But here's the thing. When the iPhone 4 came out in 2010, at least the iPhone 3GS was still being sold as the cheaper model (but still not cheap). When the iPhone 4S came out in 2011, the iPhone 4 and 3GS were still being sold as the cheaper models (but still not cheap). And so on:
| Year | $450 model ($0 on contract) | $550 model ($99 on contract) | $650 model ($199 on contract) | $750 model ($299 on contract) | $850 model ($399 on contract) |
| 2010 | (8Gb iPhone 3G?) | 8Gb iPhone 3GS | 16Gb iPhone 4 | 32Gb iPhone 4 | (64Gb iPhone 4) |
| 2011 | 8Gb iPhone 3GS | 8Gb iPhone 4 | 16Gb iPhone 4S | 32Gb iPhone 4S | 64Gb iPhone 4S |
| 2012 | 8Gb iPhone 4 | 8Gb iPhone 4S | 16Gb iPhone 5 | 32Gb iPhone 5 | 64Gb iPhone 5 |
And so for 2013 (some are speculating June -- and probably as early as March), Apple could very well come out with a 4-model iPhone line-up:
| Year | $350 model | $450 model ($0 on contract) | $550 model ($99 on contract) | $650 model ($199 on contract) | $750 model ($299 on contract) | $850 model ($0 on contract) |
| 2013 | 8Gb iPhone 4 | 8Gb iPhone 4S | 8Gb iPhone 5 | 16Gb iPhone 5S | 32Gb iPhone 5S | 64Gb iPhone 5S |
With the iPhone 4 still in the line-up, it will be Apple's "cheap" iPhone, that is closer in price to the Nexus 4 which is at $300. Of course, it's still sporting an Apple "premium," considering that it's glass and metal, as opposed to a mostly plastic design, but like the Nexus 4 (and iPhone 4S), it won't have LTE, and unlike the Nexus 4, it will generally have a 2- and 3-year old hardware and a smaller 3.5" screen instead of 4.7".
Isn't the iPhone 4 three years old already?
Yes, but it was updated slightly when it was re-released as an 8Gb model alongside with the 4S in 2011.
Yes, but it's new manufacturing -- not refurbished stuff.
Yes, and it's still acceptably fast and smooth. In fact, I'm still using an iPhone 4 right now and to tell you the truth, I don't really think I need to upgrade. It also helps that I don't have money to get an iPhone 5. Or even a new iPod touch, at least.
Yes, it still won't probably have the newer features that came with later models; e.g. Siri, Airplay Mirroring, etc.
For this to work for Apple (i.e. to reduce manufacturing costs and maximize profits), it might also use the same housing as the iPhone 4S (so essentially it's the iPhone 4S with 2011 iPhone 4 internals but minus the iPhone 4 antenna design which elicited the "antennagate" issue).
In terms of feature comparisons:
| Model | iPhone 4 | iPhone 4S | iPhone 5 | iPhone 5S |
| Processor | A4 (1GHz) | A5 (1GHz) | A6 (1.3GHz Dual-Core) | A7 (1.3?GHz Dual-Core) |
| Memory | 512Mb | 512Mb | 1Gb | same as iPhone 5? |
| Main Camera | 5MP | 8MP | 8MP with improvements | same as iPhone 5? |
| Front Camera | 0.3MP | 0.3MP with improvement | 1.2MP + HD(720p) video | same as iPhone 5? |
| Storage | 8Gb | 8Gb | 8Gb | 16Gb,32Gb,64Gb |
| Antenna | 3G | 3G HSPA+ | LTE | same as iPhone 5? |
Again, the iPhone 4 is still acceptably fast and I think it is still a great design. Of course, that's just what I think and some people will think it's now "boring." Well, if you've had an iPhone 4 or 4S, why buy a new but cheaper iPhone 4? Of course it's going to be boring. But if it's not going to be Apple's "cheap" iPhone, the 4S will still be around with that same great design, anyway.
UPDATE: Just wanted to add this: Sorry, cheapos who want to get new Apple products for cheap. I think they won't sell a sub-$300 phone unless it's a totally different form factor (as I said in an earlier post) -- e.g. an iPhone nano -- that has much less functionality than the regular iPhone. Also, technically the 5th gen iPod Touch 16Gb at $300 is your cheap "iPhone" -- minus the phone and the GPS.
No comments:
Post a Comment