have the top of the market. So, it seems logical that they would make a cheaper iPhone to appeal to Android users that simply could not afford an iPhone before. It is not a matter of being a fan of either, they both have their ups and downs. Chill.

RainIsMyDrug
RainIsMyDrug

@Doomsday_Horror or they could just license their ios out like Google did with android...

Doomsday_Horror
Doomsday_Horror

@RainIsMyDrug @Doomsday_Horror Apple's business strategy is to make its OS and hardware so you have to buy their product. Android is open source which means you don't necessarily need a license to use it or even to develop for it.

USAPATRIOT21
USAPATRIOT21 like.author.displayName 1 Like

Time to put up some more suicide nets in Apple's Foxconn factories.

naryanrobinson
naryanrobinson

@USAPATRIOT21 I've seen one, and there's not many places left to jump off from.

Apple don't care if they labour someone so hard they would rather die, they just need to make sure it doesn't happen at work.

God forbid they should make 5 billion a year instead of 6.

hiphops_savior
hiphops_savior like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

Bad move on Apple's part, it's only going to cheap the iPhone brand.

TheCyborgNinja
TheCyborgNinja like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

I hate how they always put "designed in California" on everything, like it matters. Everything by American companies is typically designed in the US and made in China. Unless it is made in America, it makes them look like idiots trying to fool other idiots.

RainIsMyDrug
RainIsMyDrug

@TheCyborgNinja and the product going to be way more expensive then it already is if it was home made ( made in america )

Gamer_4_Fun
Gamer_4_Fun

WHY THE **** HELL DO GAMESPOT ADVERTISE APPLE? If there was Android it would made sense, but why APPLE ONLY?

u1tradt
u1tradt like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 5 Like

@Gamer_4_Fun Because Apple create devices whereas Android is an operating system which is used by the Razer Edge and Nvidia Shield (to name the latest devices GS have covered...)

Gamer_4_Fun
Gamer_4_Fun

@u1tradt I know that Einstein, why not latest in android like nexus 4? Not a single android device gets featured here.

Doomsday_Horror
Doomsday_Horror

@Gamer_4_Fun @naryanrobinson Apple makes ONE device, the iPhone. Android devices easily outnumber the iPhone AT LEAST 5:1. You are not arguing over any valid fact, and you are practicing severe hypocrisy being an Android fanboy. 


The iPhone is not cheap. That is why Android easily outmatches it. It isn't implied that it's because it is necessarily better, and I'm not saying the iPhone is perfect, but I'd rather have a clean, secure interface rather than a sluggish, sloppy mobile OS.


I'm also not sure where you get your info; enjoy arguing with people that have far higher intellects than you ever will.

naryanrobinson
naryanrobinson like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

@Gamer_4_Fun Hey don't get mad at me just because you can't read/speak English properly.

Why don't you try to shut your pudgy little face for a second and actually look at how idiotic what you're saying is compared to the crushing arguments being put against it?

I'll make this nice and slow since that's your preferred mental speed.

Android.  Is.  Not.  A.  Device.

The.  Devices.  U1tradt.  Mentioned.  Are. 

Those.  Devices.  Get.  Lots.  Of.  Coverage.

I must apologise.  A lot of people just aren't used to talking to individuals quite as stupid as you.   You need to give us a second to lower our standards and learn to speak in moron.

Gamer_4_Fun
Gamer_4_Fun like.author.displayName 1 Like

@naryanrobinson hahaha but hurt fanboy, androids have over 70% of the world marketshare, you dumb piece of *** , which in your simple mind (ANDROID IS FAR MORE POPULAR).

And Android has a singular purebred  of device called "NEXUS". Or a flagship Galaxy S3 which is outselling ihpones 5-1 in international markets. Why not drop your stinkin fanboyism and face reality.

naryanrobinson
naryanrobinson like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 4 Like

@Gamer_4_Fun @u1tradt Are you genuinely that stupid?  Apple is a company that makes one phone.  The only difference between that and Sony making a PlayStation or Microsoft making an XBOX is that iPhones are vastly more popular.

Android isn't a company, a manufacturer, or even a piece of hardware.

You want them to post up an article for every new Android phone?  Maybe they should also get people in to write about what they had for breakfast and what their stool samples looked like this morning as well.

Why don't you open your god damn eyes?

fakharakhtar362
fakharakhtar362 like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

Why is this news on a gaming website???

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